September 4, 2019

By Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

WALNUT, CA--One of the first assignments at Walnut Valley USD’s HARTT (Hockwalt Adult Resource and Transition Training) Center is learning how to cook breakfast. 

After hearing that Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor wanted to join the 20 special students for a morning meal, the class got busy browsing through supermarket ads, creating a menu, and learning to prepare the food.  

The kids even voted to learn how to make oatmeal from scratch.

“They wanted to show off their cooking skills!” said teacher Trisha Castaneda who shared her tips on making first-class porridge. “I like it with milk and brown sugar!”

The group walked to Vons located on Lemon Avenue (a 2-mile round trip and 4492 steps!) twice to purchase items.

On September 4, after cooking all morning, they surprised the District chief when he came to visit with a hearty breakfast buffet of oatmeal, scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, hash browns, and fruit. 

HARTT Center launched in 2013 to serve 18-22-year-old students with disabilities who are receiving a Certificate of Completion from high school and have significant needs for support as they transition to adulthood.