Psychology Club will host day for special needs kids
ALICIA MATTIELLO
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Pirates will take over the Marist grounds at this year's "One to One Day," sponsored by the Psychology Club. Children with special needs from the ages four to eight invited for activities at Marist and are paired with Marist students for the day, and volunteers are encouraged to dress up as swashbuckling buccaneers during the event.
"We invite developmentally delayed children from schools around here such as BOCES," said Francesca Messina, the club president. "There are sports, activities, a petting zoo, and crafts for the kids."
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Anyone can do it. Business, communication majors - it doesn't matter," said Messina. "We really take anyone."
In recent years the event has received around 100 student volunteers. Shooter may even be there, Messina said.
Throughout the day, Marist students play with the child they are partnered up with.
"It's just a day for the kids to have fun," Messina said. "And it's good for them to have an older person to look up to."
Messina said she participated in the event last year. She and her boyfriend were paired up with a young boy.
"He didn't really like me," she explained. "My boyfriend and I did it together. He liked my boyfriend better because he was a guy."
But Danielle Salvaggio, the activities coordinator for the Psychology Club, said her child was different.
"She was like four, and was emotionally behavior disabled," Salvaggio said. "She stood by me the whole day, and just did whatever she wanted. They told me she would be aggressive, but I had no problems."
Salvaggio and Messina agreed that the girl was "so cute."
Christine Younkin, treasurer of the Psychology Club, did not participate last year but said she is ready for this year's festivities.
"I'm really looking forward to it," she explained.
According to the executive board of the Psychology Club, some teachers give incentives for students to volunteer for the event.
Kristina Nave, the club secretary, says she may get a better grade by volunteering.
"My professor lets us go to it," she said. "If you go for half of a day, you get three points on the midterm, and for a full day you get six points."
Forms for volunteering are available in Dyson 375.
"We invite developmentally delayed children from schools around here such as BOCES," said Francesca Messina, the club president. "There are sports, activities, a petting zoo, and crafts for the kids."
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"Anyone can do it. Business, communication majors - it doesn't matter," said Messina. "We really take anyone."
In recent years the event has received around 100 student volunteers. Shooter may even be there, Messina said.
Throughout the day, Marist students play with the child they are partnered up with.
"It's just a day for the kids to have fun," Messina said. "And it's good for them to have an older person to look up to."
Messina said she participated in the event last year. She and her boyfriend were paired up with a young boy.
"He didn't really like me," she explained. "My boyfriend and I did it together. He liked my boyfriend better because he was a guy."
But Danielle Salvaggio, the activities coordinator for the Psychology Club, said her child was different.
"She was like four, and was emotionally behavior disabled," Salvaggio said. "She stood by me the whole day, and just did whatever she wanted. They told me she would be aggressive, but I had no problems."
Salvaggio and Messina agreed that the girl was "so cute."
Christine Younkin, treasurer of the Psychology Club, did not participate last year but said she is ready for this year's festivities.
"I'm really looking forward to it," she explained.
According to the executive board of the Psychology Club, some teachers give incentives for students to volunteer for the event.
Kristina Nave, the club secretary, says she may get a better grade by volunteering.
"My professor lets us go to it," she said. "If you go for half of a day, you get three points on the midterm, and for a full day you get six points."
Forms for volunteering are available in Dyson 375.
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