An important and special part of SEPTA is recognizing extraordinary members of our community. These people may be teachers, bus drivers, therapists, paraprofessionals, coaches, etc. Everyone counts and everyone’s nomination is important!

SEPTA will present an award bimonthly at predetermined SEPTA meetings to a Fairfield community member chosen from nominations submitted by the SEPTA membership. The Appreciation Committee will choose the award recipient and then  extend an invitation to the winning nominee and her/his supervisor as appropriate, to receive this award at our next scheduled meeting.

If you are interested in joining the Appreciation Committee, we could use your help!

Please contact Marinelle Mayo at:

mtmayo4@optonline.net

Click here to download an Appreciation Award Nomination form.

Please complete the information for your nomination. You may return your completed form by email with your nomination information to Marinelle Mayo at: mtmayo4@optonline.net

At the February 9, 2005 meeting, a group of students who call themselves "The Circle of Friends" were recognized in addition to their advisors, Ms. Holt & Mr. Stebbins:

Maureen Davis, Nick Squier , Ryan Walshe, Matt Weaving, Emily Weiner, Jordan Spector, Molly McGeady, Samantha Hill, Jamie Featherston, Kat Kenny, Emma Sawin, Lauren Bock, Caroline Callahan, Chris Diaz, Jon Chervin, Kali Block, Eileen Chun, Jamie Mercado and Anthony Maucieri]  

From the Fairfield Citizen-News, Widening The Circle
By Erin Lynch elynch@bcnnew.com

Twenty-one students at Fairfield Woods Middle School were honored with the Appreciation Award by the Special Education PTA last week for their participation in, dedication to and, more importantly, friendship to the school's Circle of Friends program.

Circle of Friends, which started at the middle school 10 years ago, is a program that pairs students with their peers who are in the special education program. Students in grades six through eight spend their school day helping in various ways such as walking special education students to class; helping with class work, physical education activities and homework; or, as most the students see it, by simply being a friend.

"At first this was just a school thing, but I started to get to know everyone personally and I enjoyed hanging out with them, said eighth-grader Kat Kenny, 13, who has participated in the program since she was in the sixth grade. "I don't see this as helping out, I see it more as being friends. This doesn't seem like a job or community service. They're my friends, that's why I do it, Kat said.

Kat said she will be sad to leave the program after she graduates this year. One of her fears about entering high school is that there won't be a Circle of Friends program at Fairfield Warde High School. "It's going to be hard to leave everybody, some of us are going to [Fairfield Ludlowe High School] next year, so a lot of us are going to be split up. I just hope other students here will be involved in this after we leave, Kat said.

From the looks of the students in the program, they will. "I want to keep doing this. At first I started to do this to help out, I felt bad. But now, as we progressed, we've become friends. I don't think I'm doing it now because I feel bad; I'm doing it now because I've made good friends, said Matt Weaving, 12, a seventh-grader.

Principal Lynda Cox said she is glad the students understand the message of Circle of Friends. The current members "really get it, she said. Cox said, "The goal of this program was for the kids to be friends. You know what? It's happened. It happened over time, but it's finally happened. These kids are so faithful to one another. "A lot of the members of Circle of Friends show model behavior. We as educators try to be role models but the students give these kids a model that we can't replace, Cox said.

During the SEPTA meeting, which took place at Jennings Elementary School, SEPTA President Mary Garbe told the 30-plus members in the audience that "this is a very special night. When SEPTA began two years ago we did a teacher appreciation award with the purpose of acknowledging, recognizing and thanking people who went above and beyond their job and made students with special needs' day a little bit brighter. "Tonight is even extra special because tonight kids stepped up to the plate, Garbe said.

Garbe told the Circle of Friends students that through their membership in the program they have "learned the importance of volunteering but also "taught all of us how rewarding it is to have a diverse circle of friends. Elaine Davis, mother of Circle of Friends volunteer Maureen, nominated the students because of what she saw firsthand one October afternoon. Davis recalled the day she arrived at FWMS to pick up her daughter. "I couldn't find Maureen anywhere, I kept asking everyone and finally I found her in the courtyard. Davis said she saw Maureen with other members of the program having fun and setting up for a school function.

"This is a phenomenal group of young people who use their time by giving themselves to other young people. I think they get this from Mrs. Cox, Davis said. When Garbe asked Cox to speak to the audience, Cox said, "This is a very special award for us, all of our kids are special. She then referred to a banner that reads, "We all come in different packages. Cox said it could become the program's motto. "I am continually moved by [the students'] actions and by their words, Cox said.

One by one many members of the Circle of Friends program got up and spoke to SEPTA members and to the friends and family in the audience. Seventh-grader Ryan Walshe, 12, said the program was "a privilege to do. He said that since he joined the program he has started to learn that the students he has met "are not just people but they are real friends. "This is the best thing I've ever done in school and I'm proud that I'm doing it, Ryan said.

Eighth-grader Jillian Mahar, 14, who joined the program last year after she heard an announcement, said that although she helps out students with their homework, they help out her, too. "It's fun doing it, we all do it because we love to hang out with them, they're my friends.

Kat then addressed the crowd and said all the participants were excited to receive the award but said she found the recognition "weird. She said, "People don't usually get awards just for being friends, why should this be any different?

Kat also said the program has brought people "who are a little bit different into her life and taught her how to treat them like equals. After the student's speeches they received gift bags from SEPTA for their dedication to the special education program. Garbe then commended Cox for "continuing to create a beautiful tone of caring in that building.importantly, friendship to the school's Circle of Friends program.