During the school day on October 4, Interact Club members and Peer Mentor and Buddy Club members participated in the annual “You Got a Friend Day.” The event is hosted at Twin Lakes where students from different schools in the Pittsburgh area buddied up with students with functional needs to revel in a day full of fun activities. You’ve Got a Friend Day recognizes children with functional needs in order to provide inclusion on a wide level.
Many Norwin clubs, including Interact and Peer Mentor and Buddy Club, went to Twin Lakes for the whole school day to spend time with their special assigned buddy. From 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Norwin students participated in a wide variety of activities, including bounce houses, swings, dancing, and a petting zoo.
The Interact Club primarily focuses on interacting with the community in order to make the community a better place and provide inclusivity across Norwin High School.
“You Got a Friend Day is all about inclusion and making sure that everyone has a great time,” Teresa Solano (11), a co-treasurer of the Interact Club, said. “Whenever you volunteer to be involved in it, you are paired up with someone that has special needs and you go about the day with them.”
Both the Interact Club and Peer Mentor and Buddy Clubs enjoyed many activities at Twin Lakes with their assigned functional needs partner.
“The students [Norwin students and functional needs students] spend time together,” Mrs. Spang, the advisor of Interact Club, said. “There is music for dancing, paddle boats, fishing, an animal show, bouncy houses, a petting zoo, large games, train rides, and just hanging out.”
From dancing to train rides, at least 40 kids from Norwin volunteered to go to Twin Lakes along with a lot of other local high schools. Each student spent time at different activities, with the petting zoo being the crowd favorite.
“My buddy loved the petting zoo and we spent most of our time there,” Aurora Penrose (11), the historian and board of directors of Interact Club, said.
Norwin students provided many opportunities in a “safe place” for students to build friendships with special needs children that may not get the chance to build close relationships with other people their age. The You Got a Friend Day at Twin Lakes shows that inclusion and acceptance are vital in order to build a unified society.
“This day is important to me because I really enjoy helping out others and making them happy,” Solano said. “It makes me happy to see other kids having a great day and being able to do activities they may not be able to do in other places. I think this day is important to others because it kind of is a ‘safe place’ where you won’t be judged and you can just be you!”
While Interact Club members participated in You Got a Friend Day, the Peer Mentor and Buddy Club also contributed to the fun and inclusion that happened on October 4th at Twin Lakes.
“This day is extremely important to me because it brings all the students together to have a fun day to celebrate friendships,” Mrs. Haraburda, the Peer Mentor and Buddy Club advisor, said.
Norwin’s Peer Mentor and Buddy Club is a club at the high school that runs the Knights Cafe at the high school and enables students to support others who have intellectual or physical disabilities and encourages unity among all students.
Along with the Interact Club, the Peer Mentor and Buddy Club participated in You Got a Friend Day at Twin Lakes in order to help many students feel comfortable in a society where everyone is equal. PMBC has continually aided in the unity of all students, so that all students feel as though they have good friendships.
“Peer Mentor and Buddy Club participates in this [You Got a Friend Day at Twin Lakes] because this is what our club is all about… building unity and friendships with ALL students,” Haraburda said. “Kindness and Love is what is also represented.”
All of the students involved in Peer Mentor and Buddy Club strongly believe that inclusivity among all students is vital in order to provide a safe environment for everyone.
“I think inclusivity is so important, especially for young and developing children,” Addi Baer (11), the treasurer of the Peer Mentor and Buddy Club, said. “The Peer Buddy Club pushed attendance, and as an officer I felt as I should lead by example. All kids deserve to feel included, especially by peers. In the games, we played out their needs first, when in most environments they aren’t considered.”
