Thirty-one students from the life-skills/autistic support programs at Penn-Trafford’s Penn Middle, McCullough Elementary and Level Green Elementary Schools attended “You’ve Got A Friend Day” at Twin Lakes Park on October 5, 2022. Schools from all over Westmoreland County attend and participate in the event. Each Penn-Trafford student was assigned “buddies” from the Penn-Trafford High School’s Community Action Program (CAP) to act as their guides during a variety of activities including paddle boating, a hay ride, fishing, a petting zoo and racing through an inflatable obstacle course. All the students had a fun day and enjoyed making new friends.
High school nurse, Mrs. Lisa Popovich, who acts as faculty advisor for CAP and was instrumental in the event planning was impressed by the camaraderie which developed between the high schoolers and the younger students. “I cannot express it enough how very proud I am of our CAP students,” she said. “They were so respectful and kind to our students with special needs from Penn-Trafford and other schools in Westmoreland County.”
Attendees enjoyed the eventful day
Third-grader Andrew Bittner (center) enjoys fishing with his buddies Alexa Rullo and Maddy Setzenfand
Izzy Parrendo (grade 4) and her buddy enjoy the petting zoo
Fourth-grader Jackie LeCuyer (right) and her buddy take a boat ride
Kindergartener Anthony Wilkins with his buddies
Kate Schall and fourth-grader Alex Ginsburg
McCullough Elementary students and staff
Gabrielle Leslie, Colton Boswell (grade 1), and Emily Lenart