Holyoke High School teacher Mr. Bowler recently started a new program at HHS: the “Reading Buddies Program.” In this program, Bowler’s 11th grade students read to Holyoke High’s SHINE (special education) students.

“This program was started to attempt to foster a positive attitude towards reading, develop self-esteem, promote good reading practice and start to define what an inclusive environment can look like beyond the traditional classroom,” said Bowler.

Bowler says students benefit tremendously from this program. It helps students to build empathy, improves reading, listening, and social skills, and helps create positive relationships between SHINE students and the rest of the student body.

“The program allows the SHINE students to share the classroom with students who wouldn’t normally visit the SHINE students,” said Mrs Long, a longtime Holyoke High SHINE teacher. “This is a great way to get the word out about how amazing these students are!”

Not only do teachers and SHINE students feel this is a positive program, but the students who do the reading feel this program has positively influenced them.

“It’s enjoyable and the students listen very carefully,” said Eliezer Vasquez.

HHS student Jeischa Nunez also told The Herald, “I feel like I did a good thing after I leave.”

The program takes place every Thursday and is surely something that all those involved look forward to attending!