Peer Plus members take Special Needs Students to mall
Elena Mazzeo wraps her holiday purchases with the help of Peer Plus students.
December 7, 2016
With the holiday season right around the corner, buying loved ones the gifts they deserve is a huge part of this time of year. Peer Plus members here at Hillsborough High School look forward to taking the Special Needs students on a trip to the Bridgewater Commons every December.
“I love seeing how excited everyone gets on our way to the mall,” senior Peer Plus member Katie Myers said. “Being able to help plan the trip reassured me that special education is the right career path for me.”
Each year special education teacher Mary Dubberly organizes a trip to the mall so the Special Needs students at our school can get gifts for their family and friends. Peer Plus members are brought along the trip, assisting the students to successfully get everything needed.
“The peer plus students learn to recognize and appreciate the beauty of people with disabilities,” Dubberly said. “These skills are needed as students transition from their educational setting into their future life in adulthood.”
Prior to the trip, the students have a list prepared of everything they need to buy, including the stores they must go to, and the prices of each item. Peer Plus members guide the students along the way, making sure everything that needs to get done, gets done.
“I absolutely love going on the mall trip and shopping for gifts for everyone’s families,” senior Peer Plus Lizzie Kuhn said. “It’s so much fun and then the next Monday following the trip we get to wrap all the presents we bought.”
The following week after the trip the same groups meet again in school to wrap the presents. After this, the Special Needs students are all ready with their holiday gifts for their closest friends and family!