Related arts are an ideal place for children in general education classes and self-contained programs to mix, but youngsters with special needs often end up isolated. Christopher Arellano, a fourth grader at Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee, is working to change that. When he enters the classroom, he zeroes in on the kids who need help and makes it his mission to be there for them.
The children in Hawk Squad have a variety of special needs, from Down syndrome and autism to other developmental delays. Highlands Elementary School has 577 students, including 30 in the Hawk Squad.
“In P.E., I just put a gentle hand on their back to show them what to do and where to go,” Christopher began. “The Hawk Squad students don’t know much, so I help them. If someone falls, I take them to the nurse.”
Recently, the students played a noodle tag game, and Christopher buddied with a child as they ran back and forth across the field. He guided the boy to safe zones and showed him how to avoid being tagged with the noodle. Later, he walked the boy to the water fountain for a drink.
His enthusiasm and kindness have earned him the respect and admiration of the staff at the school as he tries to build a more inclusive community for all.
P.E. coach Marjie Hernandez says it is great to have a student like Christopher who can be relied on to help children with special needs. Hernandez counts on him to escort one of the children, who has diabetes, to the nurse when needed.
“He has been trained to know what to do,” Hernandez said. “If they need something done, he will do it.”
Christopher has been part of his school’s Special Olympics Action Team, where he helped children with special needs prepare for field day.
“I threw a ball so they could catch it,” Christopher described. “For baseball, when the ball dropped, I would pick it up for them. There was a hula hoop, and I helped them go through it, and I helped them kick a ball.”
Principal Margaux Horne says she is proud to have Christopher at her school.
“I am a special education teacher at heart, so that is special,” Horne said.
“That is the ultimate outcome of what we do here, and that is we must be inclusive and nice to all students no matter their background. When they develop these habits now, we hope that will carry over when they leave us.”
When he is not helping others, Christopher enjoys playing soccer with his dad and learning origami with his older sister. At school, his favorite subjects are math and writing.
Christopher’s drive to assist others stems from a sense of gratitude for his own academic success. “I just want to help,” he said.