HMS students remember their feelings about participating in "Something Magical" shows:

I liked being in the plays because it made me happy. I really liked the music and the people.
    Malia 

I was excited in the shows. I liked my partner and I was happy.
    Taylor

When I was in Halley’s Comet, I had a husband who said to me, "Whatever you say, honey." He was funny and I got all mushy.
    Thomeqa 

I enjoyed being part of the train in the play, Same City and ringing the bells in my Dynavox.
    Justin (JT)

I loved being in all the plays. I really liked my partners and other GFS students.
   Andrew 

In On the Other Side of the Fence I liked being a skunk.
    Darius

The people were nice. I’m sad because I’m not in it any more. I miss the songs. I liked On the Other Side of the Fence — I think I was a pig. Paul was one of my partners and I liked him.
    Travis 

I liked having friends from GFS. Annie was one of my friends. I never forgot my part in my song because I liked it so much.
    Fin Vuong

I miss my GFS friends.
    Howard 

On the Other Side of the Fence was my favorite show. I really enjoyed acting with the other students.
    Rodawn (graduate)

GFS students write about their experiences with the "Something Magical" project:

I can still remember getting on the bus and going to meet with our partners at Home of the Merciful Savior. I remember initially feeling a mixture of awe and sadness, which over the weeks gave way to respect and camaraderie. The first time with our partners many of us were at a loss of how to communicate with peers who could not necessarily talk. I think the experience raised up new leaders in the class, as some people had a unique ability to be at ease in a situation that made others of us freeze up -- and they became leaders as we watched them and followed their example.

One thing that stands out about the experience is how much we were entrusted with at such a young age, and the level of maturity that was called out in us through pushing ourselves past what was unknown and different. I am in the field of education now, and when I think about how Ms. Maebori and GFS made this project a priority -- amidst what I imagine were pressures for us to 'succeed and achieve' -- I am so thankful that everyone realized this aspect of our education was just as important in reaching that goal.

Sarah B.

As I look back, many years on, at many years spent at GFS, there is but one experience that I can deem truly life-changing -- Teresa Maebori's "exchange" program with the Home for the Merciful Saviour in third and fourth grades. I do vividly remember taking in the first two Maebori class productions with HMS as a first and second grader. I remember thinking (as a seven or eight year old only could) how it seemed like a noble effort, but hoped that I, myself, would not be placed in the Maebori class -- out of fear, out of ignorance, basically, out of a lack of understanding. I cannot lie and say that I took immediately to the program -- it was very difficult for me, at first, for the HMS student with whom I was partnered had a very severe form of CP and communication was at times difficult. Added to that, I had to sing solo (before that kid who was lampooned on American Idol as "the worst singer in the world", I quite possibly held that title -- in fact, I still do), and I was not totally enthused. Much to her credit, Ms. Maebori never let me give up on either component of the exchange. And I did not. I overcame my shyness with both performance and my HMS partner. By year two, I became strangely extroverted.

The two years I spent in her class and in this exchange were about personal growth just as much as about overcoming stereotypes and barriers, whether real or imagined. I'm sure anyone at age eight would have felt the same way I did initially about the program. Children cannot be expected to be immediately sensitive to people of different persuasions, abilities, what have you - but a program such as this can do quite a bit to challenge young minds to reach out to that which is "other" to themselves. To be honest, nearly twenty years on, I cannot imagine my life experience without it. Such an experience made me much more willing to accept others (with the notable exception of the French), move beyond stereotypes, see people for who they really are - which may sound really hackneyed, but is the absolute truth. More importantly, it allowed me to see inside myself with perspective for perhaps the first time in my life.

Matt L.

Reflection from a GFS student who participated in the original 1984 production
of On the Other Side of the Fence:

I can still remember the words to so many of the songs!. . .I will never forget the experience of partnering with kids who seemed so different from us, but then learning that inside we really were all the same. I have vivid memories of our bus trips to [HMS], of the students we befriended, and of course of Andrea Green, the woman responsible for the wonderful music and lyrics of the show we performed. Additionally, I can recollect the impetus for the partnership with HMS, a skit that made fun of "retarded" children performed by a group of fellow students at an assembly. I will never forget the discussion that ensued after we returned to our classroom that Teresa led us into in order to explore the feelings that the skit generated for us. Her openness, respect for differences, courage to explore her students' thoughts and feelings, and vision of what was possible when we open our hearts and minds were early hallmarks of my GFS education.

Thank you Ms. Maebori for helping me learn early on about the value of each individual and how to make my way in this world answering to "that of God" in each of us. I am truly grateful.

  Johanna  '93

Excerpt from a GFS student’s letter to Teresa Maebori, teacher of the GFS class that joins HMS students each year in the "Something Magical" play:

. . .I spent a good deal of tonight marveling about Something Magical. . .It was four years ago that I had been in On the Other Side of the Fence, which I think was the first of the musicals. After seeing the program tonight, it hit homehow touching and important these musicals are. I was able to directly relate with everything going on. It was an experience that I will never forget. . .I feel as if that experience prevented many prejudices that I may have in the future. I remember our performance vividly. What sticks out for me was when my partner, Zach, covered up for me as I came off a difficult illness by singing a song that I was supposed to. My father cried when Zach sang and, once again, tears welled up in his eyes tonight. . .

   Josh  

Kids are Kids

"What is it like to have Cerebral Palsy?" That is one of the many questions that were asked on Friday, February 25th in the GFS meeting house. Three girls from HMS, all older than 12, came to tell us about their lives, themselves, and the devices they use. They wanted us to learn more about Cerebral Palsy because then we would be able to communicate better and feel more comfortable being with our partners. Their names were Fin, Holly, and Megan. Some other questions that were asked were: How does your device work, what are some of your favorite things, and what do you like to do at school and out of school. They helped us to understand more about people with Cerebral Palsy and their lives. For example, they like to go bowling, swim, and eat pizza just like us. By the time they left, we realized in spite of their disabilities we share many similarities.

    Sarah

Halley’s Comet: A New Fairytale

Lately something has taken place in the hearts and souls of the Maebori 3-4 class (at GFS). What you may ask. You may think that those hearts are as hard as rock and that all they think about is video games. But that is not true. These kids are meeting with their partners every week at their partners’ school (HMS). But these kids they meet with aren’t every day people. You see these kids they meet with have cerebral palsy and other disabilities and are all in wheel chairs.
How was this exchange formed? Seventeen years ago Ms. Maebori, the teacher, took her class to HMS so they could understand the consequences of having cerebral palsy. And it’s been that way ever since. At the end of the year the Maebori class and the kids form HMS school will do a play called Halley’s Comet. It makes me feel good that even if we have differences, we get together as we are all one.

    Caleb