Life Skills students get gussied up for prom.

Byline: Ellie Oleson

OXFORD - Girls in colorful satin and a boy in a black suit and purple striped tie smiled shyly as proud parents snapped pictures. It was prom time for a group of special students in the Life Skills classes at Oxford High School.

Teacher Heidi M. Godowski brought corsages and boutonnieres for all 11 of her students. She also accompanied most of them on a bus rented to take them from the school to the May 17 Spring Fling prom, hosted by the Center of Hope at the LaSalle Reception Center of Notre Dame Church in Southbridge.

A second handicapped accessible van brought additional Oxford High students to the dinner-dance. "I wouldn't have missed this. It was wonderful. About 180 students with similar abilities attended," Mrs. Godowski said.

Patricia D. Dawidczyk, a member of the School Committee, came to the high school to watch her daughter, Abigail D. Dawidczyk, 18, go to her first prom.

"Oh my gosh. This is it," Abigail said with a smile, as she adjusted her rose corsage. She wore a bright red satin gown sewn by her mother.

Mrs. Dawidczyk said, "It's prom season, time to have fun with your peers. Of course, the kids are invited to the Oxford High School prom, too, but, thanks to the Center of Hope, these kids can have their own prom, where they can have fun with their peers. This is wonderful."

"This is my first prom. I'm excited. I'll take lots of pictures," said Lauren A. Kneeland, 16, who was dressed in peach satin.

Her grandfather, Richard M. Kneeland, said, "We are elated. This Life Skills class treats the kids like gold."

The Life Skills class began three years ago for students age 14 to 22 with moderate intellectual abilities. Some also have physical disabilities.

Mrs. Godowski said the students are integrated with the rest of the school population for some classes, such as art class, and otherwise have a standard curriculum "with a focus on functional academics and vocational training."

"Local businesses and the community have opened their doors to us," Mrs. Godowski said.

Students have worked at Park `N' Shop in Auburn, and in Oxford have helped at businesses including Robbins Garden Center, the Oxford Public Library, Udderly Delicious ice cream shop, Oxford Senior Center, P&D Oxford House of Pizza, and in Robin A. Lemire's day care center on Merriam District in North Oxford.

At the school, the students have worked in the cafeteria and assisted custodians, and also done copying and other office work as the SWAT...