Finley Friendship Club’s Mission Continues

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School Friendship Club is all about students helping fellow students. The group has an enthusiastic membership and a growing reputation for its work.

Mary DiBenedetto and Kate Carey collaborate as co-faculty advisors of the organization. The school psychologist and speech and language therapist, respectively, have taken delight in working with students who serve as volunteer mentors, assisting their classmates while providing opportunities through peer interactions to help develop social skills.

Students volunteer to attend weekly sessions during their lunch periods. The program increases the social emotional growth for all students involved. It improves social skills, pragmatic language skills and peer relationships for every participant. The program supports the district wide concept of inclusion of all students. Friendship club participants engage in social skill building pursuits such as games, group activities, lessons and projects. Students recently cut and painted flowers using recycled materials and created a ‘garden’ to spread positive vibes and a message to all Finley staff members.

“Thank you for helping our students GROW,” read the shared message. “Happy Spring Break! The Friendship Club.” Volunteers placed the message in every staff member’s respective mailbox or delivered it directly to them.

“Positive experiences like these are what make our club special,” Ms. Carey said.

The Friendship club made its debut many years ago at what was then known as Jack Abrams Intermediate School after it was founded by Dr. DiBenedetto. It later spread to Finley and has proved popular there, too.