-In This Issue-


Summer Fun
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Summer Fun
By Robyn Stack Reagan
Circle of Friends Program Director


For all of us here at Circle of Friends, summer 2017 marks not only the end of the school year, but also the beginning of our Circle Summer Program that provides summer fun to youth and young adults with special needs. Our community-based program brings awareness to others about how easily people with and without special needs interact.
 
In early August we will launch The Inclusion Blog, through which we will offer resources, ideas and opinion articles. If you are a blogger or are otherwise knowledgeable about special needs and local community resources, we would love to feature your story! For more information, contac [email protected] .
  
Wishing everyone a summer filled with loving magical moments!
  
In Friendship, 

Robyn

News newsnews
N.J. Students From Different Worlds Become Prom Queen, King
Scott Rapoport reports for CBS2 

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - It was a prom to remember for a New Jersey high school student.

As CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported, her date was an example of the power of respecting others in spite of their differences.

At Middletown High School, you will find a very unique young lady in senior Claire DiGiorgio. Everyone at the school knows her. Watch the video

Special Needs Students at Home 
Within Circle of Friends

For the past several months, 13-year-old Alejandra Ortega has been learning sign language at Kennedy Middle School, but not as part of any formal class instruction.

Instead, the seventh grader has been learning sign language from her newfound friends in the Circle of Friends - The Path to Inclusion program.
Read the full article here>>
Upcoming Events  Upcomingevents

The Inclusion Blog, August 2017 

Circle of Friends is excited to announce the launch of a new resource, The Inclusion Blog. Set to go live in early August, this blog will provide our families and administrators with resources, activity ideas as well as featuring well-known guest bloggers.  Stay tuned for the launch date! 
Bright Ideasb
A San Benito CoF student officer invites a CoF friend to Prom with a cupcake.
Adapted Prom
Casandra S. Guerrero
Speech & Language Pathologist, MS CCC
Circle of Friends Club Advisor 

One of my CoF officers asked one of our students to our adapted prom today. He was so excited. Just the day before he was telling me that he would never be asked to a dance and feeling really down. She made him a big chocolate cupcake that said "Prom?" 

We do sometimes have a group go to the "regular" prom as well, but this one has the music volume and other sensory stuff adapted for our students, the cooking class makes treats, and ASB sets it up with a theme (Paris this year). We have a lot of gen ed peers that go, many who aren't even in CoF, and the feedback we always hear is that it is more fun than "regular" prom. :)

 
 
Students loved visiting a fortune telling booth at this school faire. 
Circle of Friends Brings Good Fortune
By Amy Martz
Para-Educator for Marc Yonan
Amador High School

The school faire was wonderful and we were able to get the word out to a lot of families that attended.  The kids that visited our booth loved learning how to make the  fortune   tellers  and thought they would use them at school and home with their friends and family. 

Michaelynn, Jami, Ellie, Chloe and I all took turns helping kids make  fortune   tellers  or do a coloring page. The event itself was a big success with lots of fun booths and things for kids to do. 
Circle of Friends sashes are a great way to recognize the contribution each student has made to a Circle of Friends chapter.
Incorporating CoF on Grad day
By Sarah Corley, CoF parent

My sweet daughter graduated from high school last night. Years ago her teacher brought the Circle of Friends club to their school & last night she & her friends represented the club with these beautiful sashes her teacher had made!! Circle Of Friends has made a huge difference in not only my daughters life but also the young adults at her school. 
Sponsorship Announcements Grants
We extend a heartfelt T hank You  to Assistance League of Santa Monica for their support of our 2017 Circle Summer Program.    
Your generosity enables Circle of Friends to provides youth with disabilities to improve social and life skills while having fun!


 
Get Involved!
Looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of students with disabilities?
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