Everyone deserves to feel included, make lasting friendships, and be a part of a community. The Best Buddies club here at Woodland Regional High School has been running for at least 12 years since 2015. 

Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to making sure students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) feel fully supported and included here at Woodland. The club allows students with IDD’s to build meaningful friendships with peers outside their regular classes. To keep members updated, the club meets once a month both in and out of school. 

Chapter Vice President Mya Fontes and President Ella Iannone have been active members of the club for all four years of high school. 

“I joined this club because I think it is such a great opportunity to make others feel seen and be kind and inclusive to everyone,” said Fontes. 

Iannone joined the club because her mom is the Best Buddies advisor for the school she teaches at. 

“My older siblings were in the club and played a big role,” commented Iannone. “I feel like I was participating so much before high school and always heard about events and stuff.” She felt it was natural to join the club due to her family connections. 

Payton Repasky is the Secretary of the club where she works hard to help plan events, organize supplies, and take attendance. Their ongoing commitment to the club shows the impact the program has on both students and buddies involved.

Best Buddies hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the school year to keep students engaged and connected. Some activities include bottle and can drives, Chalk the Walk with Hawk Wings, Best Buddies prom, creating the Ben’s Bell mural in the hallway near the cafeteria, and holiday parties with other schools. 

The club also participates in the Best Buddies of Connecticut (BBCT) Friendship Walk. The BBCT Friendship Walk takes place annually at the Yard goats Stadium in Hartford. It is a fundraising and community event that most Best Buddie’s chapters in Connecticut participate in. 

“Last year we made paper crowns, and it is so fun being supported by so many chapters and seeing so many chapters and others love and have such pride for Best Buddies,” stated Iannone. 

Fontes favorite event the club hosts is the annual Best Buddies Prom. “I think it is so fun for everyone to dress up and have such a fun night with food, friends and lots of dancing.” 

This past summer Iannone had an opportunity to attend The Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana. This conference is an annual event hosted by Best Buddies International and unites student leaders and volunteers. It advocates to promote inclusion for people with IDD’s. She attended various classes to work on leadership skills, fundraising, and ways to make the club fun and entertaining. Iannone enjoyed the fun activities they had: walks, assemblies, talks. 

“It was truly one of the best experiences ever,” mentioned Iannone. She enjoyed being “surrounded by everyone who cares so much about Best Buddies.” 

Over four years of being in the club, Iannone, Fontes, and Repasky have developed stronger communication skills, deeper awareness of their peers with IDD’S, and that inclusion is truly something that can always be unstoppable.