Saratoga News Photograph by Michelle Alaimo Josh Cohn and Christine Miller volunteered for the Lunch Bunch three years ago, and they're still going strong. Redwood Middle School duo dedicate their time to others By Michelle Alaimo Those overhearing Christine Miller and Josh Cohn plan out their lunchtime activities for their "kids," might think they are listening to two teachers carefully schedule their days. But Christine and Josh aren't teachers; they are two Redwood Middle School eighth-graders who spend each lunch period helping out special-needs students. The two began with the Lunch Club Team program, otherwise known as the "lunch bunch," in the sixth grade and have been doing it ever since. And the two signed up for the simplest of reasons. "I like to help people," Josh said. "I signed up for a week and liked it, so I kept coming back." Christiner, who wants to one day be a special-education teacher, said, "The kids are so open; they are so welcoming." The duo is now in its third year as lunchtime volunteers. Special-education teacher Pat Elliott began the program three years ago as a way to give her 12 students time to "hang out" and learn to socialize with other students. School counselor Diane Libby said Christine and Josh are really enthusiastic, with a positive attitude that carries over to other students. "They are out there jumping around and having a good time," She added that it is remarkable how the two have continued with the program for three years, when most students only volunteer for a week. Not only does the duo help keep the special-needs students occupied, Elliott said, but they have also given the program structure. When the program began, she said students basically helped to keep her students busy without much of an idea what was going to happen that day. Now, everything has changed. "They're indispensable," Elliott said. Each week, Christine and Josh come up with an activity plan for the week. They perform drama, play games and do arts and crafts. Other Lunch Club volunteers follow their lead and help with whatever daily activity is scheduled. "We try to find games that will help them with their skills," Miller said. Some of the games include "duck, duck, goose" and basketball. She added that the drama skits usually contain some type of moral that they try to teach to their fellow students. Josh said the special-education students seem to really enjoy making arts and crafts. Jonathan Chen, one of the students with whom Josh works, said they recently made a Halloween house and ghosts. The ghosts were made out of Tootsie Pops wrapped to look like a ghost. Josh and Christine asked the students to save their ghosts until Halloween, but Jonathan said he already ate his. Christine has also started writing down things that happen during lunchtime in a notebook. She then gives the notebook to Elliott so that their teacher has an idea of any problems or questions that arose during lunchtime. Elliott said one of her biggest concerns now is how the program will operate once Cohn and Miller graduate in June 1999. "They have really filled a need for these special students," Elliott said. The school is hoping other students will see how much fun Christine and Josh are having and want to volunteer, too. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, November 4, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.