The school store at Oceanside High School officially reopened on Dec. 22, marking the return of a hands-on learning space that had been dormant since the coronavirus pandemic. The relaunch, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, is being led by students in the school’s Academic and Career Exploration program, and represents a renewed commitment to vocational education and real-world skill building.
The store’s reopening was years in the making, according to the high school’s director of special education, Saudia Mahamed, who added that the pandemic disrupted the ACE program’s off-campus vocational opportunities.
“We had been wanting to do this for years,” Mahamed said. “When Covid hit, a lot of the job sites that were part of our vocational program changed. The landscape of business really shifted, and the amount of work we could find in the community for students was impacted.”
Rather than scaling back experiential learning, district leaders sought new ways to bring vocational training in-house. Reopening the store made it possible for students to practice workplace skills in a supportive, structured environment while remaining on campus.
“We wanted to continue to build meaningful experiences,” Mahamed said. “That way, students can practice the skills they’re going to need on a job site while having the support they need.”
The effort gained momentum with a $5,000 grant from NYPD With Arms Wide Open, a nonprofit organization founded by retired New York City officer Merritt Riley. The organization supports families and first responders who have children with special needs or terminal illnesses. Riley attended the ribbon-cutting to celebrate the reopening alongside students, staff and district leaders.
The connection with the nonprofit was facilitated through ACE teacher Jackie Frasca, who plays a central role in supervising the store’s daily operations, and is also one of the four ACE program teachers — the others being Denise Klodzinski, Janelle Gianetta and Nicole McCann. Mahamed credited the grant as a major factor in making the project possible.
“There’s a lot that goes into doing this — setting up accounts, making sure everything is in order was really a team approach,” Mahamed said. “Getting that donation was a huge boon for us.”
ACE students now operate the store during select lunch periods, rotating through responsibilities that align with their interests and potential career goals. Some restock shelves and manage inventory, while others handle customer service and operate the cash register.
“Ms. Frasca really tries to match students with what they enjoy and what they’re good at,” Mahamed said. “She’s looking at their interests, their goals and the skills they’re working toward.”
The store carries school supplies, apparel, snacks and small convenience items. After a soft launch, staff input helped guide the product selection.
“We surveyed the staff, and they told us things like extra phone chargers would be helpful, because students forget them,” Mahamed said. “We’re planning to do things seasonally and really collect feedback as we go.”
The ACE program is part of Oceanside’s broad continuum of special education services, which range from fully integrating some of the students into general education classes to offering more intensive support to those who need it. ACE, which has smaller class sizes and additional staff, focuses on readiness.
“The program is really focused on outcomes,” Mahamed said. “Some students may be heading to college, while others are working toward job independence or supportive employment after they leave us. We work closely with students and families to hone in on the skills they need based on their goals.”
She emphasized that community involvement plays a vital role in the program’s success. “It takes a village,” Mahamed said. “From our board members who show up and support us, to the businesses that open their doors to our students, to our teachers, aides and clerical staff, it takes all of us working together to make sure students have what they need.”
Looking ahead, district leaders are exploring ways to expand the store’s offerings and student involvement, potentially creating opportunities for additional student groups.
“We do have ideas for expansion,” Mahamed said. “Right now our ACE students are running the store during lunch periods, but we’ve had conversations about opening it up so other students and clubs can benefit from the experience as well.”
For now, the store’s reopening stands as a milestone not just for the ACE program, but for students who are gaining confidence, independence and real-world skills, one transaction at a time.
