Our Special Pen Pal
November 13, 2012
by Mrs. Mary Speelman
High School Teacher, Elim Christian Services
My class began corresponding with Captain Brittany Schick as a class pen pal project last year. Her brother Christian is a student in my class.
We sent Brittany and her unit pen-pal letters, emails, and care packages. We even posted Brittany's picture in our class last year and prayed for her unit daily.
When she came to visit us on Friday, November 9, she presented Ms. Shelia Romain (high school Assistant Principal) with a flag flown on a military base. Christian, her brother, got to introduce Brittany to his Elim friends and staff. Since Christian is non-verbal he used his alternative chat device and said the following:
“Today I would like all of my Elim friends and staff to meet my 'Hero,' my big sister Brittany. She is a Captain in the United States Air Force and was station in Afghanistan. She is very brave and courageous. I love her very much."
Prior to Brittany's visit, my class’s social sensory group, along with Ms. Brandi (Speech & Language Pathologist) and Ms. Patti Ann (Occupational Therapist), made a poster for her, choosing low-tech picture symbols and putting our hand prints on a big poster paper. The poster was hung in the gym to greet her when she arrived.
It is important to note that all of my students are non-verbal but when given assistive technology, and the right support, the sky is the limit. They can even brighten a soldier’s day all the way over in Afghanistan.
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