Finley Middle School’s Friendship Club Celebrates 20 Years of Building Connections

For 20 years, Finley’s Friendship Club has been making a meaningful difference in the lives of students by fostering friendships, encouraging inclusion, and helping students develop important social skills.

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Mary DiBenedetto, Friendship Club was created to meet the needs of students with special needs who benefit from direct instruction and opportunities to practice socializing with their peers. The program is built on the understanding that students learn valuable social skills through meaningful interactions with other students their own age.

At Finley, Dr. DiBenedetto co-leads Friendship Club with Speech and Language Therapist Mrs. Carey. The program begins with a lesson presented to all seventh grade students about disabilities, with a particular focus on Autism Spectrum Disorder. During these lessons, students are introduced to Friendship Club and invited to volunteer as peer mentors. Those who participate receive specialized training to help them support their peers and build positive relationships in social settings.

Friendship Club meets weekly and offers students a welcoming environment to connect, communicate, and have fun together. Activities include social bingo, speed friending, conversation starters and stoppers, creative art projects, and cupcake decorating. Most importantly, students have opportunities to play games, practice social skills, and discover what it means to be a good friend.

The club’s impact is also celebrated as students move on to high school. Eighth grade members receive a special gold cord, symbolizing friendship, to wear during their moving up ceremony in recognition of the connections they have built and the spirit of inclusion they have helped foster.

As Friendship Club celebrates its 20th anniversary, Finley Middle School is proud to continue a tradition that demonstrates the importance of kindness, understanding, and belonging. Through meaningful peer connections, students learn that friendship is about more than shared activities. It is about making others feel welcomed, valued, and included.