When South Allegheny High School senior Cindy Sit is living on her own someday, she will know how to drain her hot water tank to save money and extend its life expectancy.

But for now, Cindy, who wants to be a nurse, is content to use her newly acquired practical life skills to make chicken soup from scratch for her family.

Cindy, of Glassport, attends the weekly, noncredited after-school Life Lessons taught by high school English teacher Michael Lisi, who volunteers his services for the class. Although participation is not required, 12 to 20 students attend all or some of the classes.

“It’s amazing how many of the regular, day-to-day things that we do and they have no clue,” Mr. Lisi said. “They are so appreciative to learn.”

Besides watching videos of Mr. Lisi making chicken soup, draining and flushing a hot water tank, cooking a hard-boiled egg and more, students received hands-on training on changing a flat tire.

At tax time in April, he will show them how to fill out a tax form.

“It is all designed to get them to survive in the world and be productive people,” Mr. Lisi said.

The idea for the classes surfaced last year during his 12th-grade English class, which requires career exploration research projects. Part of that involved tasks such as deciphering paychecks, budgeting and finding a place to live.

Overwhelmed by what they would have to know to live on their own, one student commented that she would graduate and know nothing. When asked to elaborate, she said she did not even know how to change a flat tire.

“So we scheduled time after school and invited all the kids to see how to change a flat tire. It grew from there,” Mr. Lisi said.

A list was generated of what students wanted to learn before they graduate.

Senior Michael Garancsi, who plans to attend college to study mechanical engineering, changed a tire for the first time.

“If I am ever in an emergency, where I need to change a tire, I will know how to and get home safe,” the Glassport teen said.

Students also learned how to rotate the tires.

“It was an opportunity to show they don’t have to get a tire place to do it — and I got my tires rotated,” Mr. Lisi said.

Emily McNabb of Glassport, who wants to be a physical therapist, said she plans to attend as many sessions as possible so that she can save time and money doing things herself in the future.

In a month, Mr. Lisi’s English class will be studying the “Lord of the Flies” novel about a group of boys stranded on a deserted island.

In tandem with that, Mr. Lisi’s after-school instruction will include a video of himself starting a fire. He will bring in the necessary materials and demonstrate how to use them.

“Teachers teach because they like to help kids learn and progress in life, so this is all part of the gravy of teaching,” he said.

Margaret Smykla, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: January 27, 2017, 5:00 a.m.