YORKTOWN HEIGHTS – Some students at Pines Bridge School have received a new challenge – to become teachers as well as students. A group of 12 special-needs students attending Pines Bridge, located on the Yorktown Heights campus of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, have teamed up with students at the Regional Alternative High School at Fox Meadow.

Teachers of the two classes hope the collaboration will encourage the two groups to help each other. The classes met for the first time in May and will together plan some fundraising activities for the Pines Bridge School.

Mary Ann Alvord is one of the elementary teachers at the Pines Bridge School. Her class consists of 12 multiply-handicapped students ranging in age from 6 to 9 years old. Ms. Alvord says this is a great opportunity for her students to interact with young adults. “This gives the students a chance to socialize with older students in their own school environment.”

Grace Snowden says the high school students’ visit to Pines Bridge was part of a positive behavior program at RAHS, which rewards students who have met the school’s behavioral expectations. She says that instead of an external type of reward, she hopes students saw the visit as a chance to do something for others and found it rewarding.

“This was an opportunity for the students to get out of themselves and give to others,” Ms. Snowden says. “We want them to experience the rewards they can gain from volunteering to help others.”

At their first meeting, the high school students were a bit shy and reluctant to meet the younger children but were soon interacting and smiling. Together, the two groups of students created a poster that was used for the Pines Bridge Fun Run that raised funds for an accessible track behind the school. The project gave the RAHS students the opportunity to communicate with the younger kids and to better understand their physical and mental challenges. Ms. Snowden’s class will now work on further fundraisers for the Pines Bridge School, such as recycling drives.

“Both groups benefit from this type of project,” Ms. Snowden says. “We hope to continue this next year.”

(Press release courtesy of Chris Heath/BOCES.)