Brandon Flourishes at Calvin Christian School
Brandon Shepherd (second from right) and his kindergarten classmates have learned from each other during their first year of school together.
“There is no question that Brandon has a place at Calvin Christian,” said Randy Moes, principal at Calvin Christian School (South Holland, IL). Brandon is an intelligent and curious boy, full of spirit and personality. He has flourished alongside his classmates and under the guidance of dedicated school staff. The students have grown to understand who he is and see his personality, and the staff embraces him as a person.
Calvin Christian had not enrolled students with autism spectrum disorder prior to Brandon. However, they were committed to enrolling him in their kindergarten class and confident they could serve him through their partnership with All Belong. “ Greg Yoder and Mary Ashby brought a seasoned eye to the conversation; they made us aware of Brandon’s strengths and needs and provided a lot of expertise on how staff could assist in the classroom,” said Baka Shepherd, Brandon’s father.
Brandon has blessed others with his academic and reading abilities. As one of the strongest readers in his class, he regularly reads to his peers.
“Brandon has a love for learning and enthusiasm that he brings to our school,” said Moes. “His reading ability and memory are great examples for other students.”
Brandon enjoys being part of Ms. Jansma’s kindergarten class at Calvin Christian School (South Holland, IL).
Not only is Brandon contributing to his school, he is also learning from his peers and growing alongside them. He is eager to participate and engage in the classroom, and he is learning positive behaviors from his classmates. “It has been a joy to watch his participation grow since the beginning of the school year,” shared his teacher, Michelle Jansma.
“He raises his hand, he wants to share, and he likes to come up to the board. Today we had a breakthrough. Though he has not previously wanted to recite his Bible memory verse, he did so for the first time today! Not only did he say the words, but he did the motions too.”
As the school year progresses, Brandon is getting better at understanding the schedule and structure of school. He is more eager to interact with peers, and he spends more time with them during free time. “This week we changed where he sits in the classroom, and it did not faze him,” said Jansma. “I think this speaks to the way he is adjusting to school.”
Students recognize that Brandon is growing too. “Kids have grown to understand who he is and see his personality. They see that he is just another kindergartner. They encourage him and cheer for him,” said Jansma. Though Brandon may blurt at times or move around in the classroom, students have learned that this is what he needs. “Some students gently guide and direct him, showing that they are learning from this relationship too,” said Moes. “Brandon’s presence at Calvin Christian would not be possible without the top-notch Calvin Christian school staff and the support of All Belong,” said Shepherd. “The Calvin Christian school staff have been welcoming and creative and have tried to deeply understand Brandon’s strengths and opportunities. CLC Network played an integral role in getting Brandon acclimated.” Brandon’s mother, Patricia, agreed:
“We wanted a Christian environment beyond church for Brandon. The inclusive environment at this school has been an excellent fit for him.”
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 "Inclusive" newsletter. Subscribe to our semi-annual newsletter here.
Katie Barkley
Katie Barkley was the marketing and communications manager at All Belong.