A collaboration between one local middle school and a special services elementary school imagined myriad potential for public education. Newly created learning initiatives require not just attention to Xs, Os, crossed Ts and definitive answers to equations. Some education agendas need a step away from traditional education methodology, a crossover into human bonding, empathy and problem-solving. So, first, this article involves moving parts and involves an initiative called the Hallowheels project, a unique annual fundraiser hosted by Children’s Assistive Technology Service (C.A.T.S.). Mercer Elementary School teacher Leah Housel with student, Jahmir Rue, as Super Mario. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)From left, Karen Demeter, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Deb Garafalo and student Adwoa Otuo-Acheampong. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Hopewell Timberlane Middle School students gave and received thumbs up approval for their Chick-fil-A mobile. From left: Julia Goodrich, Tressa Borgos, Nila Rathnam, Sonia Gervasoni, and Sadhana Ellenti. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Lynn Fraass, a physical therapist, attaches Timberlane Middle School STEM accessory to Ameena Kayani’s wheelchair. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Kristin Interian, a speech therapist, with Joel in his Halloween Express vehicle. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)London McRae-Irving in the ring as John Cena. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Hopewell Timberlane Middle School students, left to right, Ashiraa Manchanda, Irene Lee, and Margaret Rorick with Adwoa Otuo-Acheampong in her ice cream ‘float’ that offered a variety of popular flavors. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Adwoa Otuo-Acheampong's ice cream ‘float’ that offered a variety of popular flavors. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Hopewell Timberlane Middle School students and Mercer Elementary School students with faculty and administrators from both schools. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Show Caption1 of 9Mercer Elementary School teacher Leah Housel with student, Jahmir Rue, as Super Mario. (L.A. Parker/The Trentonian)Expand Hallowheels represents a celebration of children with physical, neuromuscular, and developmental disabilities, and missions to provide refurbished assistive and adaptive mobility and communication devices to these children free of charge. The local effort paired students from the Hopewell’s Timberlane Middle School STEM program with students from the Mercer Elementary School, part of the Mercer County Special Services School District (MCSSSD). Most students at MES require a wide variety of learning and/or developmental needs. Many Mercer Elementary School students face physical mobility issues and require wheelchair use. This Hallowheels project connected 12 students affiliated with MES and approximately 60 Timberlane STEM students with a goal to retrofit each wheelchair with a Halloween costume theme. Each STEM team consisted of about five students building an apparatus for one MES student. For instance, the STEM team of Julia Goodrich, Tressa Borgos, Nila Rathnam, Sonia Gervasoni, and Sadhana Ellenti, constructed a special Chick-fil-A for their MES client/friend. “We had a great time working on this project together. Our group learned a lot about teamwork,” said Ellenti. “We did a Lightning McQuuen and Chick-fil-A mashup with a little bit of Bruno Mars. We even added a button that when pushed plays “Uptown Funk.” “Oh yeah, this was a girls thing. We all love STEM, love making things. It was a challenge but we learned how to work together for the benefit of helping others,” Goodrich said. Timberlane Middle School students  Ashiraa Manchanda, Irene Lee, and Margaret Rorick created a kind of ice cream float machine for Adwoa Otuo-Acheampong. “Our project is dedicated to Adwoa who is our new friend, even though this is the first time we’ve actually met,” Manchanda explained. “We came up with this cream truck idea and loved it from the very beginning. Our team wanted to create something that made her smile. We worked on this for about a month and received all of the measurements for her wheelchair over the phone. It’s so nice to finally meet Adwoa.” Timberlane students shared unanimously a pleasure derived from helping others whether their project connected to building a wrestling ring inspired by John Cena for London McRae-Irving, a Super Mario car for Jahmir Rue, or outfitting a wheelchair belonging to Ameena Kayani. “This Hallowheels project was the perfect confluence of design thinking that is taught in the STEM classroom and teaching students what it means to be empathetic in today’s world.  To say that this embraces authenticity in a STEM project is an understatement,” explained Helen Corveleyn, a celebrated STEM teacher at Timberlane Middle School. “My students had to connect with students their own age that have very different life circumstances. They considered all aspects of their Mercer Elementary friend- methods of communication, ability for movement and the limits that their technology puts on them.  They engineered these costumes not only for functionality, but to bring joy to someone else from our community.” The Corveleyn resume includes recognition as a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. A acceptance post noted her desire to shape the young minds of our nation. Corveleyn said the award recognized her deep love of science, conservation, the environment, and the importance of human connections between a teacher, her students, and her community. The collaboration included numerous participants including Barbara McCarty, media specialist at Timberlane Middle School. McCarty initiated conversations with C.A.T.S. Then, last summer, McCarty pitched the idea to Joan Alito, a retired MES teacher, during a day at Sea Girt Beach. Brainstorms developed instantly as text messages transmitted project hopes. Alito contacted Karen Demeter, a teacher at MES. “I teach kids from fourth through eighth grade. My kids are cognitively impaired and also, physically impaired. Five of the ten kids in my class are in wheelchairs. So, this idea sounded ideal for my kids,” she explained. This project culminates with a Hallowheels costume contest sponsored by C.A.T.S. as STEM creations appear on the organization’s website. The fundraiser requires participants to contribute $1 in exchange for one vote for their favorite presentation. All 12 Mercer Elementary School students appear on the website. Voting began Saturday, Oct. 26. Access hallowheels.org to find a Timberlane Middle School/Mercer Elementary School creation. Follow instructions to place a vote.