Schools
Life Skills Curriculum Helps Students Thrive
PALS Program at Southeast School has parents raving over their child's success.
● Arena Lanes Bowling Alley
● Evergreen Park Fire Station
● Culver's
● Dollar Tree
● Evergreen Park Police Station
● Barraco's Pizza
● Metra Train Ride/ Parmesan's Restaurant
Ms. Kimberly Ross is the mother of ten-year-old 4th grader, Tyree Williams. “I’m a single parent. I have to work a lot. I’m not always able to take him places. These outings are making his life more enjoyable,” said Ms. Ross.
Mrs. Melissa Baffoe is the PALS classroom teacher. She was largely responsible for spearheading the program four years ago. The PALS program services students with acute needs in grades two through five. The program currently has five students with varying needs. She credits her most valuable resources as being her paraprofessionals, Mrs. Barb Nelson and Mr. Marty Mulchrone.
“Mrs. Baffoe is wonderful; she and her staff interact and engage the students wholeheartedly,” said Ms. Ross. “Tyree had a surgical procedure on March 17 to lengthen his hamstrings to help his mobility. Mrs. Baffoe, Mrs. Nelson and Mr. Mulchrone all came to visit him at home when he came out of the hospital. They’re just wonderful.”
Ms. Ross said Tyree was born prematurely weighing only one pound, thirteen ounces at birth.
“I was six months pregnant when my water broke. Ten years ago the hospital didn’t believe that was viable so I was sent home to abort naturally. They told me I’d go into labor within 48 hours but I didn’t," Ms. Ross said. "Seven days later when my contractions started, I returned to the hospital. Tyree was delivered via an emergency Cesarean section. They transported him into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a Stage 4 brain bleed. I was told he wouldn’t live 24 hours.”
The events that developed thereafter were a shock to all, according to Ms. Ross.
“I was raised to believe in God but I didn’t go to church, but once they said my baby would die, I grabbed a Bible, starting reading scriptures, and began to pray," she said. "The doctor came in moments later to tell me Tyree had improved to a stage 2 and that he would live. All he kept saying was, ‘It’s remarkable. His recovery is remarkable.’ I learned for certain that day- prayer changes things!”
Everyone who meets Tyree sees a happy, social, student. He has cerebral palsy, which is a chronic condition affecting his body movement and muscle coordination.
“I didn’t know if my child would ever read or learn math but since he arrived at Southeast School, things have really changed for him. PALS is helping him to experience life like other children,” said Ms. Ross. “It’s increased his quality of life.”
“We’re striving to provide our students with the opportunity to acquire skill sets and knowledge essential to maintaining a positive, productive, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle,” said Mrs. Baffoe. “The program's initiative is to incorporate community outings throughout the school year.”
In February, Barraco’s Pizza opened their doors to the smiling PALS students. They had lots of fanfare with them, including District 124 Superintendent Dr. Robert Machak, and Southeast Principal, Mrs. Alice Spingola, who joined them that day. A two minute video of their experience can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/bqvbR35AE7I
Abby Busk is a seven-year-old second grader in the PALS program. Her mother, Mrs. Jennifer Busk, had nothing but great things to say about Abby’s involvement.
“The community outings are a wonderful way to expose the students to various experiences and opportunities through social interaction and exchanges with community members,” Mrs. Busk said. “Abby’s participation in the PALS program has really helped her to thrive. She has developed wonderful relationships with teachers and peers. The curriculum not only helps advance her academic skills, but it’s developing vital life skills.”
