Volume 59, Issue 3
Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA
November 2010
An Unexpected Reason to Give Thanks
In this issue:
Photo bby Ph y TOM TOMMY MY LIAO LIAO
PERFORMING O G ARTS A S pg. 10 Arcadia Festival of Bands: Take a peek into the journal of an AFOB performer. p
Photo by ELLIOTT LEE
MY FRIEND AND I AHS students come together to learn about the disabilities of special needs students, recognize and appreciate the qualities they share, and build relationships that will last beyond just their lunchtime conversations. By KAITLYN JEONG Graphic by ALWYNA LAU
CENTER SPREAD pgs.12-13 12 13 Appreciation for Faculty: Students express gratitude for their teachers and mentors.
Graphic courtesy of BLOG.TAGXEDO.COM
CAMPUS FOCUS pg. 24 A Shout-Out to Classmates: Giving recognition to friends and peers during this time of thanks. Have a question, comment, or concern about the Pow Wow? E-mail the Editors-in-Chief at editorsinchief@apachepowwow.com or find us online at apachepowwow.com.
Opinion Editor I never expected I would actually learn anything from my 13-year-old brother, Dylan. Like any other brother, Dylan enjoys watching TV and sneaks into my room in search of my laptop. Whether he knows it or not, Dylan has taught me so much more than how to effectively hide my laptop; he’s taught me about compassion and understanding, two qualities that, especially around the Thanksgiving season, I find myself truly grateful for. Due to a chromosomal disorder, Dylan is nonverbal and must walk with painful orthotics to correct his legs and feet. In spite of all of these obstacles, he still manages to smile and giggle when he turns on the TV himself or looks at a picture book on his own, things that we would generally consider elementary tasks. His uninhibited delight in achieving his own personal goals has inspired me to be grateful for abilities I take for granted. Thanks to Dylan, I have become more perceptive to the fact that children with special needs aren’t asking for pity, but for understanding and respect. They’re asking for the recognition that they too have hobbies and must deal with obstacles in their lives, just like any other student. Over the years, however, I’ve noticed that this lack of recognition has formed a rift between special and general education students; it is heartbreaking to see someone
glance at my brother or another student with special needs and suddenly avert his or her eyes. For a time, I believed that people ignored Dylan and his peers because they were intent on being rude and malicious. It wasn’t until I entered high school that I learned that these “mean people” had no desire to be cruel; it was, in fact, fear that hindered people from interacting with special needs students. Ms. Dorothy Diamond, one of the special education teachers at AHS said, “When someone first meets an individual with special needs, they see the disability, and not the person.” In letting fear of the unknown get the better of us, we sometimes forget that behind the disability and the superficial differences is a high school student with hobbies, talents, and favorite YouTube videos just like us. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the differences that divide us, rather than what unites us. Although the curriculum of special education is different in that it provides vocational training and introduces students to careers through various volunteer opportunities, the ultimate goal remains the same. Ms. Diamond explained that the focus of the special education program is “to present educational and social opportunities that will assist the students in becoming more independent and developing their full potential.” When we think in these terms, the unfamiliar territory between us shrinks, and suddenly, we’re left standing on common ground. The students in My Friend and I, a club de-
voted to building relationships between general and special education students, are already aware of the importance of being able to relate to one another. Many of the members enjoy going to the club meetings to “hang out and talk with friends,” while others look forward to playing games and making crafts. For Ms. Carol McVay and Ms. Nancy Edwards, the advisors of the club, being able to watch the students interact with each other is the most rewarding experience. Ms. McVay elaborated, “It’s so great to hear a general ed student say, ‘I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to know that person…I didn’t know how little the differences were between us.’ I am so impressed by the general ed students’ desire to learn and understand the children’s disabilities.” Ms. Margaret Minamoto, another special education instructor at AHS, said that one way students can better understand the person behind the disability is to have “activities designed around food likes. This gap becomes smaller because everyone can relate on some level. An interest is shared.” So as we all gather around that Thanksgiving table, we all have different things to be thankful for. Some may be thankful for the turkey, while others may be grateful for the cranberry sauce. I know that this year, for me, it will be that single slice of pumpkin pie and the common interest that’s shared which I will truly be thankful for. kjeong@apachepowwow.com