Monacan High School: Building Bridges of Inclusion and Friendship
The Monacan High School Best Buddies chapter proves that meaningful friendships can grow in any setting, no matter the size. Since its launch in September 2024, this chapter has been fostering connections and creating inclusive opportunities for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
“Even though we have a smaller chapter with only 14 members, I feel like it’s more personal and allows us to create deep friendships,” said chapter advisor Christine Thompson, who has been leading the charge at Monacan. “I’m a special education teacher and I see all too often that students with intellectual disabilities are often in self-contained classes and don’t really associate at all with their general education peers, so I really just wanted them to be able to crate those friendships,” she continued.
Now that their Best Buddies chapter has started, Christine is “thrilled to see these students interacting, forming friendships, and sharing moments of joy.”
Chapter President Leah was also excited to start Best Buddies. “We’re trying to spread awareness here since it’s our first year.”
Monacan Best Buddies hit the ground running with a variety of events, such as an ice cream social, a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt, and a winter hot cocoa gathering.
Students like Mary and Sophie, who joined the club this year, have embraced these activities wholeheartedly. “We like to draw together, play games, and hang out in the hallway in the mornings,” Sophie shared. Mary’s favorite event was the winter meeting where the friends drew together and ate candy canes.
Tyrell and Gabby are another wonderful friendship pair, and Tyrell calls Gabby “Great!”
For Christine, starting the chapter was not without its challenges. “At first, I was nervous about fundraising and sustainability,” she admitted. But with guidance from Best Buddies and support from her administration, she brought the idea to life. Now, the chapter is gearing up for their first Friendship Walk and planning a bingo fundraiser to help cover conference fees for members to attend the Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC).
“The rewards of starting a chapter far outweigh the challenges,” Christine emphasized. “Seeing the smiles and the connections that form is so fulfilling. One of our students talked non-stop about going to a football game with their buddy. It’s moments like that that make it all worthwhile.”
Monacan Best Buddies isn’t just about events, it’s about building a culture of inclusion. Sophie sees inclusion as ensuring “everyone feels important and valued.” For Mary, inclusion means that “everyone has friends.” Leah, who has a disability herself, added, “Inclusion is something I’ve incorporated into my life for a long time. I want to make sure no one feels ostracized.”
Inclusion to Sophie means, “making sure everyone is doing something together. I think inclusion is important, so everyone feels important and valued and nobody gets left out.” Mary agrees that inclusion is important, so everyone has friends.
With plans for over 10 events during Best Buddies Month in March, the Monacan chapter is
making inclusion visible across their school. From bulletin boards decorated with sneakers symbolizing funds raised for the Friendship Walk to spreading awareness about Best Buddies’ mission, this chapter is setting a strong foundation for years to come.
Are you ready to start a Best Buddies chapter at your school? Take the leap! As Christine puts it, “Just do it. The experience is so rewarding, not just for the students but for the advisors as well.”
For more information, contact Director of Programs and Operations, Caroline Fleury, at CarolineFleury@BestBuddies.org.
