The document discusses the expansion of Best Buddies, a nonprofit that promotes social inclusion, into a new middle school called Jack & Terry Mannion Middle School. With the help of advisors Ms. Redelsperger and Ms. Hooks, Best Buddies created an official chapter at the school and held their first meeting. Looking ahead, the advisors are excited to see what the future brings for Mannion Best Buddies and their goal of inclusion.

1. New Middle School Chapter Sets Sail for Inclusion
By Heather Mayers
http://www.bestbuddiesnevada.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ddJGKLNnFoG&b=5400567&ct=13856731
Best Buddies Nevada is very excited to announce that we have added a new school to our middle school
program. Please join us in welcoming our newest Best Buddies family member, Jack & Terry Mannion
Middle School!
The middle school program manager, Heather Mayers attended the Special Olympics, unified basketball
matches in early March where she was able to meet Rhonda Redelsperger, the autism teacher at
Mannion Middle School. Ms.
Redelsperger had been looking to add a program like Best Buddies to Mannion for a long time. By the
end of the month, Ms. Redelsperger as the special education advisor brought on board a fellow teacher
as a faculty advisor, Samantha Hooks.
With wind in their sails and passion in their hearts they not only created an official Best Buddies chapter
but also held their first meeting to inform students about the newest program on campus.
Looking forward with Ms. Redelsberger and Ms. Hooks at the helm as advisors, Mannion Best Buddies is
ready to set sail towards inclusion! Both advisors are excited to see what the future brings.
They are planning on sending at least one student leader to Leadership Conference where he will
interact with students from across the country, learn more about best buddies, and be equipped with
the tools to make his chapter successful. This truly goes to show, whether it’s fall or spring, it is always
the right time to bring Best Buddies to your school!
As always, if you would like to know how you can become more involved with supporting these amazing
young individuals please contact Heather Mayers at (702) 822-2268
orheathermayers@BestBuddies.com.

2. Reaching Far and Wide
By Heather Mayers
http://www.bestbuddiesnevada.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ddJGKLNnFoG&b=5616497&ct=13826413
When the Assistant Principal at Brinley Middle School, Sindy Eisen was asked about Best Buddies at her
school she reported, “…it is so amazing to see how that kind of friendship changes the views of all the
kids on the campus - not just those involved.” Best Buddies has the ability to reach far and wide to
change lives, whether it’s on a small scale at the school level or large scale like Best Buddies Friendship
Walk or Spread the Word to End the Word Day.
For Spread the Word to End the Word Day, coming up on March 5th, some of the middle schools we
have been visiting are planning on using their morning announcement to talk to other students about
how hurtful the “R-Word” can be as well as planning on having students sign a pledge to stop using the
R-word. For more information about Spread the Word to End the Word visit www.r-word.org you can
sign a pledge and order fun swag from their website!
Students have also been brainstorming for people they can get involved in the Friendship Walk.
Greenspun Junior High School plans on reaching out to other organizations on campus like the
basketball team, student council and their siblings’ clubs for additional participants. For more
information about Best Buddies Nevada Friendship Walk or to register and sign up a team
visitwww.bestbuddiesnevada.org/walk.
As always, if you would like to know how you can become more involved with supporting these amazing
young individuals please contact Heather Mayers at (702) 822-2268
orheathermayers@BestBuddies.com.

3. Thankful for Best Buddies
By Heather Mayers
http://www.bestbuddiesnevada.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ddJGKLNnFoG&b=5616497&ct=13535895
November was another month for the history books! We are truly thankful for the growth of our middle
school program. Last year middle schools had 28 participants at two schools.
This year Best Buddies Nevada has 268 middle school participants at 9 schools talk about having a lot to
be thankful for! We are especially grateful for all of our advisors whose hard work and dedication make
the middle school chapters possible!
From day one the middle school students and advisors that are involved have not ceased to be
inspirational. Best Buddies Nevada appreciates the courage it takes to make social change that our
participants display everyday!
Why is it so important to have Best Buddies at middle schools in Las Vegas? According to the Council on
Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association in 2002 direct physical bullying increases in elementary
school and peaks in middle school.
It has been reported that 83% of children and young adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities have been bullied (Reiter and Lapidot-Leftler 2007). Special education advisors report
through Best Buddies, students with disabilities are more socially integrated in their school.
In fact, in 2011 92% of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities say they feel more
accepted by their friends and their communities through their involvement with Best Buddies.
As always, if you would like to know how you can become more involved with supporting these amazing
young individuals please contact Heather Mayers at (702) 822-2268
orheathermayers@BestBuddies.com.

4. Why Best Buddies?
By Heather Mayers
http://www.bestbuddiesnevada.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ddJGKLNnFoG&b=5616497&ct=13500193
August, September and October have all flown by! Each month has been filled with Best Buddies
excitement as students were matched with their new friend for the year and began to update their
friendships using Best Buddies Online.
The Nevada office also put hard work and love into hosting the annual Super Hero Ball! We would like to
give a big THANK YOU to the middle school students and their parents who helped us like super heroes
by volunteering or donating silent auction items! The next opportunity student and parents will have to
volunteer and show support of Best Buddies Nevada is at Friendship Walk on March 29th.
While we are enjoying our new friendships and looking forward to Friendship Walk, Id like to remind
everyone why we do what we do at Best Buddies. The Best Buddies mission is to establish a global
volunteer movement that created opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and
leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Below are some reasons that our middle school participants joined the Best Buddies chapter at their
school:
"It helps people find what they can't always find so easily, a good friend."
- Sunni (Lawrence Junior High School)
"...it will be fun to hand out with people that don't really get noticed or get bullied because they're
different. To me were all different in our own ways..."
- Tiara (Woodbury Middle School)
"To make an impact on someone's life."
- Cassidy (Greenspun Junior High School)
Three truly inspiring reasons to keep up the great work supporting our cause of social inclusion and job
integration for people with disabilities. As always, if you would like to know how you can become more
involved with supporting these amazing young individuals please contact Heather Mayers at (702) 822-
2268 orheathermayers@BestBuddies.com.