FIU students surprise elementary school with activity day
Students in the Exceptional Student Education program atNob Hill Elementary got a surprise this month.
Volunteers from Florida International University visited the school in Sunrise for a day of fun activities including face painting, arts and crafts, puppet-making, and bean bag toss.
Ellen Kaplan, the school’s ESE specialist, said the ideawas to help improve the students’ academic, social, independent functioning, and communication skills, aswell as their self-esteem.
“It is definitely an educational activity but there’s no reasonwe can’t have fun while we’re learning,” Kaplan said.
The collaboration between the university andNob Hillwas spearheaded by junior Kaitlin Vargas. Vargaswas recently crowned Miss FIU and planned the visit as her first official service mixer.
“I decided to come here atNob Hill Elementary to be able to have a great interactive experience for the children,” Vargas said. “It took a lot of hardwork and effort but it’s all being paid off by seeing the smiles on all these kids’ faces.” — FIU junior Kaitlin Vargas
Vargas’s platform focused on Autism Speaks, the philanthropy her sorority Alpha Xi Delta contributes to. She also has a personal connection that drives her to help children with disabilities.
“I have four cousins who have disabilities, so this is definitely something that I do hold really close tomy heart and I’m very passionate about,” Vargas said.
Miss FIUwas joined by her counterpart, Diego Cardenas, the recently crowned Mr. FIU. The international student fromCuracao chose The Ability Experience for his cause, which is the charity his fraternity Pi Kappa Phi contributes to.
“Itwas very exciting for us both to have the chance to win and actually have kind of the same platform,” Cardenas said. “That waywe canwork together and make big things happen.”
Both students brought along volunteers fromtheir sorority and fraternity to help out during the day. The activitieswere spread across three classrooms at the elementary school with the students rotating through each.
“It is crazy howmuch fun you can have with a bubblemachine,” Cardenas said. “I got stuck in there for at least 20 minutes, just trying to pop bubbles with the kids.”
Principal Jeannie Floyd said the school is grateful for the university students’ efforts on making the day special for the kids.
“We’re excited that FIU students have taken on the challenge to involve them in a differentway through engaging activities that will stimulate their continued growth and development,” said Floyd.
junreyes@tronc.com