Circle of Friends makes a huge impact on the lives of special needs students by allowing club members to spend time with the students and make new friends.

“It is important to bring diversity to the school,” club President Anna Wojciechowski said. “Everyone is different, and that’s okay. In fact, that is a great thing.”

The friendships that come from Circle of Friends help special needs students expand their social circles and become acclimated to the high school.

“It is important to break down the barriers regarding the stereotypes of special needs students,” club sponsor Mrs. Lisenby said. “We all have strengths and weaknesses that show themselves in different ways. We want the other students at Flower Mound to be aware of how important the disabled students are.”

Circle of Friends meets the second Thursday of each month in the main campus library during all lunches. At the meetings, there are fun games and activities that allow club members and special needs students to get to know one another. On Tuesdays, club members can participate in Lunch Buddies and eat in one of the special needs classrooms with the students.

There are also other out of school activities throughout the year, like October 3rd’s golf tournament.

The Circle of Friends Club hosted their fourth annual golf tournament on Saturday, October 3, at the Tour 18 Golf Course. There were 76 golfers who participated, along with staff and volunteers.

“The golf tournament allowed me time to get to know some of the special needs students,” freshman Jessica Park said. “Now, I feel comfortable enough around them to go to eat lunch in the special needs classrooms every day.”

The golf tournament is one of Circle of Friends’ most important fundraisers of the year. All of the money from donations goes to the special education program at Flower Mound High School and helps fund the Grand Ball later in the spring.

“The funds that we make for the golf tournament give us the ability to buy decorations, run the venue, and that kind of thing,” Wojciechowski said. “We can go on field trips, rent buses for the year, and everything that we need to do all comes from that golf tournament. It’s our one huge fundraiser. We have raised the most money at this year’s tournament than at any other tournament in Circle of Friends history.”

Circle of Friends brings diversity to the school and celebrates the differences between students. Friendships made in the club last a lifetime; if interested in joining, be sure to attend next month’s meeting on November 12th.