Special needs students work as a team at football games
2011-10-06 15:58:00
http://www.yumasun.com/news/students-73535-popcorn-football.html
After living in a small town in Washington state, Tammy James was surprised when she came to Yuma eight years ago and learned that her new class of special education students at Cibola High School had gone most of their high school years without ever attending a football game.
But now, the Career Exploration Club adviser said that statistic has changed drastically. Amidst the throngs of people that frequent the Cibola varsity football home games are a group of special education students who sell popcorn and other items to those in attendance.
James recalled that she found an old, unused popcorn maker owned by the Cibola band and borrowed it for the first few years of the program until the group could afford their own machine.
"Making popcorn is relatively cheap, safe and easy," she said. "After two seasons, we were able to purchase our own popcorn machine."
Although Career Exploration Club students have been selling popcorn on campus for the past seven years, they have since expanded to selling of Cibola beaded necklaces and cake pops in addition to manning a punting game for kids to win free "Kickin' it with the Raiders" T-shirts, paid for by community businesses and organizations.
After each game, James estimated that they make about $200 in popcorn sales equalling out to about $1,000 during the course of the football season.
Current Career Exploration Club student Kayla Ramon, 15, said she helps to make the popcorn and necklaces, commenting that she enjoys being included to help fundraise for the program.
Even though the number of people waiting in line to get their popcorn can sometimes be a little stressful, she said, making the popcorn is still her favorite activity to help with.
Her fellow classmate, Karla Monroy, 19, said that before she started helping, she didn't come to the football games. "Now I have a good time. I like to help with everything."
James noted, "Because of this event, our special needs students are included in our school more than ever, to the point that once they exit high school, they are returning to the football game for socialization."
During the past home game, she added, she had four graduated students return to socialize with friends and help out at their booth.
"It's now their social event," James said. "When I see our past special needs students at the football game after exiting, I am very proud in knowing that I have been part of a movement to include our special needs students in our school and breaking a barrier that once was present at our school and that I have given our students a memory that they once never had."
In addition to providing an extra opportunity for special education students to socialize with their fellow classmates, she said, students have the chance to gain valuable job skills that cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
"Students work as a team, learn to communicate with customers, learn food safety through the popcorn making, learn how to make popcorn, develop money skills and are included at our home football games," said James.
"They also have to go up into the stands and sell popcorn, which means that they have to go out of their comfort zone and speak to unknown people. Many of students have difficulty communicating and receive speech services, so giving them an opportunity to develop their speech with teacher support has allowed them to have growth in the area of speech. Also, they are working with real money and using a cash register."
Special education graduate Curtis Champagne, 24, was one of the first students to enter into the Career Exploration Club, James said.
Champagne said he feels that his time working with the group helped him to be better prepared for his job now, where he works with the U.S. Border Patrol as a janitor.
Other past students Katie Sorensen, 21, and Ashley Baker, 22, both agree that because of this program, they gained valuable job skills to work at Yuma Endodontics and Achieve Human Services, respectively.
"It helped me work with other people and have a good work ethic," said Sorensen.
Baker added, "It helped me to get along with other people and learn to work well together."
Sorensen and Baker concluded that they also enjoy coming back to football games to visit and support their former classmates.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858.
But now, the Career Exploration Club adviser said that statistic has changed drastically. Amidst the throngs of people that frequent the Cibola varsity football home games are a group of special education students who sell popcorn and other items to those in attendance.
James recalled that she found an old, unused popcorn maker owned by the Cibola band and borrowed it for the first few years of the program until the group could afford their own machine.
"Making popcorn is relatively cheap, safe and easy," she said. "After two seasons, we were able to purchase our own popcorn machine."
Although Career Exploration Club students have been selling popcorn on campus for the past seven years, they have since expanded to selling of Cibola beaded necklaces and cake pops in addition to manning a punting game for kids to win free "Kickin' it with the Raiders" T-shirts, paid for by community businesses and organizations.
After each game, James estimated that they make about $200 in popcorn sales equalling out to about $1,000 during the course of the football season.
Current Career Exploration Club student Kayla Ramon, 15, said she helps to make the popcorn and necklaces, commenting that she enjoys being included to help fundraise for the program.
Even though the number of people waiting in line to get their popcorn can sometimes be a little stressful, she said, making the popcorn is still her favorite activity to help with.
Her fellow classmate, Karla Monroy, 19, said that before she started helping, she didn't come to the football games. "Now I have a good time. I like to help with everything."
James noted, "Because of this event, our special needs students are included in our school more than ever, to the point that once they exit high school, they are returning to the football game for socialization."
During the past home game, she added, she had four graduated students return to socialize with friends and help out at their booth.
"It's now their social event," James said. "When I see our past special needs students at the football game after exiting, I am very proud in knowing that I have been part of a movement to include our special needs students in our school and breaking a barrier that once was present at our school and that I have given our students a memory that they once never had."
In addition to providing an extra opportunity for special education students to socialize with their fellow classmates, she said, students have the chance to gain valuable job skills that cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
"Students work as a team, learn to communicate with customers, learn food safety through the popcorn making, learn how to make popcorn, develop money skills and are included at our home football games," said James.
"They also have to go up into the stands and sell popcorn, which means that they have to go out of their comfort zone and speak to unknown people. Many of students have difficulty communicating and receive speech services, so giving them an opportunity to develop their speech with teacher support has allowed them to have growth in the area of speech. Also, they are working with real money and using a cash register."
Special education graduate Curtis Champagne, 24, was one of the first students to enter into the Career Exploration Club, James said.
Champagne said he feels that his time working with the group helped him to be better prepared for his job now, where he works with the U.S. Border Patrol as a janitor.
Other past students Katie Sorensen, 21, and Ashley Baker, 22, both agree that because of this program, they gained valuable job skills to work at Yuma Endodontics and Achieve Human Services, respectively.
"It helped me work with other people and have a good work ethic," said Sorensen.
Baker added, "It helped me to get along with other people and learn to work well together."
Sorensen and Baker concluded that they also enjoy coming back to football games to visit and support their former classmates.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858.
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