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Joining Lunch Buddies Club a positive experience for student By Cameron Patkos, Grade 12, Oakville Trafalgar H.S. 11 · Friday, February 15, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com A fter living in Bermuda for nearly 12 years, in the summer of 2011 my family and I moved back to southern Ontario and the Town of Oakville. The idea of starting at a new high school left me apprehensive, so I began thinking about what co-curricular activities I might join for the coming school year. I began by searching on the school's website to see what it had to offer. I came across the Lunch Buddies Club (www. lunchbuddiesclub.com) and my curiosity got the better of me. The Lunch Buddies Club is special to Oakville-Trafalgar High School. Members volunteer their lunch period by spending that time with their peers who have Down syndrome. Our goal is to integrate Jake and Sam into the high school environment. Every day, we eat together in the school's cafeteria followed by an activity such as playing video games, drawing or playing soccer. I originally joined Lunch Buddies Club so I could meet new friends and gain volunteer hours. What I did not realize was how much I would learn from joining. Having never worked with special needs persons in the past, I was not sure what to expect and was admittedly a little nervous. Pre-K to Grade 12 Grammar It quickly became apparent Jake and Sam are like the rest of us in high school, wanting to fit in and make friends; they do not want to be treated differently. Jake loves to listen to music, namely Elvis Presley. He can perform his iconic moves almost flawlessly and never without the widest, most infectious grin that could make anyone smile along. Although, at first, Sam needed a little more coaxing to join in with everyone, it was well worth the extra effort. This year, we helped to organize a Variety Show showcasing the talents of many OTHS students and staff. All of the proceeds went to research for a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sam performed a song on a virtual instrument on her iPad for the audience and did an amazing job. In previous years, the Lunch Buddies Club was able to get grants from TD Friends of the Environment and Metro grocery stores for environmental projects focusing on litWriting Homework Math French terless lunches in school, and marketing and selling reusable lunch bags and water bottles. Both Sam and Jake have taken part in all of these initiatives alongside their Lunch Buddies mentors. The experience of joining Lunch Buddies and the time I have spent with Jake and Sam has truly given me a better understanding of human nature and a desire to continue working with others. If you are a teacher or student interested in participating in an upcoming Kids Speak Out - School News column featured in the Beaver, please e-mail Tom Dykes at ellergreen58@gmail.com. available for September 2013 limited SpACe At HSC, my ACAdemiCS Are ACCelerAted And enriCHed. I want to better the world around me by designing and building an energy efficient car that will not affect the environment in a bad way. - Current Student Apply nOW Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for students from M2 and PK to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. We are accessible and affordable. Call Scott Barton 905-389-1367 The Best s Come From Understanding Approach the process of learning properly and you wind up creating more than hard-working students with good marks. You build motivated, self-assured, independent thinkers who really understand what they learn. That means better grades...on every test, in every subject, and on every report card. A' Reading Study Skills CLEARANCE FLOOR MODEL SALE Call today, or visit oxfordlearning.com Oakville South 905.849.4027 oakvillesouth@oxfordlearning.com Oakville North East 905.257.1207 oakvillene@oxfordlearning.com Oakville North 905.469.1929 oakville@oxfordlearning.com