Path to Inclusion at CHS 9th Grade Campus

Circle of Friends is a school program that fosters inclusion for students with disabilities.

To date Circle of Friends has launched 245 chapters across the nation.

Local educators have integrated the program at schools across the valley.

The Circle of Friends club was introduced to Calexico High School’s 9th Grade Campus three years ago, with the hopes of creating an inclusive environment for students with special needs.

Advisors of the club share how the program has extended far beyond, establishing a pathway of love, acceptance, and understanding.

“You can’t go through an experience, or a project like this unchanged,” said Molly Beltran, administrative assistant at CHS 9th Grade Campus.

Circle of Friends is an inclusion program that bridges the gap between students in the general population and students with special needs.

“It is a program where we pair a student from the general ed program with a student with special needs and they commit to having lunch at least once a week, and we also do other activities,” said Cami Sturdevant, school psychologist at CHS 9th Grade Campus.

“Pretty much, I consider him like a best friend,” said Thaily Aguilar, student and Circle of Friends member.

“It’s not like a me moment, it’s about a moment for them, just by making it special for them it’s very special to me just to make them happy,” said Aguilar.

“They just feel like rockstars on our campus because now everyone knows their name,” said Sturdevant.

“They greet them in the hallway as they walk by with a high five or a hug and it makes them definitely feel included and apart of the school campus,” said Sturdevant.

Beltran says the impact these students have on each other has been remarkable.

“I think often kids go into this thinking they are helping the other student and it’s absolutely the other way around,” said Beltran.

“This is a group of kids that make you feel like you’re absolutely perfect, that you walk on water, whenever they see you they genuinely enjoy being with you in that moment,” said Beltran.

Creating an inclusive campus has been a school wide effort at Calexico High School.

“Inform, teach, educate, the whole school campus about different disabilities how to include people and making sure we are looking that no one eats alone,” said Sturdevant.

“We’ve seen bullying has decreased, and just that acceptance of people with special needs and inclusion has increased,” said Sturdevant.