Rather than taking written tests for their mid-terms and semester finals, Haslett High School LINKS students have been able to go on outings with special education kids for project grades. A group of students and former students, including senior Jacey Jackard, senior Cheslea Nelson and 2011 graduate Maggie Whaley took junior Drew Choma, who has autism, to Uncle John’s Cider Mill on Oct. 21.

“(Drew) had a great time,” para-professional Denise Applegate said.

LINKS is a program for students in the high school, rather than para-professionals, to spend certain class periods with special education students to integrate these students with their peers and get them involved so they don’t have adults to rely on. LINKS spend one hour, whatever hour the student they’re paired with has, with that student rather than in a class of their own. It is considered a class, though, and the students are graded accordingly.

 Another group of students - sophomore Emma Fowler, sophomore Tyler Mehigh  and junior Seth Carncross – took sophomore special-ed student Liam Hill homecoming shopping before the big dance.

Activities such as these have been getting LINKS involved with these students while getting them the grades they need, for LINKS is a school class.