Number of Participants: 11
Hours Donated: 2
Value of Time Served: $186
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Schools
Date: October 22, 2019
Location:
Massapequa
NY, USA
About:
The Birch Buddies Club is about bringing children together and fostering new friendships at Birch Lane Elementary School in the Massapequa School District. The afterschool club is open to students in fourth and fifth grade from both general education and special education classes.
Teachers Karen Cicalese and Patrick Nash advise the club which meets twice a month. They said it gives students a chance to bond in an informal setting, as children participate in hands-on activities such as craft-making, building with magnetic tiles and Legos, creating with Kinetic sand and reading together. Students rotate throughout the centers each session and the groups are mixed up every time so all members of the club get to know each other.
In addition to promoting acceptance and inclusion, Ms. Cicalese said that the Birch Buddies Club “provides wonderful opportunities for social skill development for everyone and allows kids to get to know other kids they might not have a chance to interact with.”
Zach Magnifico and Ryan McCormack both said they like the club because they get to make new friends and work with others on fun projects.