High school Best Buddies students introduce new chapter to school board
January 01, 2024 | Tea Area School District 41-5, School Districts, South Dakota
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Advisors and student leaders from the high school's Best Buddies chapter gave the board a student-led presentation celebrating the program's first-year activities and community supports.
Advisors Abby Gellickson and Bridal Donlin introduced the new chapter and explained they and student leaders attended training in Sioux Falls. The advisors said the program is free for students to join and that matching T-shirts were donated by Octane. "My name is Abby Gellickson. I'm a high school English teacher, and I'm one of the advisors of the club," Gellickson said during the presentation.
Student leaders Ava Ophlin (president) and Ava Petrick (treasurer) described the club's mission and activities: inclusion, leadership, and weekly communication with their 'buddies.' Ophlin told the board the chapter has about 40 students and detailed three early events: a match party, a combined holiday party (with donated Dairy Queen blizzards), and a Best Buddy basketball event where each match received concessions and halftime recognition.
Students demonstrated interaction with matched peers during the presentation and described plans for outings such as going to a movie and more in-school and community events. Advisors and students publicly thanked staff and board members for their support, specifically naming Alexis Foster for assistance with communication and operations.
The board praised the students and invited them to take photos with the board for publicity; the presenters thanked the board and donors and departed the meeting following recognition.
The presentation was informational; no board action was required. The program's outreach and no-fee model were highlighted as part of the district's inclusive extracurricular offerings.
Advisors Abby Gellickson and Bridal Donlin introduced the new chapter and explained they and student leaders attended training in Sioux Falls. The advisors said the program is free for students to join and that matching T-shirts were donated by Octane. "My name is Abby Gellickson. I'm a high school English teacher, and I'm one of the advisors of the club," Gellickson said during the presentation.
Student leaders Ava Ophlin (president) and Ava Petrick (treasurer) described the club's mission and activities: inclusion, leadership, and weekly communication with their 'buddies.' Ophlin told the board the chapter has about 40 students and detailed three early events: a match party, a combined holiday party (with donated Dairy Queen blizzards), and a Best Buddy basketball event where each match received concessions and halftime recognition.
Students demonstrated interaction with matched peers during the presentation and described plans for outings such as going to a movie and more in-school and community events. Advisors and students publicly thanked staff and board members for their support, specifically naming Alexis Foster for assistance with communication and operations.
The board praised the students and invited them to take photos with the board for publicity; the presenters thanked the board and donors and departed the meeting following recognition.
The presentation was informational; no board action was required. The program's outreach and no-fee model were highlighted as part of the district's inclusive extracurricular offerings.
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