Age
8
Country of Residence
United States
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
I want to make the school better and want everyone to feel safe and included. I want our students in our STAR program to feel included and welcome. My sister did student council and I want to be like her.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Use student council to get the first sign ups, then move to people who ran but didn't make it. Then work with morning announcements and posters on the student council board. Talk to friends.
How many people are on your team?
20
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Our goal to is help students in STAR with a variety of social skills, as well as talking and mobility. We think students can teach them this because some teachers struggle. Kids can help them and play with them more on their level.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Stratton STAR kids is about coming together and including students with high support needs autism.
Project title
Stratton Star Kids
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Our students with high support needs autism are in seperate classes. They spend a lot of time alone and away from other students. Only a couple other students and me play with them and eat with them. Some of our students in STAR don't know how to talk, and other students don't know how to talk to them. People, including adults, don't worry about the STAR kids enough.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
We want to plan meet ups with safe toys and spend more time with them in their rooms. We want to give them books. We want to bring other students in to help. We want to teach the whole school how to be nice to the STAR kids. We want to work with staff so we can help our students better talk and walk.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
This is a brand new idea created by Stratton student council students. We came up with the project and several of us were elected based on this idea. Unlike other programs, this was created fully by students and made to meet the needs of our school and our students.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
We are createing a group of students (Stratton STAR Kids) who spend time with our STAR classes and promotes inclusion. We will play games with them, talk to them, and eat lunch with them. We will work with special educaiton teachers to find the best ways to include our STAR students. We will bring more students into the project as we grow.
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Wilfi - President A'vonni - Vice President We directly lead and shape the program. Student council members are first other members and provide direct feedback and ideas. Other students are being invited to join and support. We have help from 2 teachers.
