Students host ‘fun day’ for children with Autism
On October 19, for the twelfth consecutive year, Belen Jesuit students hosted a ‘fun day’ for 150 children ages 3-12 with Autism and other disabilities.
The day began with a presentation about Autism. “Our students start the day very apprehensively but then find that the kids are a lot of fun,” said Olga Ramon, Mathematics Department Chairperson at Belen Jesuit and event coordinator. “They learn techniques to better interact with the children and they learn a little compassion, patience and understanding for these kids.”
“It is an incredible experience for our students to come to Belen. They normally don’t get to experience a day like today. They look forward to it every year and spend the months leading up to it saying Belen and the yellow bus,” said Aida Marrero, principal, Blue Lakes K-8 School. “Most of the students don't get the opportunity to enjoy field trips and this is one they don't forget."
“It has been an eye opening experience,” said Michael Ruiz '20. “We’ve gotten the chance to see how these children function differently than we do and it reminds us not to take things for granted. It’s really great to see how happy they are and how much fun they have.”
Students from Blue Lakes Autism Intensive Communication Academy and The Academy of Arts & Innovation for students with Intellectual Disabilities participated in the event. The activities began when the students from Blue Lakes arrived at the Belen gymnasium. The activities included finger painting, basketball, hula-hoops, playing in a bounce house, etc.
“This day is special for a number of reasons. For one, this event is held on a day when the school is closed so all the students participating from Belen are doing this as volunteers,” said Mrs. Ramon. “Secondly, this event gives our students the opportunity to give back and to have fun, all while bringing a smile to a child with a disability.”
“Our students always do a great job of playing with the Blue Lakes students and making them feel at home,” said Jose E. Roca, principal. “Three hundred student volunteers, plus faculty and staff help to ensure that things go smoothly. At the end of the day, it is always uplifting to hear how much our students get out of the day and to see them exemplifying our motto of being men for others.”
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.