Buddies earn credits at lunch

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 27, 2005

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RAPID CITY — At Central High School, students are making new friends and earning high school credit when they become Lunch Buddies for special-education students.

Lunch Buddies was started two years ago by Janice Knutsen to fill a need for her son Kai and other students in his special-education classroom at Central. Kai had previously eaten lunch with his big sister and her friends, and when she graduated, he missed the companionship and interaction with other students.

With his sister there to bridge the gap, Kai made friends with other students and learned to deal with unfamiliar social situations, Knutsen said.

But without his sister, he missed the interaction with other students and the out-of-school activities he had been included in by her friends.

As a former teacher, Knutsen said, community-service activities are good additions to resumes for students making college and scholarship applications, so she approached Central guidance counselor Sandy Thovson with the Lunch Buddies concept.

Students earn a one-half community-service credit after completing 75 hours of service as a Lunch Buddy. The credit is available only for juniors and seniors.

"You can't earn it all in a year just by eating lunch," Knutsen said.

Lunch Buddies are encouraged to include their new friend in other activities. Lunch Buddies cannot leave school together, but students who drive can pick up their buddy at home to take them on excursions.

Knutsen plans at least three joint events during the school year. She also offers to meet with students once a month to answer questions and offer support to help them understand their new friends' behavior.

"It helps to know they have support," Knutsen said. "I provide back up and help."

Some students are "naturals" at dealing with their buddies, she said.

Kate Mathews, 16, couldn't earn credit last year for taking Kai Knutsen to youth group at church, but she has signed up again this year as a buddy.

"At first, it was awkward," she said. Kate said she hadn't had any experience with special-education students. "It was kind of uncomfortable, but the more I was around Kai, I realized he was just like anyone else, and I ended up treating him just like a little brother."

Senior Randy Horsley, 17, ate lunch with Kai and took him bowling. He has learned that the program gives the special-education students a friend who treats them like other people. And he liked the special bond he formed with Kai, who was slow to warm up to a new person.

"I actually got him to talk to me," Randy said.

Kim Haibeck said having friends is important for her son Michael, 16. Michael is developmentally disabled and is socially years behind kids his own age, but he needs friends, she said.

"The hardest thing is the pain in watching them want to do things other kids do and not understanding why they don't have those options," Haibeck said.

For Michael, having someone at school he can count on who will be happy and friendly helps him have some of those experiences, she said.

"It gives them separate identities at school and their own friends," Haibeck said. "He has friends, but trying to develop a social connection is especially hard."

Michael's Lunch Buddy last year was Dani Ulrichson. She became the kind of friend Michael could call and talk to when he felt lonely, Haibeck said.

"Having his own friend is a big deal," she said.

Jessica Thurmes, 17, also returned to the program this year.

"I had a really good time last year," she said. After she got to know her Lunch Buddy, Jessica discovered he was "cool and fun to hang out with."

Special-education teacher Abby Kommes works with Knutsen to pair students in her classroom with Lunch Buddies. She says the program is valuable for all of the students who get involved.

"Lunch Buddies allows special-education students to have interaction with regular students, whether it's having lunch or playing a game," Kommes said. Having a regular student willing to take time out of their day to become a friend gives her students a boost of confidence, she said.

The program helps the regular students realize that her students are like everyone else.

Randy, Jessica and Kate agreed that the program has changed them.

"It made me more responsible, because I had to look after Kai," Randy said. He extended his watchfulness to school, where some students have a tendency to make fun of special-education students. "You have to watch out for that and watch their backs," he said.

Jessica said it makes her feel good to know that she has helped someone else.

Kate agreed.

"I've had people help me out when I didn't have any friends," she said. "And to give that back to somebody else who really needs it is nice."

Students interested in Lunch Buddies can contact Sandy Thovson in the Central High School guidance office.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com