Monday 3 July 2017

CATCHING UP ON THE FUN AND WONDER

Reading comes in stages and making it fun matters! 


Written by Leslie Wan          

This blog will be dedicated to catching you up on all kinds of "doings" at the school. We have been blessed, had fun and have so much and so many people to be thankful for. While the children and staff have been hard at work doing what schools and children do,in a special needs classroom, it pays to sit back every once in awhile and reminisce on all the rest. We wanted to share some of that with you, our faithful readers, because as we always say YOU MATTER TO US and our children are reminded in so many ways that people keep us going. Our children are always taught gratitude and the spirit of giving. If you are the recipient of one of our children's smiles or hugs, you will know it comes from deep and taught places of sincerity............

So here (in no particular order) are memories and thank yous. 


Zoo Day.............Thank you to Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Recycling Partners of Jamaica  
and Rotary Club of Kingston for providing us with a wonderful outing to the zoo. In a really innovative program, JSIF partnered with Recycling Partners of Jamaica to provide a program that our collected plastic bottles (as we do anyway in our recycling program), were turned in at the Hope Zoo in exchange for our children to have free admission. Both organizations came on our zoo day and welcomed us. As an aside, hats off to Hope Zoo for their ongoing work to make the zoo more disability friendly. Our children have the privilege of being one of the first special needs schools selected by Rotary Club International (Rotary Caribbean Division) for their Early Act Club. Kindly, Rotary Club of Kingston stepped up and gave us the last piece needed for the day by providing the buses we needed to get the children, their caregivers and wheelchairs to the zoo. They also sent some really joyful members to share the day with the children and assist in wheelchair pushing and animal discussions etc. Thank you, thank you to all three organizations for 2 days (children divided into 2 groups) of sheer fun and learning, and the opportunity to be out in the world like all children enjoy. We rarely can find the funds in our budget to be able to do something this fun and this logistical, so THIS was a treasure. 
                   


CONKARAH'S VISIT.....We had a visit from a very special artist this term and the children LOVED IT! On HIS birthday we were gifted with a mini concert by none other than Jamaican artist Conkarah and his musical accompaniment Almando Douglas !! The children really got into his moments and bless him he sang with all his heart and never minded that some of our children just did what they feel and circled around him as he sang to them. Ofcourse no birthday visit would have been complete without the children and staff singing him Happy Birthday. Soo a REALLY BIG big up to Conkarah and Almando Douglas for taking the time to make the children happy on Conkarah's birthday!!! 

BIG UP To Conkarah - the children say "TELL DEM"  
  
STEP Centre thinks Conkarah is a very nice fellow to have given our kids a super thrill on his birthday. As an aside, we recently reminded the children of his visit by showing them one of his newer videos  ( check out the video here) which is full of children playing (and filmed in Kingston,) and they SMILED and WAVED and enjoyed his visit in their minds ALL OVER AGAIN. Good guy Conkarah...Thanks again.

MOTHERS DAY.............. This year we honored our mothers and those who step into the role of mother on behalf of our children. In years past, we have hesitated to do this because some of our children come from charitable children's homes. With the inclusion of caregivers from those homes,we did it just right and the children and mothers had a super day this year. Each child had a cherished person there and each child presented their mother (or their special person) with a plant grown in our garden and a handmade card. It was delightful. Thank you once again to all the Mothers who work and love these children tirelessly. You are all stars in the hearts of your children and all of us who know what you do with dedicated love.  Our guest speaker on the day was the Honourable Burchell Whiteman OJ.  Ambassador Whiteman (and his wife)  have been long time supporters of our beloved school. Ambassador Whiteman, it seems, is a faithful reader of our blog and while he credited the mothers of our children with all the glories they deserve, he also took time to recognize the accomplishments and dedication of our former student Rene and also the blog writer behind THIS chair - myself , Leslie. He took to heart in his talk, one particular blog of ours
which sums up why being with our children is AMAZING.  Thank you again Ambassador (and Mrs.) Whiteman for your longstanding encouragement and for all of your kind words on the day, especially celebrating our hard working and dedicated mothers enduring love.  

Thank you Ambassador Whiteman! 

Look at that face as he honors his mother!


  Thank yous.........

Thank you to Miss Sarah Conway..........
Sarah is a student from Hillel Academy in Kingston who through her own initiative, decided to raise funds for our school via a raffle at Hillel. Sarah had been involved with the school as a participant in a dance recital which featured a wheel chair dance with our children. Apparently, her heart and the wonder of our children, stayed with her and she decided as a service project to help support our school in a meaningful way. Her hard work raised some much needed funds to support our school. So a dear thank you to a special young lady, Sarah Conway,  who leads with her heart and puts her heart into action. We appreciate you Sarah!!!

Gardner Chriropractic and Neurology- 8 Tremaine Rd.  

Our school is blessed with wonderful neighbors and one of them is the above business. We try and emphasize the concept of good neighbors with the children. On many Friday's, our children take a "walk" or a wheelchair ride on our street to get out and about in the sun and to have a chance to see the flowers, plants, birds etc. I suspect our neighbors enjoy seeing them being a part of the world. On Teachers Day, one of our neighbors gifted all our Teachers and staff with "goody bags" and that was Gardner Chiropractic. The bags contained chocolate, key rings, scented candle etc. It was a lovely gesture from them to recognize the diligence of our teachers. We thank you neighbor for the bag of treats! It means a lot to our school to have good neighbors and friends.


Isabelle Miller   (with help from her friends) 

One day we had a visit from a young high school student from the states named Isabelle Miller. Her parents are Jamaican and they stopped in to deliver a package from someone from the states. Isabelle stayed for awhile and chatted and played with the children, and well, seems she was smitten as most folks are with our kids. Isabelle decided when she returned home, to raise some funds through a project at school, and put together a wonderful box of educational activities and toys for us to work with our children. What a surprise to us!! .....While the fact that she did this just because of a chance encounter and introduction to our children is enough, we were really touched by how carefully selected all these toys and educational gifts were. They were selected with the thought of our children's abilities and challenges in mind. She selected with such a conscious thought for what would be beneficial specifically for their joy,  AND for their user friendly works. That folks, is a young woman who sees children who have joy, but celebrates them by putting effort and value not only in the giving, but in selecting just what would be important for their goals and well being. Isabel, you are special!!! Special because you cared from just one visit, and special because you grasped the best ways to bring real joy to our children on THEIR levels!!  THANK YOU ISABELLE!!   
A thank you and a fond farewell to Janice Weiss

We recently bid a fond farewell to a volunteer who had been with us for 3 years. It is always sad when our volunteers leave, but Janice's time in Jamaica had come to an end. What she gave to  us and our children while she was here, was incredible. Janice cherished the children, their stories and saw all kinds of ways to bring light into their lives. She baked for us, volunteered at least once a week at the school as a dedicated student teacher. She made some of our teens feel like they were special in a world of difficulties. She never said no, whether through fundraising, extra activities, helping us to get grants or just being a friend and mentor to all of us! I know Janice well enough to know she has tears in her eyes now because she misses the children, and because it truly was a highlight of her time in Jamaica. Janice feels deeply and joyfully, and nothing was better (for her and for them) than her conversations with the children. But Janice stays in contact with us in all the ways that e-mails and social media allow. Janice simply put............You blessed us and we thank you for all of your heart and all of your effort. We miss you, but we love your heart.  


Tables from Rotary Club of Kingston- rock!!   
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Kingston who continue to support us in all kinds of ways that matter. We recently received 3 tables from them in varying shapes and heights which has been a need for a very long time. As we do individual activities and sensory work with the children, it is important that we can do them sometimes individually or in more segmented groups. These tables will give us all kinds of versatility and segmented methods to work on individual goals. Thank you Rotary for being such a wonderful friend and believer in The STEP Centre. Just the best..............   


Blessings from our children to all of you.
       As our school year winds down and we approach our annual sports day, we are reminded of how our children's lives are interconnected to so many people and organizations every year. As I think about it, I am amazed at how our special children, have connected with so much and so many in the larger world. What you have seen in this blog is that while we write effusively about how amazing our children are, all you have to do is stop in to see them, and their wonder and joy become our best Ambassadors for us. Even just a casual hour of chat with them, leaves a lasting memory in the minds of those who meet them. 


 💓OUR CHILDREN ARE THAT SPECIAL! 💓 




8 comments:

  1. Truly inspiring blog, Leslie. When I finally retire - again, I will be able to contrbute some time I hope. Congratulations on all that you do.

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    1. Thank you so much Dawn, you know how much we would love to have your tender heart with us when you have the time in the future. Blessings.

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  2. To all my friends at the Step Center,
    I'm so humbled by the love and experiences I have had at the Step Center.
    Please give hugs and kisses to all the kids.
    I can't wait to come and visit again soon.
    Thank you ��
    God's blessings always. ❤️

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    1. Thank you belle m.............You know you are always welcome and the children will be delighted. Thank you for YOU!.....Leslie (for the STEP team)

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  3. Wonderful Blog Leslie. I am brought to tears.

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    1. Thank you so much for reading, thank you so much for believing and thank you so much for the compliment. Have a blessed week.

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  4. Every paragraph brings inspiration love and grace.
    Thank you Step for starting my day right, and may all your days be blessed

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    1. Thank you Ann as always, from your hands in writing to God's ears. May your day be blessed as well, and your weekend even better!..........Leslie (for the team....)

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