Melody in Stittsville, Canada

Mrs. Babb's Grade 5 Class

Holy Spirit Catholic School

Canada

Stittsville

(Melody #044B0414)

Visiting a Grade 5 Class and playing on the playground with the students.

That each student is equal and deserves to be treated fairly.

Melody in Hopkinton, New Hampshire

Mrs. White's 4th Grade Class

Maple Street School

United States

Hopkinton, New Hampshire

(Melody #055B0414)

Melody spent the week with us and had many adventures. She went to a lacrosse practice, read books, played games and learned all about the state of New Hampshire.

We learned all about the challenges Melody might face attending our school. We did our best to include Melody in all activities and we understand how hard it is to be left out of things.

Melody in Houston, Texas

Mac Bechtol

United States

Houston, Texas

(Melody #050B0414)

Melody visited St. John's School in Houston, Texas. She enjoyed the day with the 4th graders. She rode on our swing in the front yard. It is a Live Oak which is green year round in Houston.

I love feeling a connection to other places in the world. I learned more about people like Melody. I learned it is hard for them in a different way. I also learned that a book can be taken to the next level! This was a fun experience. I wish I had gotten Melody sooner. I didn't have much time because it took so long for her to arrive in Houston.

Melody in Ramsey, Minnesota

Miss Ronsberg's 6th Grade Class

PACT Charter School

United States

Ramsey, Minnesota

(Melody #052B0414)

We were able to take Melody out to the playground, on a field trip to Fort Snelling in St. Paul, MN, and she even went to Portland, Oregon with one of the kids for the weekend.

The kids found it very interesting how inaccessible our spaces are, and how they never seemed to notice it before. It is so exciting to see the changes in their thought processes about including everyone and being aware of surroundings, thoughts, and words.

Melody in San Jose, California

McMo

Bagby Elementary

United States

San Jose, California

(Melody #024B0114)

CarWhi took Melody to Santa Cruz Saturday night. She writes: When we woke up Sunday morning (5/18), we had breakfast. Then my mom and my brother went home to go somewhere. My dad and I got ready to go paddle boarding. When we got to the beach, we took pictures, and got in the water. We taped Melody to the board, and got started. We paddled to the pier, and went under it. Under the pier, we saw starfish the size of my face, and many shellfish. When going under a pier, look for fishing lines, because you can hurt yourself by getting caught in them. Also, we went and saw the sea lions. One of them went under water, under my paddle board and came up behind me. Finally, we went back, and got ready to go the the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk!

It was hard at first because we had to leave Melody on the sidewalk at first so that we could hide the car keys, and my shoes in the rocks. When we went back to get Melody, we put the camera in the car.

Melody in San Jose, California

McMo

Bagby

United States

San Jose, California

(Melody #024B0114)

ScoSch Today, I talked with Alejandro, a 3rd grader at my school Like Melody, Alejandro has a motorized wheelchair which helps him get around. Mrs. McConnell, Melody, and I asked him some questions. Like… If he can go on to the playground? He said that he can get on because there is a ramp for him. He also plays on a baseball team! He said that he enjoys playing left field because there is more shade there! He gets to play in small group PE. In that PE they play volleyball, bocce ball, baseball, etc. After he hits the baseball, the other team has to wait until he drops the ball and then they have to move at the same speed Alejandro’s chair goes. He calls his wheelchair “my chair”. The only problem he has had here is that when he first got to Bagby he forgot what class he was in. His amazing chair can move up, down, and even reclines, it has blinkers, too! Alejandro has an aide to help him do things that are challenges for him. Some of the activities that the aide has to help him are... going to the bathroom, and putting his tray on his chair. His tray helps him write, eat, and it's a good place to rest his arm.

It was fun to get to know Alejandro better, and helped me understand what Melody would go through if she was a student at Bagby.

Melody in San Jose, California

McMo

Bagby

United States

San Jose, California

(Melody #020B0114)

When I got to take Melody home for the weekend, I was so excited! Then I realized, what would I do with her? Mrs. McConnell had an amazing idea that I should take her surfing! I agreed that was a great idea. First, AFletch took her home to go to the Winchester Mystery house. On Saturday at about 2:30 in the afternoon, AFletch came to my house and dropped Melody off. Later, we went to Bagby to help paint the wall ball walls. Melody helped spray paint the words “be safe”. After she finished, we thought that she did so good, that we bought her a snow cone. Finally, we went home and got in the car to go to Santa Cruz.

Things took a little longer managing Melody's chair.

Melody in Apache Junction, Arizona

Ruiz's Class

Four Peaks Elementary

United States

Apache Junction, Arizona

(Melody #041B0414)

Nice sunny weather in the mid 90s to low 100s. She came to us at the end of the school year. She got to see a play we put on and all the fun festivities of the end of the year.

Melody learned about sequencing and why it is important during a play. She also learned that there many different things that can be done during summer in Arizona.

Melody in Willis, Texas

Mrs. McManus's Class 5th Grade

Parmley Elementary

United States

Willis, Texas

(Melody #012A1113)

Our school is handicapped accessible. So, Melody didn't have a problem getting around. We took her to all our classes and she got to see science projects and our "Pen Factory". We are making flower pens to raise money for cancer research. Melody went home with one of our students. He lives in the country and has horses. She had a sleepover.

All of our classmates had fun with Melody. We got to tell them about her story.

Melody in Columbus, Ohio

Mrs. Smith's Fourth Grade

Hilliard Horizon Elementary School

United States

Columbus, Ohio

(Melody #058B0414)

It was amazing to have Melody in our classroom. First of all, we made it HAPPY MELODY DAY! We celebrated by having her be our line leader and by creating a special display of words that describe her. She was able to visit our media center, playground and cafeteria. Students really enjoyed taking her to lunch!

We learned that our school is very accessible. It is a newer building with many features that allow for all to be included. The biggest concern that we came across is that as much as things are accessible, there just isn't a good variety of things for Melody to enjoy at recess. We wish we could design a better playground for her.