WELCOME TO BEST BUDDIES

What is Best Buddies?

Best Buddies seeks to create long-lasting

friendships between typical high school students and students with disabilities.

Our Agenda

• Meet & Greet • To do’s • Peer Buddy Roles & Obligations • Calendar of Events • Brainstorm

Club Officers 2015-2016

• Ms. Mayo– Club Advisor • Mr. Rabideau – Club Advisor – Club President – Club Vice President – Secretary – Treasurer – Historian

Interested in being Club President???

• Let Ms. Mayo or Mr. Rabideau know ASAP!!! • We need to have a Club President on record

before we can be recognized as an official Best Buddies Club.

We will hold interviews on Tuesday September

29th starting at 2:45 if you are interested in being Club President.

Types of Membership Peer Buddy

You’re paired with a student with special needs.

You are expected to contact BB weekly (note, phone call, etc.)

You are expected to meet with your

buddy at least 2 times a month. (club events included)

They are the “Buddy” and you are

the “Peer Buddy.”

If you miss 2 consecutive meetings or do not fulfill the duties required your membership will be terminated.

Associate Member You’re not paired with a “Buddy.”

You are still required to attend all events and meetings unless told

otherwise.

There is no difference to Peer Buddies and Associate Members except for whether or not they’re

paired with a Buddy.

Requirements for Membership

1. Membership Application – All prospective members must fill out a Best Buddies

Membership Application. – An application is required to join Best Buddies. Failure to turn in

an application will bar you from joining the club.

– After your application has been approved by the officers, you will receive notification that you can proceed to the next steps.

Registration Online 2. All students must register online as members at www.bestbuddiesonline.org

– Navigate to the ‘High School’ tab under “Membership Application” – Fill Out Required Information – Make sure to select Clements High School as your chapter school.

Once we have a Club President on record, the membership application will be available online.

Once you have these steps completed…

Congrats! You are now a member of the Best Buddies Club at Clements!

How do you get matched with a Buddy?

Members who wish to become Peer Buddies and be matched with a Buddy can follow these steps:

– Attend the “Speed Friendships” event after school in the cafeteria to get to know the Buddies.

– Attend “Interviews” week and conduct an interview with the

officers. You can choose to recommend a match between you and a specific Buddy or you can leave it up to the officers to decide if you can’t make up your mind.

– Meet your matched Buddy at the first annual “Match Party.”

Schedule

General meetings occur on the first Tuesday or Wednesday of every month at 2:45 unless specified otherwise.

After-school and Night Events occur on average twice a month.

Members are required to come to all events unless specified otherwise. Mandatory attendance is needed due to the

circumstances of this club. After 2 missed meetings/events, you will be contacted to

see what’s up.

Pow Wow

• The Best Buddies Pow Wow is a seminar where the officers and speakers will be giving some general guidelines and rules for interacting with students with disabilities.

• The purpose of this club is to make sure no one is put in an uncomfortable situation with their Buddy or with a Buddy at an event.

• The even is also open for questions, so if you’re unsure, please do not hesitate to ask!

Casual Events • In addition to on-campus, in-school events, we

also host off-campus events. These events are not affiliated with the Best Buddies Club, which means these events are optional for attendance.

• The purpose of these events is simply to provide you with more time to spend with the Buddies.

• You will be emailed about these events as they get closer on the calendar.

Things to remember… • Attendance at all meetings and

events is mandatory. • Be PATIENT • Be the EXAMPLE • Person Centered Language

• I have an Autistic friend X • I have a friend with Autism.

• This is a DUAL, MUTUAL relationship

• Age appropriate

Dedication is key “R-Word” usage Everyone is DIFFERENT You’re affecting their LIVES Most important… HAVE FUN!!!

Disabilities – Q & A At Clements we have students that have a wide variety of disabilities including: • Autism • Intellectual Disability (ID) • Downs Syndrome • Multiple Disabilities • Physical Disability

REMEMBER…

This is more than a club…it’s helping someone’s LIFE! Please do not put us in a position of breaking a students heart. It will be difficult but the end reward will be worth it. Yes, this club is fun and has a great purpose but it is a HUGE responsibility. If you cannot commit to this program PLEASE let us know NOW so that we won’t have to tell a Buddy that their Peer Buddy isn’t in the club anymore.

Follow us!

Email: clementsbestbuddies@gmail.com Twitter: @ClementsBestBud

Information about meetings, events, and other pertinent things will be posted on the twitter page as well as sent in emails.

mailto:clementsbestbuddies@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR COMING!!!

If you are interested in joining the club, please take and fill out an application and return it to Mr. Rabideau or Ms. Mayo by October 2nd. Tell your friends to join!

WELCOME TO �BEST BUDDIESWhat is Best Buddies?Our AgendaClub Officers 2015-2016Interested in being Club President???Types of MembershipRequirements for MembershipRegistration OnlineOnce you have these steps completed…How do you get matched with a Buddy?SchedulePow WowCasual EventsThings to remember…Disabilities – Q & AREMEMBER…Follow us!Thank you for Coming!!!