from the Schroth School. Courtesy RBC
By Judy O’Gorman Alvarez
RED BANK – Members of Red Bank Catholic’s Casey Caregivers Club, Multicultural Club and cheerleaders, hosted a visit from nine friends from the Schroth School, in Ocean Township, on Monday.
The visiting students, many of whom are physically disabled and/or developmentally delayed, spent the day learning about the high school and getting to know their new friends. Together they worked on animal-themed sensory foam puzzles the Casey Caregivers had created and presented to the Schroth students.
The RBC dance company performed and the choir sang “You Light Me Up” for their guests. “Some of the Schroth kids were singing and mouthing the song,” said Mindy Fellingham, RBC school counselor and advisor to the Casey Caregivers Club. “They were really touched by the performances.”
The students also watched a PE class basketball game and took home RBC T-shirts. At least one of the students proudly wore his new shirt.
“We touch their kids as much as they touch ours,” said Fellingham.
The relationship between RBC and the Schroth School has continued for quite a few years. Casey Caregivers volunteer their time, visit the Schroth School and look forward to hosting the students’ visits. Over the years club members have made sensory books, designing and creating storybooks that include various textured pieces, such as cotton balls and leather pieces. “They spend a lot of time creating the books,” said Fellingham. “They’re like scrapbooks, and they’re very popular.
“Our goal is to make a difference for the kids,” she said.
The popular Casey Caregivers Club meets during free time during the school day so it doesn’t conflict with after-school practices and events. Membership in the club, according to Fellingham, fills up very quickly.
The club focuses on reaching children who have cancer or are suffering from long-term illness or disabilities. Other projects include: visiting patients at the K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, raising money for charities and collecting and sending supplies to U.S. troops at Christmas time.
“We’re very much a community-service oriented school here,” said Fellingham.
“We are showing them (the RBC students) different ways you can make a difference,” said Fellingham. “It doesn’t have to be one on one, you can raise money, too.” Recently the club raised $1,200 in a penny drive for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.
The ongoing relationship between RBC and the Schroth School has fostered a comfortable relationship between the schools.
In fact, Robert Abatemarco, RBC principal, has been asked to speak at the next Schroth graduation, and the club has been nominated for the Young Leaders Award for Humanitarian Honorees sponsored by the LADACIN (Lifetime Assistance for Developmental and Challenging Individual Needs) Network.
Fellingham says they often see familiar faces from the Schroth School over the years. “We’ve watched them grow throughout the school years,” she said.
She points out that most of the Schroth students use wheelchairs, some have very limited mobility and use their eyes to point, and some use a speaking device to communicate.
“Many of them are locked in these bodies and are just brilliant,” she said.
Once the students introduced themselves on Monday’s visit, and expressed their likes and dislikes, such as in music and sports, students from both schools found the similarities. “All of a sudden these kids realized: they’re just like us,” Fellingham said. “It made for a (good) comfort level.”
What is more rewarding for Fellingham is how some of her students have been inspired to continue their relationships and sometimes their areas of study. Many of the Casey Caregivers go onto volunteer during the summer months at the Schroth School.
“We’ve had kids go on to careers in occupational therapy and teaching special needs,” she said. “This program has launched careers.”
