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 The Cedar Hill ISD SHIFT 18+ Program earned a $6,200 Grant from the Texas Trust Gives Foundation to set up The Hillside Holiday Market at the annual Cedar Hill Holiday on the Hill, 6-8 p.m. on December 5, in downtown Cedar Hill.

The CHISD SHIFT 18+ Program helps Special Education scholars who have graduated from the district transition to independent living.

“We used the grant money to purchase items to create all the materials to be sold during Holiday On The Hill,” CHISD Executive Director of Special Education Derica Turner said. “These items include screen press machines, shirt and cup-making supplies and other items to be created. The scholars will be creating their designs using Cricut and graphic technology to be produced on shirts and other items for families to purchase as gifts.”

Turner came up with the idea from the CHISD Family & Community Engagement Office, as a way to spur creative ideas, job skills, marketing and money management.

“The staff and scholars are very excited about this opportunity to continue to create designs and sell their products,” Turner said. “A partnership with the Hilltop Academy scholars allows those students to develop job coaching, customer service, and sales experience as well as an opportunity to develop skills in working with people of diverse needs.”