Best Buddies is an international organization that focuses on bringing social inclusion and social opportunities to students with special needs.
The 2014-2015 Best Buddies extracurricular group had an amazing year! Best Buddies is an international organization that focuses on bringing social inclusion and social opportunities to students with special needs. We have had an established Best Buddies group at Brooks since 2002, our first year in the new building. This year was special for many reasons, but the main reason was our explosion in membership! For the majority of meetings we had 50-60 students in attendance. It’s not surprising since we are the most fun club at Brooks!
Since we focus on social inclusion, it’s important that we plan activities that are fun for all members. Some of the best were making gingerbread houses as a group, having a giant birthday party for all of our members, and of course, prepping and putting on a talent show! This was the first year that we joined forces with Special Olympics Project Unify, another social inclusion club here at Brooks to put on a Spread the Word to End the Word spirit week. Each day had a thoughtful and heartfelt theme, and included dressing up, music in the hallway, and activities during lunch periods. Students were the leaders for all ideas and the execution of all of the activities. Daily themes included ‘I have a dream to end the R word (PJ’s day), Be the Hero, Put a cap on the R word (hat day), Stomp the R-Word (wear boots). Student response was on target and very knowledgeable about why it was important to support the cause of stopping the use of the R Word in our society.
The Project Unify/Best Buddies group won 3rd place in Ilinois for a video we created to spread the word to end the word! Check out the video!
Best Buddies has, over time, created lasting friendships between all students who have participated in the program. We end each year with a celebratory Potluck banquet. We share food, give out awards, celebrate friendships and say goodbye to the 8th grade students. Many of them will continue on to the Best Buddies program at the high school, and all of them have been changed because of their participation in this program.