They disco-danced to Gloria Gaynor’s
”
I Will Survive.
”
They started a conga line. They line-danced to Shania
Twain’s
”
I Feel Like a Woman.
”
They did something most kids in their situation don’t do
– they went to the prom.
They disco-danced to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” They started a conga line. They line-danced to Shania Twain’s “I Feel Like a Woman.” They did something most kids in their situation don’t do – they went to the prom.
Saturday night, nine students from the special education curriculum at San Benito High School attended the school’s annual prom.
“When they walk in the door and they see what it’s all about, it’ll be like going to Disneyland for them,” said special education teacher Ramona Trevino.
The nine students were treated to a spaghetti and meatball dinner put on by special education teacher Jill Ichien. Her son dressed up and formally served the students, “to make it as fancy as possible,” Trevino said. The students then carpooled to Bolado Park and began their night at the prom.
“These kids don’t get included in the mainstream stuff, so this is very exciting for them,” said Pamela Alvarado, the mother of Robert Wyman, a SBHS junior. “It allows them to experience what the mainstream children take for granted.”
About 400 students were expected at the dance that carried into the night and ended at midnight.
One student in the class was going, and would talk about it, making other students interested, until the group formed at nine, said Margaret O’Donnell, a paraprofessional, or teacher’s aid, in Trevino’s class. The group included seniors Robert Aranda and Andres Casillas, juniors Lacey Haag, Brian Ntzely, Robert Wyman, Sonia Betancourt and Brenda Rico, and freshman Tiffany Weimann.
“I want to go because I want to have fun with everyone. It’s going to be a blast,” he said, adding he wanted to go to have a nice night with friends.
And Wyman went in style, wearing a black and white zoot suit.
The students attend the Life Skills III class for severely handicapped students, including those with cerebral palsy and severe learning disabilities like mental retardation, Parkinson’s, autism and Down syndrome, Trevino said.
The class teaches students skills they need to later function in society, and some of the students can be in school until they are 22, she said.
“The prom will be fun for them. They will be a part of what everyone else is doing. They want to be as normal as possible,” Trevino said.
This was freshman Tiffany Weimann’s first prom, causing excitement for the big night.
To make her night more special, she picked out a dress and shoes for free. Deborah Wood, owner of Drapoel, donated the dresses and shoes for the four girls to wear. Wood was ready to donate dresses to anyone attending the prom, but was put in contact with Trevino. And only one of the dresses needed an alteration.
“It makes me feel really happy. I can’t believe how well it all clicked,” Wood said. “They were very grateful and I was happy to help.”
Also, San Benito Street Flowers donated corsages and boutonnieres, and the boys rented their tuxedos, Trevino said.
Alvarado was happy to hear about the donations, saying “the whole event can be quite expensive.”
Trevino emphasized to the students that they were going as a group, to lessen the pressure of being on a date.
And the event was like the theme of the prom – an evening of enchantment.
