Integrated arts classes

Students participating in their P.E lesson by playing a game of balloon volleyball.

By Brianne Davis '26
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Special education is a learning environment that implements services to offer support and tailor instruction to help those students in need to receive an equal education. Wethersfield High School has found a new way to elevate its special education this semester. 

A group of teachers worked together to execute a new Integrated Arts class. This class is like every other P.E., Art, and Music class. Teachers Ms. Haas (Art), Mrs. McNeal (P.E.), and Ms. Morrisroe (Music), have found a way to elevate a typical class. They have chosen a group of students to assist and be their leaders in this class.

The teachers were looking for a way to integrate both typical peers and the school's special education population, in a way that would be beneficial for both groups. 

Integrated Arts Music teacher at WHS said, Ms. Morrisroe said, “The overall goal is for our special ed students to form positive relationships, and make them feel comfortable to form positive relationships in a smaller class size.”

The student helpers are partnered with one classmate to become a close support system. The student helpers create lesson plans for each class based on their peers' needs. All of the students work together to participate in the daily activities. 

“Students learn ways to refine their fine motor skills and their creative side for art, their rhythm accuracy and pitch accuracy, and their collaboration for music, and for P.E. just finding things that are keeping their bodies active but also helping them learn lessons about teamwork and coordination.” Morrisroe said. 

The Integrated Arts class was launched in January, at the start of the second semester.  

Students participating in their P.E lesson by playing a game of balloon volleyball.

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