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LET’S BE PALS!
Students from every corner of Blackhawk Middle School -- including the school’s new Academic Life Skills (ALS) class from the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative (NDSEC) -- came together in December to form a peer-led inclusion club for students of all abilities.
Known as the Peer-Assisted Learning Squad -- or PALS -- the club’s missions is for students of all abilities to build strong and positive relationships and memories.
“It’s amazing to see so many students be excited to create an inclusive school community,” said Brooke Smith, a PALS sponsor and special education teacher at Blackhawk.
PALS has quickly attracted a sizeable following, as more than 60 students have participated in the club’s bi-weekly after-school socials in which they’ve enjoyed decorating Christmas cookies, playing cards and board games, and celebrating Valentine’s Day.
“I couldn’t have imagined a better inclusion opportunity for my students and all the students involved,” said Katie Kaepplinger, who teaches the NDSEC ALS class at Blackhawk.