NorthWood Middle School Life Skills class to benefit from Martin's grant

Sometimes success is measured by the smallest measurements, and things we take for granted are huge milestones for others.

In the Life Skills class at NorthWood Middle School in Wakarusa, the students are excited about some new additions to their class, all thanks to Martin's Super Markets' One School at a Time grant.

“A lot of the things that we do in the room are for life skills and adapting fine motor skills, sensory needs, just helping them to be prepared for life,” said NorthWood teacher Melanie Watson.

Through the years, Watson has had to get creative with classroom supplies. A friend made a nut and bolt puzzle, and a parent made homemade playdough.

That's why the students and staff were thrilled to receive the Martin’s $1,000 grant.

“We are going to use the money to buy some adaptive seating,” explained Watson. “So we have one chair right now that's like a bungee chair, but we only have one and a lot of the students like to use it, so to be able to have more of those will be great.”

Student Sierra Newton likes the chair, calling it “soft and sweet.”

There are plans to buy a new ball seat too.

“The big yoga balls are great to sit in,” said Watson. “It allows them to move and have that movement and flexibility while sitting.”

Watson is grateful that the Martin’s grant is available to help classrooms like hers.

“A lot of items, whether adaptive seating or sensory items, are often quite expensive, so this will be very helpful with that,” said Watson.

If you want to nominate your school for a One School at a Time grant, just fill out an application online.

The winning school gets $1,000 from Martin’s Super Markets, and a new winner is picked each month.

Schools only need to apply once, and you can do so by going to

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