How sweet it is: Friendship theme for Life Skills kids at BVA Valentine’s Dance

By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
Friday is Valentine’s Day, but students from Belle Vernon Area School District and nearly a dozen other schools felt the love Wednesday when BVA hosted its annual Valentine’s Day dance.
In its fifth year, the dance is a partnership between Students with Athletes Reaching Success (S.T.A.R.S.), the BVA Friends First club and Life Skills classes from schools throughout the Pittsburgh area.
The Valentine’s Day dance promotes bonding, friendship and inclusiveness among students, some of whom have learning disabilities and may miss out on popular social events.
Approximately 200 students, staff and “buddies” from Washington, Monessen, Upper St. Clair, Keystone Oaks, Yough, Mount Pleasant, Baldwin-Whitehall, Canon McMillan, South Fayette, McGuffey and Avonworth school districts attended Wednesday’s dance.
“The dance helps our Life Skills students get the social interaction that they need,” said Cindy Pierce, BVA Life Skills teacher. “There’s a big takeaway from today. This is a school-wide event. We get a lot of support from the administration and even the custodian. Anything we need, everyone is very supportive.”
Pierce said the Valentine’s Day dance is just one aspect of the district’s Life Skills program.

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