WILLIE HAD A SPIRIT AND A SPECIAL GIFT FOR ACCEPTING PEOPLE AS THEY ARE- HE HELD NO REGARD FOR STATUS OR POPULARITY, WILLIE LOVED EVERYONE UNCONDITIONALLY.  THE STUDENTS OF NFHS GOT TOGETHER AND FOUND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WILLIES SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON.

THE FACULTY AND STUDENTS AT NFHS FOUNDED A CLUB THAT IS CALLED WILLIE'S KIDS.  STUDENTS FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL ARE TAKEN ON OUTINGS AND ARE ACCOMPANIED BY STUDENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM POPULATION.  THE FIRST OUTING PLANNED FOR WILLIE'S KIDS WAS HELD IN DECEMBER, IT WAS A TRIP TO THE LOCAL MALL.  THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WERE PAIRED UP WITH MAINSTREAM STUDENTS AND WENT ABOUT THE MALL DOING SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FOR THEIR FAMILIES.  THIS OUTING WAS IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS- ONE IT GAVE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN VITAL LIFE SKILLS IN REGARDS TO PURCHASING GIFTS, MAKING CHANGE AND CHOOSING APPROPRIATE GIFTS.  SECOND IT GAVE ALL THE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT COMPASSION, ACCEPTANCE AND TOLERANCE.  THESE ARE ALL VIRTUES THAT WILLIE POSSESED.  OUR FAMILY IS DEEPLY MOVED BY THE EFFORTS OF THE FACULTY AND THE STUDENTS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PLAN SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.  IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WILLIE'S KIDS BECOMES NOT ONLY A CLUB BUT A WAY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO JOIN.  IF WE CAN LEARN ANYTHING FROM WILLIE IT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL THE SAME INSIDE- THEY ALL DESIRE TO BE LOVED AND ACCEPTED.  WILLIE ONCE SAID THAT THE KIDS IN SPECIAL ED ARE NO DIFFERENT REALLY - THEY ALL LAUGH AND THEY ALL CRY- THEY WANT TO HAVE FRIENDS AND JUST HANG OUT- HOW WISE WILLIE WAS - IF ONLY WE COULD ALL SEE THE WORLD IN SUCH A WAY.  AS FURTHER OUTINGS TAKE PLACE AT WILLIE'S KIDS WE WILL POST THEM HERE-.  YOU DON'T NEED TO BELONG TO A "CLUB" TO LIVE THE WAY WILLIE DID - YOU ONLY NEED A LITTLE PATIENCE AND A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING-