FSMA has some BEST BUDDIES!

Earlier this year, FSMA became one of 5 middle schools in the state to offer a Best Buddies Chapter. BESTBUDDIES® builds one-to-one friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), through school and community friendship programs that provide socialization opportunities to help erase the invisible line that often separates students or adults with and without IDD. As a program school

FSMA’s program has focused on building awareness for inclusion. Our Best Buddies Team has met monthly and created school-wide activities to support the mission of inclusion. One of the newest initiatives was FSMA’s Week of Inclusion. Each day focused on a different activity – from Inside Out Day to emphasize that it is what is on the inside that matters to “Rock Your Socks” Day to promote awareness of Down’s Syndrome – this team has created some incredible opportunities for our entire school to build awareness and grow in our promotion of inclusion.

This week, our team presented Best Buddies with a check for over $200 that they raised in fundraiasing efforts this year! Thanks to Laura Schwait, Sarah Bateman and Lizzy Zielinski for leading out Best Buddies Team and a huge thank you to the amazing group of kids who chose to be a part of this important work. FSMA’s Best Buddies Team Members – Audrey Donohue, Megan Angeny, Nora Hughes, Hadley Hinmon, Reagan Metz, Anna Kegelman, Celia Wichmann, Lynn Sims, Ava Mellinger, Sara McNier, and Cherish Little.