Knights of Columbus Support TRLSD Special Education
On October 20, 2022, members from the Three Rivers St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus visited the Three Rivers Campus. The Knights of Columbus work hard to raise money to support the Three Rivers Community. Again this year, they were kind enough to present a $3,800.00 check to the Three Rivers Special Education Department.
The gentlemen that visited the schools stayed for well over an hour and spent their visit interacting with the students and learning about the necessary equipment to support and nurture an educational process that meets each individual need.
They were able to visit an adaptive music class with Ms. Young where everyone joined in to sing and dance with the students. Following music, they talked to the STEM teacher, Kelly Moorman, and a student about the class and the opportunities it provides to all students. Before leaving, they had the opportunity to visit two classrooms where students were developmentally grouped.
One group led by middle school intervention specialist, Mrs. Vincent, was working on a teacher-led activity using the Viewboard to support a reading activity. Another group, led by Mrs. Weikert, high school intervention specialist, showed off their diverse equipment options that support students working toward independence. They observed a student learning to walk in a gait trainer, a wheeled device that assists a person to learn to walk. One student was using a switch, or button, to activate a paper shredder, and another used a switch to turn on a music video. Mrs. Lakamp, speech and language pathologist, showed everyone how a new program, eye gaze, allows students who can’t speak using their voice to speak through a machine that reads their eye movements.
Adaptive equipment doesn’t come without a large price tag. It was an incredible experience for the Knights of Columbus to see where their donations go when supporting our students with special needs. At Three Rivers Local School District, we have a unique special education department consisting of a Director, teachers, intervention specialists, related staff, and support staff, who are devoted to providing the best education and experience for every student.
When the group was leaving for the day, one member stopped and told the Director of Communication, Lisa Whiteley, that from the experience his biggest takeaway was “how much every adult cared for kids.” When you work in a school that is the single most important thing that you hope is happening - every child is loved and cared for to the best of everyone’s ability.
Three Rivers Local School District extends genuine gratitude to the Three Rivers St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus for supporting our schools through the special education program.
