Students from Kennedy Middle School‘s Program for Exceptional Children (PEC) and general-education students got to know each other a little better on the court as they participated in physical-education activities together during Inclusive Schools Week. Seven of the more severely disabled students had fun bowling, playing volleyball and trying baseball in the gym, assisted by sixth- and eighth-grade students.
Physical-education teacher Fabrice Aime (Kennedy’s 2010 Teacher of the Year), adapted PE coach Vanessa Morton, PE coach Cecilia Wooten, Beverly Easterling (PEC lead teacher), and eighth-grade math teacher LaQuise Glass helped monitor the action.
Easterling was amazed at how quickly students came together during activities, including general-education students who previously weren’t the most social around PEC students. (“One girl just came up to me and said, ‘Can we do this every week?’ Easterling said.) A student with a more severe disability normally becomes hyperactive in group settings, but grew calmer and more relaxed over the course of the hour.
