Celebrating love and friendship: LifeSkills students enjoy annual dance at BVA

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
It’s always been true, but maybe it’s never been more obvious — if more adults could let the next generation guide us in how we should all treat each other, what a wonderful world this could be.
On Valentine’s Day, more than 200 kids from LifeSkills classes from a dozen schools piled into the Belle Vernon Area High School gymnasium to celebrate love and friendship and, let’s face it, to bust out some pretty amazing dance moves.
Seniors Lexi Baker, Haley Litvany and Allorah Barron are the vice president and co-presidents of the BVA Friends First club.
Every year the group organizes myriad things they can do with their LifeSkills friends and “partners” each student has been paired up with throughout each year. For example, they might enjoy “partner chorus” or “partner art” classes with their friends while helping them navigate through those classes a little more easily than they might without a little help from their partners.
“We’re all about inclusivity,” Allorah said. “We go on a lot of field trips with them, like we’ve gone to Twin Lakes Park.
Allorah and Haley participate in a partner chorus class and Allorah describes it as being in class with their buddies.
Lexie’s little brother, S.J., has Down syndrome so working with the Friends First club comes naturally for her.
“He’s really inspired me,” Lexie said. “I just love to be a part of it and to help other kids.”
The unexpected bonus for Lexie has been that she’s also learned a lot from her partners at school about how to be an even better sister to S.J.
The Valentine’s Day Dance is the biggest event held at BVA, but there is one other big party every year — the LifeSkills Prom held in the ballroom of a hotel every spring as multiple districts send their students to attend the prom and kids from Friends First or similar clubs to volunteer to ensure it runs smoothly.
“It’s such a good experience, I would keep going, keep volunteering, if I could,” said Haley.
Allorah said the prom event is great for the kids because a typical prom style party would be too difficult for many kids who attend LifeSkills classes. Anything from too much noise, flashing lights, too much stimulation to the food fitting their requirements could impact their ability to enjoy. But at their own prom and definitely at the Valentine’s Day dance, everything is made just for them.
The Friends First Club has been planning this week’s dance for so many weeks they can’t even remember how long it’s been, but it was so worth it Wednesday morning when they saw the kids enjoy their hard work.
The kids also helped by making decorations in their partnered art classes.
The officers planned games that everyone would be able to take a chance at — Twister, bean bag tosses and Velcro darts. There were also fun places set up throughout the gym to take photos, including a photo booth.
“We wanted something everyone can do,” Allorah said.
With a big smile, Lexie said she just loved knowing the kids were happy and knowing that they all had a good day.
“It makes me feel happy,” Lexie said.
Allorah and Lexie are both considering careers in elementary education and after their experiences with Friends First, they’re thinking about adding a special education focus as well.

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Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent
Monessen High School student Carson Skomsky danced with Belle Vernon Area student Alana Jones.
See more photos from the event in our online photo gallery at www.monvalleyindependent.com.