Shoreham-Wading River School District’s Play Pals encourages inclusion and awareness of students with a variety of educational needs. Miller Avenue School students and advisers Mrs. Aimee Schwabe and Mrs. Courtney Von Bargen shared their vision and goals during the Oct. 11 Board of Education meeting.

“Play Pals provides the young students an opportunity to grow with a mutual understanding and respect for their peers with disabilities and, in turn, enables students to create a more inclusive community as they grow in life,” Mrs. Schwabe said.

The group holds monthly meetings to learn through play. Three students, Maya Gonzalez, Logan Pons and Molly Von Bargen, shared what Play Pals means to them, from making friends to just pure fun. Students sang and signed “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” followed by a slideshow presentation they created that showcased them sharing memories over the past year.

“It was simply a magical experience,” Mrs. Von Bargen said.

Date Added: 10/17/2022