By Tracey Taylor - St. Brendan HS
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Florianne Jacques (center right), a member of the G.R.A.C.E. Club at St. Brendan High, aids with tutoring students from the Marian Center School. The G.R.A.C.E Club, which stands for Generating Respect and Acceptance for Children with Exceptionalities, spent the day at the Marian School Center aiding not only students, but faculty as well.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
With microphone in hand, Suzette Bazan, a member of the G.R.A.C.E. Club at St. Brendan High, practices interview skills with a student from the Marian Center School. The G.R.A.C.E Club, which stands for Generating Respect and Acceptance for Children with Exceptionalities, spent the day at the Marian School Center aiding not only students, but faculty as well.
MIAMI| St. Brendan High School’s G.R.A.C.E (Generating Respect and Acceptance for Children with Exceptionalities) Club visited the Marian Center School in December to assist teachers throughout the day.
The Marian Center, located in Miami Gardens, is a Catholic school for students with special needs from PK age to age 22. The school’s mission is to educate, train and serve those with developmental disabilities.
“After these students graduate, many of them are offered jobs by big companies such as Publix and Walmart,” said Brianna Parades, a junior at St. Brendan.
Upon arrival at the Marian Center School, each of the 15 G.R.A.C.E Club members were assigned to a classroom where they assisted students with classwork, various learning activities, and helped the teacher in any way necessary. The St. Brendan High students spent the whole school day with the students, even enjoying lunch with them.
“I have a brother with Down syndrome, and this experience really opened my eyes to what schools like this do to assist students with special needs,” said junior Karla Vasquez.
“The students at the Marian Center were very excited, hardworking, and attentive while we were there. I feel blessed that a school like this exists in the archdiocese to give students with disabilities an opportunity to learn at their own pace,” said Brianna.
