A class assignment turned into something special at Barrington Middle School.

Students in Rebecca Henderson’s STEAM Studio class recently designed and then built a device that helps a classmate who has some unique challenges enjoy the fun of rowing. 

Henderson said the students in her class created an assistive device to help a sixth-grader grip the handle of a Water Rower.

“This is why I got into teaching,” Henderson said. “It’s every educators’ dream to have students take what you taught them and apply it to the real world.”

Adaptive Physical Education teacher Jill Spohn works closely with BMS sixth grade student Ben Orent. She said Orent loves rowing, but had previously been unable to grasp the handle of the machine. Thanks to the hard work of his fellow students, he now has a device that makes it possible.

“We had been struggling with this particular student. He really did well with the rower, but I had to hold his hands on the row (bar),” Spohn said. “I was thinking about gloves or something with Velcro.”

Spohn said she had been to a conference that focused on adaptive physical education — one of the sessions she attended was all about using 3D design to help students overcome specific needs. 

“I was absolutely blown away by what they were making,” she said. 

Spohn said she visited Henderson at the middle school and discussed the idea. 

“The following week she was getting a new group of students, eighth-graders, and they were perfect for this,” Spohn said. 

Henderson said the class excelled with the assignment. 

“Overall, our students have grasped onto the concept of deeper learning,” Henderson said. “In this particular case, it resulted in something that impacts their own peers for the better.”

Henderson split the class into a smaller groups and they went to work understanding the challenge Orent faced and brainstorming what they could do to overcome it. They designed and then created prototypes on a 3D printer — the next step was letting Orent try out the different offerings.

Spohn said Orent is very expressive, and he let everyone know when he used the adaptive handle that worked best. The top pick had lined the hard plastic handle with some very soft polar fleece. Orent loved it.

Henderson said Caroline Appleyard, Gianna Brucato, Grace Fontaine, Eddie Degnan, Cole Noyes, Kenny Berg, Leo Jaffurs and Stephan Jaquet all played key roles in the project.

“The understanding and compassion that drove every single kid in this room … they were a team. All for one, one for all,” Henderson said. “Every kid had a part in the process.”

Spohn said she was very impressed by the respect and collaboration displayed by the students. Henderson agreed — she was very pleased by the initiative shown by her students. 

“That’s what makes this fun,” she said. “It’s a pretty powerful experience. It’s what brings me to the classroom each day.”

Spohn is already thinking up new ways for Henderson’s STEAM Studio students to help in other ways. 

“She doesn’t know it, but I have a plethora of product (ideas) from the workshop,” Spohn said. “It’s so exciting to open up doors for students who have needs and want to accomplish something.”

Henderson said the success of the project would not have been possible if not for the collaborative effort by Orent’s family, the school administrators, and the support of the community. She also mentioned a Barrington Education Foundation grant that brought the Water Rowers to the middle school.

“This was a great learning experience and I look forward to many more of them,” she said. 

Spohn listed other staff members who played a vital role in the success of the project: teaching assistant Manny Canario, occupational therapist Maise Morey, and physical therapist Tracy Moura.