Ryan Drobot and Mason King focus on their task. Photo by Jessica Steeley

Sashabaw Middle School students spent their February Wolf-Time working on a school-wide academic service learning project for Clarkston students in the special education department.
“We have teamed up with our special education department, particularly our students with autism. Our students are creating sight words that have a tactile feel to them,” SMS Dean of Students Amanda Hoffman said. “We’re using the month-long activity to teach our population here about how to have empathy for students who might learn a little bit differently or might have different needs.”
Each student completed a few words using puffy paint to allow special education students to learn the words through touch. Once the tactile words are completed, they’ll be given to autistic students in Clarkston’s elementary buildings.
Students also created empathy posters to hang in Clarkston schools and local businesses.