Springfield Southeast High School is proving once again what it truly means to lead with heart. This year, Southeast launched Best Buddies, a club that pairs students with special needs with a peer buddy who connects with them throughout the week, spends time together, and joins in meaningful group activities. It’s friendship, compassion, and community all wrapped into one.CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
For those who may not know, Best Buddies is a global organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At its core, it’s all about belonging!
The culture at Southeast High School already shines with pride, spirit, and unity but Best Buddies has amplified it in the most beautiful way. Students are showing, in real time, what it is to be a Spartan: welcoming, inclusive, supportive, and fiercely proud of every member of their school community. Because at Southeast, everyone is a Spartan and everyone belongs.
At today’s holiday party, that message filled the room. There was dancing, eating, crafts, face paint, laughter echoing from every corner, conversations blooming between new friends, and enough smiles to light up December. Executive Director of Student Support Services, Ward Lamon & Principal Trigg joined in on the fun today as well.
Moments like these matter. These friendships matter. Inclusion matters. And watching Southeast students lead with kindness and connection, that’s the kind of thing that stays with you long after the music stops.