Christmas crafts now; Disney on Ice later for Pathways students in Tonganoxie
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Pathways instructor Morgan Bahn works on a craft project with Kaitlynn Howard on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Students at Pathways in Tonganoxie are getting crafty this holiday season so they can enjoy Disney on Ice in the new year.
Pathways, a cooperative of Tonganoxie and Basehor-Linwood school districts, provides life skills for special needs students.
The students, who learn life skills at the Pathways space at 328 S. Delaware in downtown Tonganoxie, take weekly trips to the grocery store and embark on social trips throughout the area.
Staff members were looking to take the students to Disney on Ice in February at T-Mobile Center, but the adventure is a little beyond the regular trip budget.
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Pathways instructor Morgan Bahn works with student Melissa Johnson on a craft item that will be for sale this holiday season. The students are raising money or a trip to Kansas City, Mo., to watch Disney on Ice.
Morgan Bahn, special education teacher at Pathways, chatted with paraprofessionals on staff about fundraisers.
The group came up with holiday crafts the students could create and sell to the public.
Thanks to some Pinterest searches, the group came up with various crafts, Bahn said.
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Pathways students work on holiday crafts Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
Students have made top hats that resemble ones that Frosty might wear, but they’re made out of large coffee cans. Staff and students also use old records or plates to form the rim of the hat and then various Christmas ornaments and swag are then added to the decoration.
In addition, the group created flat decorations out of square pieces of wood that say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Ornaments and other decorations then are used to created a tree or wreath on the wood display.
Vintage Park assisted living in Tonganoxie gave the group empty coffee cans. Some of the students work there, among other places in the area as part of their education at Pathways. Some of decorations used for the hats and signs were found at Good Shepherd Thrift Shop or discount stores.
Hunter Scott is a student at Pathways. He was creating one of the top hat masterpieces Friday.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Sarah Funk paints coffee cans that are used for Christmas crafts. She painted the cans outside the Pathways building Friday Dec. 2, 2022.
He didn’t have a certain style when making the crafts. He just goes with the flow.
“For me, I use whatever,” he said, going on to explain that the hats will help fund their Disney on Ice trip. “They look good.”
Contributed photo
This is a finished craft item that Pathways is selling this holiday season in Tonganoxie.
A bit later, Bahn worked with student Melissa Johnson on another top hat.
“Very professional,” Bahn said, describing their creation.
“Yeah, we are good,” Johnson noted.
Each item is $20 and can be purchased through Pathways.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Pathways student Maricio Mendoza paints a wooden sign with some guidance from paraprofessional Rachel Weston.
Bahn admitted that she wasn’t the craftiest in the bunch.
Instead, she said paraprofessionals Rachel Weston, Erica Colvert and Chris Engel excelled in that department.
“And me,” said Scott, chiming in.
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
If you put a bird on it, they will buy it. Old plates and records, combined with old coffee cans, can become festive holiday decor.
Several students spend a portion of a day each week working on the craft projects. Other students there are Maricio Mendoza, Katherine Cook, Jacob Coffey, Austin Galyean, Kaitlynn Howard and Sarah Funk.
To learn more about the craft items and how to purchase, go to
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_RRCPMq6XlptHV5Vj9f0x8iuDjYZUbbOAX1tajza-RHbxAw/viewform to fill out an order form or visit the Pathways Transition Program Facebook page.