BY STEVE METSCH : Southtown Star | April 6, 2011
While lyrics from Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” blared from the speakers — suggesting “we could have had it all” — students from Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School who were dancing, laughing and smiling Thursday afternoon really did have it all.
{photo: Darien, who attends the Kennedy School for Exceptional Children, spins Andrew High School student council members Colleen Tesher, a freshman (left), and Allison Marren, a junior, during a prom for the Kennedy School students at Georgios Banquets in Orland Hills, Illinois, Thursday, April 5, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media}
The Tinley Park school, which serves students with special needs from ages 7 to 21, annually hosts a prom for those 16 and older, and this was their time.
As the latest hit songs boomed through the ballroom at Georgios Banquets in Orland Hills, Kennedy students were joined on the dance floor by a dozen volunteers from the Andrew High School student council.
Students wore their Sunday finest.
Not everyone danced, though. A couple of Kennedy students in wheelchairs were happy to spin around to the music. Others sat quietly at tables, but their smiles and sparkling eyes spoke volumes.
Prom, after all, is the biggest social event of the academic year for students in any kind of high school, said Kristen Mackiney, a spokeswoman for St. Coletta’s of Illinois, Inc., which runs the school and provides other services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
“They look forward to it,” Mackiney said. “They love it.”
{photo: Peter, who attends the Kennedy School for Exceptional Children, dances with Andrew High School student council members during a prom for the Kennedy School students at Georgios Banquets in Orland Hills, Illinois, Thursday, April 5, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media}
This year’s prom had a Hawaiian theme, complete with colorful plastic leis, sunglasses and teddy bears for each Kennedy student.
One student, 17-year-old Darien, of Chicago’s South Side, looked sharp in his tuxedo.
“I’m dancing with everybody. It’s good music. It’s fun, exciting. The food was good, too,” he said.
A girl named Swan, 20, of Harvey, wore a bright blue dress and shiny necklace.
“This is my first prom. It’s a nice place,” she said.
Swan hoped to be named prom queen, an honor that instead went to Leah, 21, of Rockdale.
Overcome with emotion when her name was announced, Leah covered her eyes with her hands, trying to hide her tears, when Andrew students placed a tiara atop her head and handed her a teddy bear from Build-A-Bear.
“(I cried) because I’m nervous,” Leah said.
Fellow monarch Tim, 20, of Markham, was all smiles when he was named king. Students voted Wednesday.
“I’m surprised. It’s fun,” said Tim, who held a teddy bear while he wore a crown.
Darien snapped off a quick salute, saying “Respect the king.”
The Andrew students seemed to be having just as much fun.
Tracy Sukalo, a science teacher at the Tinley Park High School, said about 50 students from the student council wanted to help decorate and participate in the prom.
{photo: Students crowd the dance floor during a prom for special kids who attend the Kennedy School for Exceptional Children at Georgios Banquets in Orland Hills, Illinois, Thursday, April 5, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media}
“Our kids absolutely love coming to this. We have to do a random drawing. Our kids love to have the experience and try to make their prom a special day. It builds relationships. It’s really nice,” Sukalo said.
Taylor Caponigro, 14, a freshman from Tinley Park, jumped at the chance.
“When a friend told me about it, I thought it would be really cool to do something nice for them. It, like, makes their day. It puts a smile on their face. That’s good to see,” Caponigro said.
She hadn’t spent a lot of time with the developmentally disabled, and enjoyed her time with them Thursday.
“You have to open your heart to them and not push them away, because they are so welcoming,” Caponigro said. “It’s fun. It’s nice to see them so happy.”
Her friend, Colleen Teshner, 14, co-president of the freshman class with Caponigro, said she volunteered “because I like to help.”
Andrew junior Lindsey Walker, 16, attended her third Kennedy prom and plans to return next year.
“I like helping with the special-needs kids. It’s a good experience to know that a simple task you do can make someone’s day,” Walker said. “They’re having a lot of fun. They enjoy dancing with us and we enjoy dancing with them. I ate lunch with a couple of them and we were able to talk about high school.”
The proms may impact her own future. Walker, who helps tutor a gym class for special-education students at Andrew, is considering a career as a special-ed teacher.
Kennedy Principal Rosemary Kern, of New Lenox, called prom “the happiest day of their lives.”
It’s easy to tell how those Kennedy students who don’t talk are enjoying the day, she said.
“You can tell by their eyes. You can tell by their moving to the music. They may not really understand it, but they know it’s special and they know it’s for them,” she said.
Caponigro had no doubts.
“Good times. Good memories. I’ll do it every year,” she said.
# http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/11736256-418/prom-precious-for-developmentally-disabled.html
While lyrics from Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” blared from the speakers — suggesting “we could have had it all” — students from Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. School who were dancing, laughing and smiling Thursday afternoon really did have it all.
The Tinley Park school, which serves students with special needs from ages 7 to 21, annually hosts a prom for those 16 and older, and this was their time.
As the latest hit songs boomed through the ballroom at Georgios Banquets in Orland Hills, Kennedy students were joined on the dance floor by a dozen volunteers from the Andrew High School student council.
Students wore their Sunday finest.
Not everyone danced, though. A couple of Kennedy students in wheelchairs were happy to spin around to the music. Others sat quietly at tables, but their smiles and sparkling eyes spoke volumes.
Prom, after all, is the biggest social event of the academic year for students in any kind of high school, said Kristen Mackiney, a spokeswoman for St. Coletta’s of Illinois, Inc., which runs the school and provides other services for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
“They look forward to it,” Mackiney said. “They love it.”
This year’s prom had a Hawaiian theme, complete with colorful plastic leis, sunglasses and teddy bears for each Kennedy student.
One student, 17-year-old Darien, of Chicago’s South Side, looked sharp in his tuxedo.
“I’m dancing with everybody. It’s good music. It’s fun, exciting. The food was good, too,” he said.
A girl named Swan, 20, of Harvey, wore a bright blue dress and shiny necklace.
“This is my first prom. It’s a nice place,” she said.
Swan hoped to be named prom queen, an honor that instead went to Leah, 21, of Rockdale.
Overcome with emotion when her name was announced, Leah covered her eyes with her hands, trying to hide her tears, when Andrew students placed a tiara atop her head and handed her a teddy bear from Build-A-Bear.
“(I cried) because I’m nervous,” Leah said.
Fellow monarch Tim, 20, of Markham, was all smiles when he was named king. Students voted Wednesday.
“I’m surprised. It’s fun,” said Tim, who held a teddy bear while he wore a crown.
Darien snapped off a quick salute, saying “Respect the king.”
The Andrew students seemed to be having just as much fun.
Tracy Sukalo, a science teacher at the Tinley Park High School, said about 50 students from the student council wanted to help decorate and participate in the prom.
“Our kids absolutely love coming to this. We have to do a random drawing. Our kids love to have the experience and try to make their prom a special day. It builds relationships. It’s really nice,” Sukalo said.
Taylor Caponigro, 14, a freshman from Tinley Park, jumped at the chance.
“When a friend told me about it, I thought it would be really cool to do something nice for them. It, like, makes their day. It puts a smile on their face. That’s good to see,” Caponigro said.
She hadn’t spent a lot of time with the developmentally disabled, and enjoyed her time with them Thursday.
“You have to open your heart to them and not push them away, because they are so welcoming,” Caponigro said. “It’s fun. It’s nice to see them so happy.”
Her friend, Colleen Teshner, 14, co-president of the freshman class with Caponigro, said she volunteered “because I like to help.”
Andrew junior Lindsey Walker, 16, attended her third Kennedy prom and plans to return next year.
“I like helping with the special-needs kids. It’s a good experience to know that a simple task you do can make someone’s day,” Walker said. “They’re having a lot of fun. They enjoy dancing with us and we enjoy dancing with them. I ate lunch with a couple of them and we were able to talk about high school.”
The proms may impact her own future. Walker, who helps tutor a gym class for special-education students at Andrew, is considering a career as a special-ed teacher.
Kennedy Principal Rosemary Kern, of New Lenox, called prom “the happiest day of their lives.”
It’s easy to tell how those Kennedy students who don’t talk are enjoying the day, she said.
“You can tell by their eyes. You can tell by their moving to the music. They may not really understand it, but they know it’s special and they know it’s for them,” she said.
Caponigro had no doubts.
“Good times. Good memories. I’ll do it every year,” she said.
# http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/news/11736256-418/prom-precious-for-developmentally-disabled.html
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