Best Buddies Missouri Chapter of the year - AGAIN!!

LSMS has won Best Buddies Missouri Chapter of the year AGAIN!! If you do not know what Best Buddy's is - it is an organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 

Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities. Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). 

Their programs empower people to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently while offering support for their families. Credits to bestbuddies.org. 

Here is Mrs. Meinhardt, LSMS Special School District Teacher to tell us more:

1. What started Best Buddies?

The LaSalle chapter started as a separate club called Friends Helping Friends, but once Best Buddies was shared with the teacher who started our chapter, she officially transitioned the club into a Best Buddies Chapter.

2. Who started it?

One of our retired Special School District teachers, Mrs. Schiller, helped connect our school with the Best Buddy Organization. She led the way, but Mr.Wilken (our retired Principal), Mrs. Powers(Special School District Administrator), Mrs. Toth (6th Grade History), and Mrs. Belgeri (Former LSMS 6th grade history teacher) all helped with getting the program officially started and running smoothly!

3. Why did you join?

-I joined and have continued running the program along with Mrs. Mathes, Coach Griffing, and Coach Stiefer because we all want students to be included. Having a Best Buddies Club in our building not only gives all students a place to come and do fun things together, but it also provides a safe place for new friendships to start and hopefully last for years to come!

 Thank you, Mrs. Meinhardt, for your time and love for all of our LSMS Wildcats!