Special Needs Students 'Dare to Dream'

Belleville parents and school staff showed off some great work from special needs students Monday night.

The Special Services Department sponsored a "Dare to Dream" poster contest, where students highlighted the special needs person in his or her life, according to Patricia Inaugerato, the Board of Education Vice President.

Parent Patrica Dolan worked on the poster contest concept as part of an advisory council.

"I feel we really moved the special needs students forward this year," Dolan said at Monday night's Board of Education meeting. 

The students composed "acts of kindness" as part of their projects, according to Dolan. The contest focused on elementary school students though none attended Monday night's meeting.

Board of Education President Peter Zangari, Jr. and several board members praised the students' efforts. Inaugerato said she was proud to have worked with the advisory council on the contest.

One poster read "This is when I used to help my cousin... May he rest in peace." "Special Aunt" was the theme of another poster. Another student said the special needs child "is a special boy."

Handmade drawings showed a student's special needs child shooting baskets in one poster. A student proudly bragged about how she loved playing with her twin sister in a poster. Still another student's poster was a celebration of the love between two brothers.