Success Stories

Shelby-Rising City COF Hosts Student-Led Birthday Party

 Shared by Stacy Stewart

The love of a Circle of Friends lives on! These members bowled on the Unified Bowling Team together. They then went ahead and planned a bowling birthday party for one of the members without the help of the teacher! They took it upon themselves to carry on the friendship outside of school! 

Teaching Other Perspectives

Shared by Kylie Sousa

Our focus student has had a difficult time transitioning back to her school routine since winter break. Her behaviors continued to increase on a daily. It escalated to the point that she was having to be removed from her 2nd-grade classroom. It wasn't until last week when an EMERGENCY Circle of Friends meeting was called and I had the mentor students share how it made them feel when she disrupts class and makes poor choices. One Circle of Friends member shared that it made her sad to see this student make poor choices because poor choices don't earn reward trips with the class to the skating rink or bowling. It was at that moment, that the focus students stated, "I'm sorry, All done with that!" I'm pleased to announce that it's been a full week and these poor behaviors are gone! 

Social Behavior Mapping is an excellent, easy to use workbook to teach our kids how to understand how their behaviors affect others. Check it out here! 

Basketball Court Success

Shared by Ashley Forbes

As part of a way to include my life skills students in our school community, one of my students who has Down Syndrome played on the gen ed girls C team basketball team!! It was so amazing to see her not only grow as a player but have chances to grow her circle of friends at school! By the end of the season, in the last game she finally made a basket!! Each game she was partnered up with a "Buddy" who assisted her in the game by showing her where to go, who to throw the ball to and running up and down the court with her hand in hand!! My student had an experience she will never forget! 

Tip: Modifying the game/practice to fit her needs was so important for her to have fun/ get the most out of it! 

Peer Buddies Looking Out For Each Other

Shared by Ariana Struck

I have a student who has ADHD and is also on the spectrum. Usually he is only able to tell me no one likes him because they all ask him to stop talking. Since starting Circle of Friends he is able to understand how to ask someone to be his friend and has told me he has friends now. This group of kids is great and loves to work with kids on the spectrum. I have two students targeted in this group and our second student actually came up to me to show the giant box of crayons one of the students brought him. This student had asked Santa for a gift of crayons for our Circle student because he loved colors and he asked that it has a crayon sharpener because he loves to sharpen pencils so naturally the student agreed a crayon sharpener was necessary.

Ariana's Tip:

Large bolts and make great sensory items that are quiet and helpful to students. And when I say large I mean large. Large enough to be heavy to hold and where fingers don't get stuck. I got this tip from an autistic adult who keeps one in his pocket to fiddle with but feels more comfortable holding than a fidget. Also chalkboard tables. So amazing painted my student table with chalk and the kids love it for a sensory break.

Simple Meeting Activity, Big Results

Shared by Kerri Rothanzl

One of our new focus students gets so excited for our Circle of Friends group each week. He loves to "perform" and gets a chance to showcase his latest interest to the group. This week, during his share time, he made a connection with another focus student by explaining the boy's interest in dinosaurs and crocodiles - - it was priceless to see them connect! Neither of them probably would have initiated this interaction on their own outside of COF. 

Tip from Kerri: Meet with your group often, even if you don't have an activity planned, and just let them talk. These students may not get the opportunity to connect with their peers otherwise. 

Pitt-Hopkins Awareness at Shelby-Rising City

Shared by Stacy Stewart

September 18 is Pitt-Hopkins Awareness Day. Shelby Rising City celebrated the day on September 16. The staff and students wore blue, facts about Pitt-Hopkins were read daily over the announcements, and the Circle of Friends group raised $200 on Friday. The COF group sold coffee and blue frosted glazed donuts at The Grind Coffee Shop which is operated and ran by the COF Group. The $200 is being donated to the Pitt- Hopkins Foundation to further research. 

Positive Social Interactions at Scottsbluff

Shared by Danica Olsen-Vincent

Our group has reached out to more than 7 students with ASD!  In additon to this, we have students with ASD that have now become mentors after two years of being in Circle of Friends.  We are seeing postive social interactions every day with our students with special needs.  Here is a picture of the Special Olympics Torch Run.  We had the biggest group show up to event! 

Life Skills Into Friendships

An update from Sheldon Public Schools, 

Rebecca Hoobler (SCIP-Student Center Individualized Program Teacher) was excited when she came to Shelton Public Schools this fall.  She noticed a couple of students on her caseload could be involved in the Nebraska Circle of Friends project.  What started out as just students’ specific grade levels has turned into a school project. Students who were shy in the first semester are now participating in the second semester.

The activities range from monthly breakfast clubs (1 elementary and 1 middle/high school), lunch buddies, recess escorts, game challenges, making meals together, inviting friends to special events, to even friendships with the boys basketball team.   Everywhere you go there is something happening all the time.

From eating alone in the lunchroom to eating with several groups of students.  A student went from having 1 to 1 adult support to having recess escorts take him to recess.   Other grade levels are excited to jump right in and participate in all the activities, not just those assigned to the students.  Rebecca has had to say no a few times because of what the activity was but enjoys the time where she can have all students together. 

The highlight of the year was when her student was allowed to help the boys basketball team.  His older brother plays basketball and since he loves his music and enjoys attending sporting events why not find a way to include him.  He jumped at a chance to help out the team.  He talked to the athletic director for the district to see if there was anything he could do to help. He  said yes and was excited.  He assists in making sure all the towels are clean and ready for the game, the gym floor is swept, filling up every single basketball ball, and even washing the practice jerseys.  What started out as learning some self help skills has turned into friendships for him.  He knows all the players by name and each player acknowledges what he brings to the team.  It has been exciting to watch how he lights up every time you say what are you doing for the team today? He was asked what is your favorite part of working for the team?  He said………”Attending the games, watching them play and of course the music.” 

Players and coaches have also enjoyed him being on the team.  A coach says the following:  He is very responsible in checking with me to see if we have anything that needs washed for the boys basketball team and he has been sweeping the gym floor before practices to help us out.  I think it's a pretty neat connection for him to help the team out as he has an older brother that is on the team. I've seen him getting pretty pumped up at games watching the team play, playing air guitar with the band/music, telling guys ``Good luck tonight" in the hallway during the day.

A week before Christmas break the team and  their coaches surprised him with a special gift to Dairy Queen.   In SCIP, he cannot stop talking about the team and looks forward to being with his friends aka basketball players long after the basketball season is over.  He is a junior at Shelton Public Schools.  He encourages anyone to come out to cheer on the basketball team and see all the great things happening at Shelton Public Schools.

Norris High School Circle of Friends Make Ornaments and Cards for  Area Assisted Living Residents 

Shared by Mary Schlieder and Jen Faz 

The holidays present a perfect opportunity to help our kids reach out to others.   

Homecoming at Oakland-Craig

Wendi Anderson, Oakland-Craig

Just wanted to send out a group picture from the Homecoming dance.  This was the first dance that our target student has been to and he is now a senior.   He had the best time ever.  He would not tell me about the dance until we met with the entire group.  

New AAP Circle of Friends Video 

Our friends at the Autism Action Partnership have just released a new Circle of Friends video. Take a look...you might see your school...Feel free to share far and wide! 

Peer Education Works

Mary Schlieder, Norris High School

Lo and behold, one of my 10th grade students on the spectrum ended up in an elective class called L.I.F.E. It's a wonderfully helpful class that gets kids ready for, you guessed it, life, however it's a class loaded with group work, projects, and discussions. Everything this kid struggles with. The third day of school the teacher contacted me with a description of his non-participatory, shut down behavior and a request for help. So, I went into her room, took an entire class period to read the book, This is Asperger Syndrome, show the video, Just Like You Autism, take questions, and offer suggestions on how to positively interact with and support their classmate. It worked! The benefits to this student, his peers, the teacher, and myself were well worth the time I spent teaching this lesson. Here's the email I received from the teacher the next day:

Class went well today.  Kids talked with him and waited for a response.  He gave them eye contact!  He answered questions.  He participated in an interactive 'up and down' game.  He looked at me when he needed it repeated or was confused.  That was my cue.  He laughed a few times.  He was prompted by a student to get a worksheet from me. :)  Good, good day. 

Focus Student Shares Thoughts

Diane Crouch, Beatrice Public Schools

Written by one of our focus students at Twin Ridge Elementary, Bellevue.  He shared his thoughts on Autism, making his most important words with 'word art!' It reads:

Autism

Your brain is a computer!

There is different feelings!

We can make friends.

People sense things differently.

It helps when you are around people.

Circle of Friends is important in this school.

Hope you love it as much as we do!  Diane and Melanie/TR Circle Facilitators

Alma Helps Others

 Shared by Jessica Howsden and Tammy Wells

Give Alma Circle of Friends an idea and they will expand it.  Give them a mission, and they will embrace it.  Jessica Howsden, Alma’s Circle of Friends Facilitator asked her Circle of Friends groups to come up with an idea to help others.  Although Mrs. Howsden was initially talking about helping a friend; that idea expanded when a student suggested donating to the Harlan County Caring Cupboard.  Each Circle of Friends group started talked about the importance of giving the gift of food and how much that would help families not just individuals.  Each group came up with a list of items.  Soon the idea of helping others turned into a mission of giving that the students embraced.  On Friday, November 18th the Alma Circle of Friends put their mission into action as they and their sponsors, Jenni Gutherie, Amy Donley, Tammy Wells, Jana Hammond, Jessica Howsden and Nora Christensen gathered together and went shopping in area businesses before meeting at the Caring Cupboard to take part in not only giving of goods but giving in their generosity of friendship.  Mrs. Howsden believes that giving to those in need during the holidays can be turned into powerful lessons that teach compassion, empathy, and meaning to children. Alma Circle of Friends have proven just that.

Oakland Craig Success Story

Shared by Wendi Anderson

Here are the Oakland Craig Circle of Friends enjoying lunch and playing UNO.  It is so great to see the target student interact during COF.  Since the first day we met he has been a different kid.  He seems to be so happy and more social during the school day.  I have had many teachers say that COF is working.  I talked to his mother and she said that he was so excited when he heard he was going to be doing COF again.  He will ask me almost every Wednesday, "Is there COF today?"  

Tri County 3rd Graders Model Positive Social Skills

Shared by Jenna Fehringer

Throughout the school year, the Tri County third graders have been working on modeling positive social skills and learning about friendships for all students. To celebrate their hard work, on Monday, April 24th the third graders went on an outing in the community.  We went to Chautauqua park in Beatrice to eat lunch.  Then, the students attended the Orange Owl Painting Studio to paint a canvas. The canvases were then on display in the Tri County elementary library. 

Twin Ridge Circle of Friends Fun and Social Skills

Shared by Diane Crouch

The Twin Ridge Circle of Friends in Bellevue celebrated the end of our first quarter with a fall party.  We met at the local apple orchard and pumpkin patch to select produce for the party, then returned to our school gym for a fun filled afternoon of games, food, and crafts.  The students planned the party themselves, learning to work cooperatively to make decisions on activities and food that all would enjoy.   Questions and concerns that were discussed by the group included:  

Can we bring our own toys to a party? What if we don't like the games or the food? How do we respond when someone asks us to play?  

The students invited their families to the party.  Our goal of encouraging families to meet each other and begin to form friendships was off to a very good beginning.