COVINGTON TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — One area high school in Lackawanna County is focused on creating a more accepting school environment.
Inside North Pocono High School in Covington Township, you can shop till you drop at its school store.
In addition to the merchandise that satisfies your school spirit needs, this store is even more special as it's run by the North Pocono Buddies Club.
“It raises money for our life skills and autistic support classrooms, which also relates to you know taking the kids on field trips, we do bowling every year,” says member Addison Szakmary.
The club is where special education and general education students partner up to form friendships and foster a more inclusive community.
“I love that I get to hang out with my best friends, and have a good time with them,” says Aiden Rivers.
But this week they’re sharing the love through ‘Inclusion Week’ where all week long the entire school participates in different activities.
“It’s even the little things, just seeing kids giving our students high fives in the hallway, just seeing the kindness spread throughout our school during inclusion week and throughout the whole school year.”
Including wearing kindness t-shirts and playing games the weeklong event happens every year, with hopes of helping students better understand the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and bring some joy to everyone.
“There’s a lot of kids in the club and it’s just so nice to see everyone come together, especially this week, just doing fun activities and all being together as a whole,” says Oliva Jardine.
In addition to its Inclusion Week, students with the Buddies Club will be participating in its first ‘unified track and field’ meet Wednesday where special education and general students team up to compete against other schools.
