WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew and Principal Gregg Gilligan proudly share that John C. Page Elementary School students were joined by members of the Bionic Project to learn about inclusivity through sport and conversation.
The Bionic Project is a non-profit organization that aims to create a more inclusive world for everyone, regardless of physical ability, by dismantling bias, building empathy and fostering connection through education, stories and sport.
Funded by Page’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), representatives from the Bionic Project, including Nico Calabria, captain of the United States Amputee Soccer Team, visited students to engage in classroom lessons discussing empathy, understanding, and better appreciation for the abilities and achievements of others.
To drive the lessons home, students participated in athletic activities on one leg using forearm crutches so that they could experience how athletes of different abilities compete.
Calabria was connected with the district through Page Grade 1 student Austin Berkhoudt, who featured alongside Calabria in March 2025 on WBZ-4 Boston’s “Change Makers” segment discussing their work and collaboration together.
Berkhoudt, who became an amputee when he was just three years old, met Calabria when he and teammate Jovan Booker visited West Newbury and showed Berkhoudt how they played and exercised, a two-hour visit that inspired the student to participate in clinics through the Bionic Project.
Berkhoudt was able to share the confidence and community that he has gained through the Bionic Project with his fellow classmates during the visit.
“Having the Bionic Project and Mr. Calabria visit Page was so important for our students,” said Dr. Bartholomew. “We want to foster an inclusive learning environment, and part of that starts with making sure our students are exposed to and educated about the challenges that all people face. We are grateful to the Bionic Project for being a valuable resource for our kids to explore their differences in the spirit of play and collaboration.”
About the Bionic Project:
The Bionic Project, based out of Cambridge, was founded by below-knee amputee Will Borden in 2018 after he saw an unmet need for athletic events that welcomed those of all abilities. The Project launched an educational touring program in 2023, visiting 34 schools in Massachusetts and California in the first year and engaging with over 10,000 students in the process.
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