What’s Right With Our Schools: Hunter Middle School’s Adaptive P-E Program
OOLTEWAH, TN (WDEF) – Friday mornings are a magical time at Hunter Middle School. That’s when students of all abilities gather in the gym to take part in the adaptive P-E program. Everyone has a great time, and you can see why in tonight’s What’s Right With Our Schools.
“Uh Friday mornings is our club time. So we’re in here waiting uh to be dismissed, the clubs that’s usually around little after 7:15 we get settled. Our student aids will push some of our kids in the wheelchairs down to the gym. Line up!”
“This morning we’re going to play a little bit of volleyball with some beach balls. And we’re going to have bowling set up so they can go through different stations and play in the games they want to play. We get to do it on Friday mornings we do clubs. And the kids uh they just get a chance to participate in different things that they enjoy. Um, every kid in the school is assigned to a club. But the club that we do is Adaptive PE. And we bring in uh students to come in and play and help with Adaptive PE. And just build relationships is really what it is for our kids and our regular kids out in the classrooms. Some of the kids uh that come to this club aren’t our student aids. They’re other kids that want to be involved in our department and interact with our kids and love on them and stuff,” said Joseph Mayo, IDS Teacher Exceptional Education Teacher, Hunter Middle School.
“YAY!!!”
“I like being in this club because we get to hang out with the kids more than just doing other stuff like work. And it’s more fun because you get like to build bonds and relationships with the kids. And it’s really important because sometimes they don’t get that love from other people. And I think they deserve that love so that’s why I choose this club,” said Peyton Mayo, 8th Grade Volunteer, Hunter Middle School.
“Some kids, they might like, think they might think it’s weird… but I think it’s great that these kids want to do the same things that we want to do. So, it’s just really fun to just teach them,” said Easton Wagner, 8th Grader Volunteer, Hunter Middle School.
“I like hanging around because they make everyone feel included. And everyone’s just so kind in this environment,” said Sophie Bonner, 8th Grader, Hunter Middle School.
“Oh this is my pride and joy. This is my baby. I was fortunate enough at Red Bank growing up with the help of Emma Martin and some other people. That I was shown that it’s okay to love everybody no matter what. And just to get everybody involved to the best of their abilities,” said Conagher Smith, Multi Exceptionality Teacher, Hunter Middle School.
“So, whenever she is limited. It forces her to come out of her comfort zone. That she would normally just sit back and watch. So this makes her get a little bit more interactive and do more. So, it’s amazing to have them all Mr. Smith does a great job bringing other kids into the classroom. And she is building relationships with students that she wouldn’t typically see. So, it’s been great,” said Jessica Miller, Parent.
“Oh yeah!!”
“I just think it’s relationships. You know, just, it’s important for people to understand that everybody’s different from one another. And that doesn’t, that doesn’t make anybody less than anybody else, or. You know we’re all different in our own way. So I said getting in there and playing with them, get to know the kids and just understand how they operate. They’re kids just like everybody else. And it’s just a bunch of kids playing as kids. And it’s fun to watch,” said Joseph Mayo.
