Best Buddies Club Holds ‘Friendship Comfortable’ Prom

By Eliza Hallabeck

Everything seemed to shine blue and gold on Friday, June 1, when Newtown High School’s Best Buddies club hosted its first prom.

Club advisor and special education teacher Jill Gonski said the event was a huge success.

“Over 60 students and teachers attended the event,” said Ms Gonski after the event, “The students with special needs and general education students had a blast. There was dancing, singing, food, and fun. We will definitely hold the event again!”

Best Buddies matches students with intellectual disabilities with high school students from general education to create one-on-one friendships, according to the club’s website.

As students began showing up in long dresses, and buttoned down shirts with ties, Ms Gonski explained a prom committee of the Best Buddies club, the club’s executive board, and club advisors arranged the event.

The event was held in the high school’s cafetorium. Tables were decorated with blue and gold beads, ribbons, and lights, and each table-setting had a pamphlet for the event set on a plate.

“What makes this so special is students with special needs don’t always get to go to their prom,” said Ms Gonski, “and now, they can experience prom.”

Ms Gonski said the club expected 40 people to attend the evening, and the turnout surpassed that expectation.

Best Buddies Club President and NHS senior Ali Kennedy said at her junior prom last year and at her senior prom this year, no special needs students were in attendance. The Best Buddies Prom offered students a chance to attend prom in a “friendship comfortable,” as Ali said the club took to calling the night, atmosphere.

Smiles were shared as students entered the school’s cafetorium and marked off their names at a welcome booth.

“The dancing was probably the highlight of the night for me,” said Ms Gonski. “Students did the conga line, and many ‘group dances’ like the Macarena.”

Ms Gonski also said the prom committee did a wonderful job helping the advisors plan the evening.

“What a great example of inclusion at its best,” said Ms Gonski of the evening overall.