Charles W. Flanagan High School Best Buddies members enjoying building friendships at Build-A-Bear
by BRANDON GILL
Best Buddies Florida
Members from the Best Buddies chapter at Charles W. Flanagan High School wrapped up another year of building friendships by building teddy bears together at Build-A-Bear at the Pembroke Lakes Mall on Sunday, May 23rd. Initiated by the chapter’s Buddy Director, Adrianna Naranjo, 12 Peer Buddies and Buddies spent a fun-filled afternoon interacting with each other as they participated from start to finish in the preparation of their keepsake bears.
As a special treat, the group’s activity was led by the Build-A-Bear staff member who had served as the Chapter President at Flanagan three years ago when she was a student there. She was thrilled to see the chapter thriving and to be able to contribute to Best Buddies once again.
Special Education Advisor Irene Shagam and Program Manager Brandon Gill were pleasantly surprised to see both the turnout and the enthusiasm of all the high school-aged participants to build, decorate and show off their newly created teddy bears, as a capstone to the friendships developed this past year and as an enjoyable send-off for the participating Buddy Pairs for the summer.
Afterwards, the chapter enjoyed a late lunch together before heading home with their mementos from another great Best Buddies activity. Given its success, this activity will likely become an end-of-the-year tradition for the Flanagan chapter.
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