Opportunity Training Center (OTC) in Presque Isle marks Spirit Week

Community Contributor, Special to The County
6 years ago

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Students at Opportunity Training Center (OTC) in Presque Isle joined in celebration leading up to February vacation with a full agenda of excitement in between classes.

The students and faculty at OTC celebrated their 12th annual Spirit Week the week of February 12-16. This year the school added an inaugural Way-Out Games competition to kick off the start of February break. Students enjoyed a door decorating contest, egg relay, tug of war, rubber chicken toss, pie eating contest and themed activities all week long.

One student summed it up best stating it was the“most fun day at school…ever!”

Students really liked the fact that the teachers and paraprofessionals participated in the activities right alongside them, said OTC officials. The week of activities allowed for a restful vacation week.

Opportunity Training Center, a division of Central Aroostook Association, is a special-purpose private school designed to offer an alternative learning environment for students in K-12 with moderate to severe disabilities, including autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbance and other diagnoses.

Paula Perkins, director of OTC, has worked for the association for 18 years.

“Besides offering educational instruction in academics, therapeutic services, behavior management techniques and social skills development,” Perkins said, “they also have an extensive activities-for-daily-living program and work collaboratively with their many sending districts around Aroostook County to offer the least restrictive environment possible to teach children.”