Hays High School Rolling Rebels – and many of their supporters on campus – display their newly-acquired team t-shirts. The Rebel Life Skills students are what Hays Principal David Pierce describes as “one of the most popular and visible student groups on campus,” and they’ve recently been given the opportunity to help operate the newly-opened Rebel Store in the Hays cafeteria. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JIM CULLEN
They enthusiastically tackle any given task to the best of their ability. They greet their teachers and friends with unwavering smiles. They take distinct pride in being Hays High School Rebels and they jump at the chance to join their fellow students to make their school better.
Who are these highlighted students? They’re none other than the “Rollin’ Rebels,” the Hays High School Life Skills students under the daily guidance and supervision of teacher Kayla Noble. As stated, they’re a prideful bunch, proud of their work, their accomplishments, and their acknowledged place among their fellow students.
Hays High School Principal David Pierce is quick to offer his assessment of the place these students hold at his campus. “We are proud of our Rollin’ Rebels and the contributions they are making to our school. They are one of the most popular and visible student groups on campus this year,” he says.
As for that visibility, the group recently acquired specially-designed t-shirts brightly emblazoned with their catchy title and it’s a uniform they – and their supporting team – wear with unabashed pride. The team gathered for a recent fall morning photograph and their enthusiasm for the moment spoke volumes for the spirit with which they approach their days.
For those unaware, Life Skills students deal with a variety of life’s serious challenges. The “Rollin’” portion of their catchy name refers to the wheelchairs which provide many with their only mobility. But make no mistake about it, their “serious challenges” find serious answers on a daily basis.
Their teacher reports that she sees five of the students each day, a normal class day including “calendar, work-based learning (on – and sometimes off – campus), cooking, art using both fine and gross motor skills, daily living skills, adapted PE, and reading and writing.”
“We also go on community-based trips to help generalize the skills we’re learning in the classroom,” Noble says, adding, “We take the goals we’re working on at school out into the community.” The things her students like best about school include inclusion activities in elective classes with their peers – going to band, choir, dance, pep rallies, and dressing up for spirit day themes.
Among the already-achieved goals the students have reached are the skills needed to help run the newly-opened Rebel Store in the Hays High School cafeteria. Set up with the assistance of Kyle H-E-B Plus staffers, the Rebel Store celebrated its ribbon cutting recently and many of the Rollin’ Rebels were on hand for the dedication. They will provide much of the day-to-day staffing of the store which sells school supplies and campus-oriented t-shirts and other Rebel trappings.
And lest it be thought that those up the administrative line haven’t noticed the good things the Rollin’ Rebels are doing, consider Hays CISD Special Education Executive Director Gloria Beare’s assessment. “With teachers such as Kayla, there is no limit to what these students can do. They are amazing and remind us constantly of why we do what we do.”
