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Variety Students Learn Math and Scheduling Skills During First-time College Visit
On Friday, December 5, 2008 the students of Variety’s After School Program at Kensington High School experienced their very first college basketball game. Before the fun and games began, the students had to face some challenges. They had to figure out how they were going to get to Drexel, what time they had to leave school, and what time they had to leave the game in order to arrive back at school to meet their parents on time. Students used the internet and SEPTA schedules to plan our trip, and they even calculated how much it would cost to travel to and from this destination.
When the students arrived on campus, each was enthralled. They saw the dormitories, fraternity houses, college students, and the daily college life. Their curiosity raised many questions about college and provided new goals for some of the students’ futures.
When the game began, there was tons of entertainment. The band was drumming away, the dancers were full of energy, and the cheerleaders were flying through the air. Oh… and the basketball players.....they were good too! It was interesting to see the mannerisms of the children with disabilities in these situations. The Autistic children spent the majority of the time mimicking all behaviors of the spectators including clapping, booing, and chanting. They were simply trying to fit in and seek the social acceptance of society. The Life Skills students spent their time focusing on the game and asking many questions about the rules of basketball.
Overall this was a fabulous experience. It not only reinforced the skills that the children learn throughout the school day, but it gave them a fond memory. Allyson Zeisler, Variety’s Site Director at its Kensington After School Program also has fond memories. "I want to thank Variety for giving me this opportunity to enrich the lives of these children. I left that day with an unexplainable feeling of pride. I felt a sense of internal happiness simply because the students were happy and having fun. I am fortunate that I was able to provide all of these children with a new experience." Zeisler added, It was an experience that many of us take for granted and one that will be the first of many more to come (with the help of Variety) for these economically disadvantaged and disabled children."
