GREENSBORO, N.C. — A class of students with disabilities raised money for their Occupational Course of Study materials by selling handmade glass Christmas trees.

What You Need To Know

  • Occupational Course of Study is a school program that allows students with disabilities to learn employment skills

  • To pay for class materials like work boots and uniforms, Smith High School teacher Stephen Thompson helps his class sell handmade Christmas decorations 

  • The class has been able to sell to customers across state and country

This season, Smith High School students have shipped their trees to homes across the state and in Texas, Michigan, Florida and other locations.

Each tree is crafted from recycled wine bottles collected from the community that were put through a special cleaning process.

Occupational Course of Study is a program that allows students with disabilities to learn employment skills.

During the school year OCS students participate in a range of work and job training, but freshman Dyllan Grant said this opportunity allows him to practice a skill he is passionate about — creating art. 

“As an artist hopefully [I can] be an animator and a YouTuber in the future. That would be my dream career of what I choose,” Grant said while applying a shard of glass to the base of his tree. 

Smith High School teacher and project organizer Stephen Thompson said all of the profit will be used to reinvest into new projects next semester and buy materials they can use during their job training. 

“Ultimately, for our seniors, it means that they are going to be able to graduate and have a laptop with a backpack with headphones, wireless phone and all the things that they need to find jobs,” Thompson said. 

The class has sold more than 100 trees so far this season.

Thompson said they will continue to make the decorations when they return from winter break.