Recreating our school in the time of Covid

 

Rotary Club of Kingston donates sanitization supplies 

Blog written by Hilary Sherlock with Formatting and note by Leslie Wan  

From Hilary Sherlock - Principal

We have been without our children at school for over 6 months. We closed down abruptly, and tried to sort our out own lives in order to find our way to school and the children in a different and scary reality. It became like school without its beating heart. Gradually we were able to respond in a number of ways. 

Home learning ways

Using previously received grant funds, and with the agreement of the donor (The Digicel Foundation), we were able to provide individualized activity kits to the children. Kits contained a variety of resources including some tablets, sensory material, early learning workbooks, paint etc. These were differentiated according to the individual child's needs. Instructions for use were included and in some cases individual physiotherapy exercise programs were suggested . 

Online support

Teachers and our physiotherapist remained in contact with parents/caregivers to give advice, encouragement and suggestions. Activity suggestions were also given using file sharing in Pinterest. We used our Facebook page to share general information on a variety of relevant topics. 

Welfare

We did a distribution of games and art supplies donated by a friend of STEP to the children of Bethlehem (a Missionaries of the Poor home). We also did a distribution of groceries and household items to parents with money from the Digicel Foundation. We did a further distribution of groceries and household supplies to two students who have previously been assisted with transportation from a Diaspora group out of Dallas, Texas called Jamaica Yes. Jamaica Yes - thank you for allowing us to repurpose the amount as the school was no longer open for Covid reasons and the children could no longer attend. 

Changes for the future and during the time of Covid  

Ofcourse during this new era in the world, the school had to completely chart a new course for how to do an educational program in the middle of a pandemic. Our children are special for so many reasons besides their frailties or differences in abilities. It is not clear yet when our children will return to school but our teachers have returned to chart a new path in virtual learning for them. We have, and will continue to do, content for our own you tube channel. We do zoom and video chats and everything else we can think of to keep our children connected and moving forward whether it be in their personal homes or group homes, We did some you tube videos that involve reading, number work, and physiotherapy demonstrations for their parents and caregivers to do with them keeping them more flexible and stretched . It is a really joyous moment for the children and the teachers when they can manage to get students assembled virtually to have a lesson or just a "visit". They all just exude joy to be with the others they miss and enjoy. Quite frankly we miss being with the children and yet we do the best we can to make sure they have opportunity and connectivity. We summed it up in a bulletin board that Allison did for us that says we will try and "Take care of each other". 

We realized we had to make some changes to the school building and the garden to make it a safer space for everyone. We added additional sanitizing stations and additional sinks in the building for

washing hands and have some future projects planned for the garden, if it ever stops raining in Jamaica. 

Thank you      

Thank you to the Digicel Foundation, Carrier Air Conditioning, Jamaica Yes and The Rotary Club of Kingston (Sanitization supplies and disinfectant cleaners) and our friends of STEP. We are ever grateful you support us in the mission for our children and their families. Even in tough times you made sure we could "wheel and come again". The effort to build a supportive community around our school over the years was positively rewarded through tangible acts of kindness to our students and their families. We so appreciate our STEP Centre family - all of you! 

All of us feel that our responses were inadequate and are working towards developing a more fulsome multi-faceted approach including developing more virtual resources and parent training and caregivers. We know whom among our students require multiple interventions and close contact. Lack of direct participation and physical contact in a therapeutic program is a major parental concern and we acknowledge that, but we must do what is called for at present for the ultimate safety pf our teachers and precious students. 

Note from Leslie Wan     

Sorry for the delay in our updates, but life and school have been moving targets for all of us, as they have no doubt for you as well. We made plans and then re-made plans depending on changing Covid protocols and numbers. It is an uncertain and stressful time for EVERYONE but we truly wish you all the very best in peace and good health. We are on a mission for children to teach all people about the wonder of special needs children, you all are always on our minds. "Take care of each other"  is from all of us to all of you, wherever you may be. This pandemic has taught all of us that in the end, the world is a small interconnected place, despite it's size. 

           .            

CHANGING TIMES - THE COVID DAYS

Blog by Hilary Sherlock and Leslie Wan - formatting by Leslie Wan

HILARY'S THOUGHTS

It seems like a long time ago, but on a Monday we met with the St Patrick Rangers to work on our Disaster Preparedness Plan. 

On Tuesday we had the earthquake. The earthquake underscored the importance of our preparations. We were still thinking earthquake, hurricane, fire - all physical happenings which have a beginning and known familiar stages of anticipation, enduring and picking up the pieces.  We were not thinking of having to close school because of something we could neither see nor feel. So, when an earnest young fireman visited school to do a formal inspection we welcomed him after squirting his hands with a large amount of sanitizer, eager to implement the necessary steps to be fully prepared. Then everything began to speed up and change.

As talk of the new virus and its spread grew we revised our sanitation protocols.  We bought new hand sanitizer dispensers, filled them, and put them up.  We refreshed our hand washing techniques with all staff, stocked up on cleaning supplies and informed our parents and caregivers of all that we were doing and reminding them the importance of their participation at home.   We researched and followed the WHO and CDC guidelines, and asked that children with any signs of coughs colds etc. should not come to school.  This was not a new policy, but one which to tell the truth, is often ignored by parents and caregivers.  Even in our vulnerable population the rule that the child should be fever free (without medication for 48 hours) is not respected nor is the “please come to collect your sick child” request always heeded. This is a real problem for us AND the other children. 

It was with building anxiety that we “inspected” each child every morning and made the necessary phone calls. Thus, when the news came that schools were to be closed it seemed a safe and reasonable action. With closing however came the realization that there was a big hole in our disaster preparedness upgrade as it were.

We had made no real plans for how we would be teachers when our students were not physically with us.  How were we to be a school without our heart – for it is the children who are our heartbeat. What practical steps could we take now. We began to grow a new routine.  We began, and are continuing, to send activity suggestions home. I began sharing information about available resources on our Facebook page.  We established a staff what's app group and we are trying to build a remote staff training program for our teaching assistants. 

Not knowing when we will be back is HARD.  I know Ken ( our gardener) will go and water the flowers, but I also know the birds who flock to be fed in the early morning, will be wondering what happened.  I also know we all pray for our students who live in residential care and we acknowledge the burden of care placed on the staff who love them.   

We hope that when this is all over, we will have learned that holding each other close even if just in spirit is precious..........Hilary Sherlock

LESLIE'S THOUGHTS

I apologize it has been awhile getting this post out . These are days that challenge us all spiritually and literally, and certainly did me. Needless to say the earth seemed to be shifting daily, and yet I never lost the thoughts of our children. Our beautiful children scattered in their many living spaces. Quite frankly I miss them so much, but they are so much better off in their places of shelter than out in the world. Their smiles and quirky ways are not with us to guide us and cheer us, but we celebrate them still. 

Those who believe in our children are scattered across our beautiful country of Jamaica and the world, and to each of you, our hearts are with you. There is no STEP Centre without all of you: supporters, parents, teachers, children and organizations. To each of you we wish the very best in health and strength and endurance. Covid-19 is changing and challenging all of us, but that is when the wonder of our shared humanity, in thought and spirit, needs to uplift us. We are not sure when school will be back, but I know that when we throw open those doors and the children and their wheelchairs come streaming in, it will be a celebration. A celebration of strength, perseverance and the wonder of all of us. Though we feel like the world has shifted on it's axis, there will always be children who need us and we plan to be there for them.  None of us knows what is written for tomorrow, or even how we will get there, but we will never get there without realizing that even our weakest among us, share the love that this world brings and needs..................Leslie Wan       

REFLECTING ON THE JOURNEY

TIME FOR REFLECTION

BLOG BY LESLIE WAN 

FIRST

Christmas 2019 was celebrated at the STEP Centre and as usual, it was JOYFUL! This year the theme was simply the joy of music with the children's voices as they played some of their small percussive instruments like bells and drums and tambourines. The children love to sing and they love to work with Emily Dixon, our special music teacher. Emily has such a wonderful way with the children.

Emily works magic with the children

It was a day of simple fun and joyful song. All the children got their wheelchairs (or skateboard) decked out in Christmas finery and they felt like stars on the day. Ofcourse there were presents shared and cake and Christmas treats! They were happy and so were all of us.

Christmas Skateboard    

REFlECTIONS ON THE YEARS

I have been reflecting back on my years with the STEP Centre. This particular blog is a personal journey from me. What have I learned and celebrated in the 15 years that STEP has been a part of my life. What could I share with you about how children with challenges have changed me. It seems quite unusual that a place filled with children with so many challenges could be the place that has given me such clarity about how deep our hearts can feel when we look beyond the obvious, and pay attention to the smallest of wonders. Recently, while participating in our meditation / full breathing circle, I sat with my eyes closed visualizing all that we were instructed to think about and breathe into. Slowly, I felt a tiny unusually shaped hand sliding into mine. When I looked down to that hand, and up to that face, there sat a small boy with the sweetest grin on his face. There he was, showing me how much he appreciated the closeness of my being there. As a slow grin came across my face, he took my hand to his lips and kissed it. He knew it was not time to talk, but that didn't mean he couldn't get some attention and connection in a way that was absolutely unforgettable and appropriate for the moment. With all his challenges and all the times he has been ill lately, there he was, reminding me that he is there and that we matter to each other. He is one of the most perceptive and intuitive children, and, probably far more so because he sees life from his heart and a wheelchair. He reminded me of the power of touch and the ability to communicate without saying a word. I reflected then that sometimes we talk too much and don't FEEL enough!

In spending this time about where I have come with STEP, the children that have come and gone in those years, and the imprint that has left on me, I went through soooo many of my photos. All I can say is WOW, all those years and all those sweeties! So many children who blessed me in so many ways. Our children can all be so individual because they come to us with an incredible differentiation in abilities. This makes them quite memorable for all kinds of reasons. In many cases, defying logic, I  remember them not because of their challenges, but because of their personalities and how they OUTSHINE those challenges. This journey began as a chance for me to do charitable work with my then young daughter, now has become a cavalcade of memories, and a passion for children that have taught me so much about what I can return from my heart. It has taught me that putting the child before their challenges is always the best view. It has taught me that their parents or caregivers  are everyday heroes. From those students, I now understand the continuity and the fleetingness of life. I celebrate the commonality of life, the ability of my heart to expand and recover from adversities. I now know that when I feel spiritually fatigued, these children have become my mentors in rising ABOVE the discouragement in life. These children are often my counterbalance to the everyday life that makes me mad and disheartened about the world we live in. From these years with STEP I have become more accepting, less judgmental, more resilient, and most importantly, I spend more time seeing with my heart than with my eyes. 

What would I wish for people to take from our children. Joy comes from where and whom you would least expect it. Understanding that life's teachers come in the tiniest packages. Realize that all the "stuff" you accumulate in life will never give you the satisfaction that sitting down with a child who needs you and enjoys the singular connection and heartfelt moments they share with you. They have taught me to believe in myself because THEY work hard all the time. Our children remind us of resilience- we are resilient even when we don't think so. When working alongside someone, we need to acknowledge that we understand how they are feeling and that it makes all the difference in actually SEEING them. These children brought interactions into a realm that changed me for the better. When you are with us, you will see children who struggle, but don't dwell on their struggle. You see children who appreciate fully and accept you openly. You will see challenging moments become tender exchanges and STRONG connections. These children are life changing in so many good ways. In the end the STEP Centre and it's children, have become a blueprint in all kinds of ways in my life. They remind me of the compassionate world, the resilience of the human spirit, the gratitude I have for profound and yet simple moments, and the dramatic impact all lives have on another. Lastly what you give and feel from your heart, is magnified when it is returned back to you by little people who don't even have to try. I am SOOOOO grateful they came into my life and I am blessed by them every time. 

When I started 15 years ago I never dreamed it would become a passion, and I never dreamed that I would find a home among children who are so overlooked by society. It is an enigma that smiles can unlock lessons within us that we never dreamed we needed to know. In a most surprising way these children have given me another family and a more embracing heart. Thank you STEP Centre for championing the champions and believing where others never try.                     



        

HAVING FUN FINDING PEACE - SUMMER SCHOOL 2019

Blog by Hilary Sherlock with message and formatting by Leslie Wan

Hilary Sherlock writes...............

“Can we do it again, I hope when school starts we can do it, I know I come late
so I only catch one time, but I really like it.”

Morning Meditation 

Coming from our most skeptical and critical member of staff, this comment took all of us by surprise, especially as the” it” she was referring to was a group meditation exercise. During the second week of our summer program, Sister Tram had led us, children and adults together, through basic guided meditation. Now at the end of our summer school we were reflecting on our experiences, on the weeks activities, on what new knowledge we had gained, and on what dormant skills had been refreshed. A small group of us had been planning this two week camp for what seemed a very long time. Through the intervention of Farnoosh Droodgar of LEAD Outreach Initiatives ,(Leadership, Empowerment, Action, and Development) a Canadian based N.G.O that spends so much time and effort helping good things happen in needy places, and Sr. Gene Poore from the Dominican Sisters of  Peace, we hosted a two week summer program for our younger students. As part of our outreach partnership with The Hope Valley Experimental School in Kingston, a few of their students were invited to participate. Occupational and physio therapists, Sr. Mary and Sr. Tram agreed to come.

Learning new physical therapy skills from the sisters! 

Funding was secured through the Shalom Fund operated by the Sisters. Our goals were simple, to strengthen specific weak areas in our ongoing program (e.g. use of physical therapy motor switches and routine oral motor exercises), suggestions for ongoing activity plans based on individual assessments of each child, and an introduction to guided meditation. These two weeks were carefully planned with all daily activities chosen and prepared.  The term "switches" refers to Adaptive switches that allow the physically challenged and special needs user to activate assistive technology devises in their environment. This can be, for example, a large button that is electrically connected to a toy or another piece of equipment that a child can push to celebrate or reflect his correct answer. An adaptive communication tool for non-verbal, but includes mobility work.


This was to be a learning time not only for the children, but also for us adults. It also proved a good bonding experience to be learning together. The inclusion of meditation as part of the program is not as unusual as it may first appear. I had observed its effective use by Zahra (our creative arts therapist) in her work with our children, and by how her students gained control of their breathing and restless bodies. I had also been reading of its effects in helping children control their behavior. So perhaps this was the time for all of us to try it, adults and children together – and YES, we are definitely now building it in to our regular schedule. So, for two weeks in July we did have fun, we did refresh old dormant skills, we did enjoy the more relaxed pace AND getting to know our visitors. Our visiting students and their parents brought new energy and it was lovely to see the affinity our volunteer Olivia (a Wolmers High School student) developed with the children, especially her favorite little man.

What do we take with us into the new school year, a re-commitment to change and growth, a new look at how we are using our space functionally, and perhaps, most significant, the importance of planning and preparation in all we do. We further explored how we can continue to build our staff as a team. As we cleaned and prepared for the new school year we were making sure to include daily group meditation periods. Now, some weeks into our new school year we begin each day with a ten minute all school meditation. We sit in a circle and go through simple breathing exercises and calmly centre ourselves for the day ahead. Very quickly it has become an important part of our school routine, as the peaceful silence is powerful.


Leslie Wan writes....... 
You would probably find the new found practice of meditation in children with special needs to be  surprising, considering the issues some of our children face. But, in point of fact sometimes they crave a moment of quiet peace in a day that can be loud and hectic and always full of people and other children. In an unusual way, it becomes their own personal time which happens so rarely in any given day. The goal is not to make sure they stay closed eyed and still, because that may be a task too tough for them, but to make them aware that personal space and single contemplation as best they can, is something to be celebrated and a goal worth doing. Truth is, don't we all need some time of quiet moments, which we seldom take the time to do? It was also well received by the staff because they learned it from our visitors who practice it often, and whom had won them over with their quiet energy and lovely attention. We have always known the power of engagement, but rarely had the direction to focus on disengagement.. Starting the meditation early in the morning, means the children and staff come out of the morning hustle and bustle and find their focus by just being as still as they can, and understanding that being individuals even in a crowd, is quite rewarding. I can not stress enough how the power of disengagement can be such an important element for all of us and something I am trying to practice more of in my life just as we are encouraging the children. Being peaceful and being still I realize now, are far different goals. 

 

Special thanks to 

1. LEAD Outreach Initiatives (Leadership Empowerment Action Development) and Farnoosh Droodgar 

2. Dominican Sisters of Peace

3. Shalom Fund

4. Sister Mary and Sister Tram (of Dominican Sisters of Peace)  

MAINTAINING HARMONY THROUGH THE CHANGES

Blog by Hilary Sherlock and Leslie Wan
(formatted by Leslie Wan)

Hilary Sherlock says ...............

Schools are ever changing landscapes of ins and outs, beginnings and exits. Children come and children go, and many times it is not an organized or regular semester entrance or leaving. Our school, because of the children we serve, is often working through those changes at all kinds of time in a semester. To say that our students are a very mixed group seems like stating the obvious. I often struggle to describe how we group the children within the many levels of individual differences. Though we strive to put into practice our favorite saying “it's ok to be different”, we do have to recognize each child’s unique place within our equally unique whole. This is always accentuated when we add a new child or adult teacher. The dynamic of the whole group changes and often reactions, challenge our assumptions about our “gentle, accepting school culture”. I work with the underlying premise that if the culture of the school is one of acceptance and affirmation, then bullying, name calling, or any other manifestation of hurtful speech, will not occur. Over the years I now believe that given the often harsh language used in the world and community that surrounds us, it does influence our children and staff, and we must constantly guard against this by being aware.

We recently added two new students and their impact was immediate and evident in very different ways. One little fella walks very well and has no clearly defined boundaries or sense of danger. So making sure that the grill doors are locked at all times becomes a priority, as does the need to keep an eye on his movements while still allowing him the freedom to explore his new surroundings . A new walker in a group of children almost all of whom use wheelchairs, brings its own demands. Another of our newest students, for health reasons, must only be fed the food he brings, and in small amounts, so all of us must resist from giving this cute little fella extra treats. His dietary restrictions and changes are something that he is finding expansive and exploratory, but not particularly within his bodily control. Ah but he does not always understand that.    

A more subtle change happens when we add a mobile child with well developed independent skills which we recently did. He can move around, go to the bathroom and feed himself, so he requires less intervention on a physical care level. However, he has his own set of needs including delayed language skills, and no prior experience of social skills in a school setting . How best do we help him adjust to being in a new group, while helping his peers accept him and his sometimes strange language. Recently, I was sitting with a group of the older students at lunch time. This group always sits together – a group formed partly because they all can feed themselves. Their wheelchairs fit that particular table’s height. They watched the newcomer closely and with his limited speech choices kept repeating “duck, duck, quack, quack” to initiate a conversation. I think I know where duck, duck, quack, quack came from because we had been looking at a book before lunch. I had cheered him on when he identified the ducks and the noise they make, but the others found it understandably strange not having been a part of that reading session. But, I was disappointed when they ridiculed him with the favorite name for one who behaves differently: “he crazy!, he cuckoo!”. A “teaching moment” followed to the other students who ridiculed him. One can only hope that by continually reinforcing that we do not hurt each other by things we say or do, and relating it back to how they feel when assumptions are made about them, we can guard against some of the harsher realities of our culture. Someone recently asked me if the kindness and compassion shown by our students to each other was an innate consequence of their own recognition of their challenges and I think that put that all into perspective - not innate - learned and reinforced. Reinforcing kindness and compassion is an ongoing need! 

On a sweeter note though, I should mention that we also have children that are kind of "watchers" and will alert us when they think that a child has strayed too far out of what they perceive are that other students personal boundaries, or when a child may have a wheel chair issue and he is leaning too far, or at a particularly uncomfortable angle. Some who are mobile, will of their own volition, push another students wheelchair to make sure the student gets in the group or will get a chair when they see someone has no place to sit. In the end our school is just a microcosm of the world at large. Sometimes kind, sometimes not so much.  
    

Leslie's thoughts.........Little of this and a little of that 

1. A new tradition has been started at STEP with a day devoted to water fun! I can not tell you how

much the children have enjoyed playing in small wading pools together, splashing around and splashing each other!! The sound of laughter is everywhere and the children and teachers are completely removed from the usual school routine to a day of total joy. Hands up for our teachers whom enjoy the day, though it does create an extra amount of work with all the clothing changes and diaper changes required. A system in and a system out of the bathroom and yet it is orderly and accomplished. No one is immune to the sound of laughter and joy and the smiles that this day brings. Hanging out in a pool on a warm day beats a workbook - ANY DAY. 

2. Some changes have been happening to the schools exterior recently. This has been something we have needed for a very long time but as in all things, we can not just "do it", but somehow eventually,  the heavens and the people and companies align to help us get it done. On one side of the building, we have been quite concerned about erosion and lack of drainage. We have had nothing to stop the gradual erosion of the embankment that holds up our privacy zinc and we so hoped that before hurricane season we could remedy this without it becoming an emergency. For now, we have abated an emergency threat. 

So Phase 1 with a BIG shout out to 
A. Maryanne Twyman - landscape architect, who designed the plan for us to make it a reality. Thank you, for your expertise and wonder. She is the best folks.  
B. Digicel Foundation - for providing the funds to do this very necessary endeavor. We are always grateful that Digicel believes in us and the magic of our children. 
C. Elie and David Rickham Family for donating all the plants whose roots will help shore up the dirt and beautify the spot. Auntie Elie is a constant friend of STEP and of the children. Thank you for sharing the beauty, and being our secret angels Rickham family - yes it is a family affair for them.   
D. Mark Swaby- Big thanks to a parent of ours who put his team in action to build it for us. Mark always seems to jump in and supply expertise and people when needed. Thank you Mark! 
..............................

We will eventually do a PHASE 2 that will see us making a trellis for climbing plants, wooden fencing will replace our zinc " privacy wall" and further wooden fencing that will block off the view of our laundry area that, while necessary, is just abit untidy looking. This too will come to pass one day when we are able, but, for now that remains a future goal. There are just not enough ways to express our gratitude for what we receive. Ever grateful, ever aware.

3. Thank you to the Brownies from Hopefield Prep. They spent a morning with us entertaining the children, playing games, reading books, feeding lunches and just being their sweet selves in the middle of a school day. Our children loved the attention. I think the Brownies learned a lot about the challenges of children like ours, and seemed to soak it all in, with such compassion and fun spirit. Lovely, lovely girls with great hearts. We spent some time explaining some of the challenges of the individual students so they could understand some of the ways the children face their differences, and also the ways they compensate and overcome. I was worried in some way that they would feel overwhelmed amongst our children, so I spoke with a group as they prepared to leave. They said they were not overwhelmed at all and they loved every minute of it and especially the children and how the children made them laugh too. Reminded me to never underestimate the compassion and ability of other children to see the spark we see amongst our school crew.
                    

Leslie's Final words for today..................

 Cherishing the spirit of others, makes our own spirit lighter as it rises to the embrace. Keep cherishing and keep embracing others.  

SHOWING LOVE AT CHRISTMAS AND BEYOND

WRITTEN BY HILARY SHERLOCK  - NOTE FROM LESLIE WAN

HILARY SHERLOCK SAYS................

In December, I asked two of our older students as we prepared for Christmas, "What can we do to show love at Christmas?” Their responses, “You can help clean the house" and "When your Auntie is going out to shop you can go with her to carry the load”  Very profound! So, to all those who have shown their love to us over the past year and who have helped to carry the load – many, many thanks to all of you.

Christmas at STEP is always a special time, a time to celebrate and reflect, to catch up with old friends as we sell Christmas cards, and to enjoy all the special visits and treats.  One special visit was from one of our past student who is now 33 years old. How lovely it was to spend a little time with her.  Her visit made me realise that with our staff changes, only a few of us remember the early days of STEP when we resided in the Church Hall.  How far we have moved from then, both physically and functionally.

While in our past blogs we have spoken about our community, our space and all those who support us, we have not introduced members of our team who make it all possible.  Two of the longest serving members are – Auntie Marcia and Auntie Junetta.  Both members of our staff have been with STEP from the early days and are part of the fabric of our school.  Together we have grown and changed and sometimes, we talk about memories of past children and happenings as members of a family often do. 

Auntie Junetta

Auntie Junetta began her career with STEP as a teaching assistant. Later, she went on to do a degree at U-Tech and came back to be the teacher in charge of the junior students.  She intuits the needs of the children, notices and takes delight in the smallest accomplishment of our children. She is also an instinctive nurse who can take an accurate temperature without a thermometer. 

Auntie Marcia

Auntie Marcia of “always late” fame, has a special gift for finding the hidden treasure in children who require our maximum assistance.  These two valuable members of our team, help to ensure the continuity of our approach, and remind us that our strength, is only made possible by the contributions of each member. 

As in any family, there are adjustments to be made when new members are added.  New energy and insights help us to bring new growth and re-motivate all of us.  However,  we also have to realize that our new staff has not benefited from all the in service training we have done in the past, and sometimes we need to go back to the basics. As such, while we continue with our training on new procedures, and embrace new concepts in teaching and care, we also are going back to the basics to make sure that everyone has the same concepts and understanding. It serves as a reminder to us all that we need to have a refresher moment. Training is an ongoing process at STEP and we have recommitted ourselves to more training, but it also serves as a means for us all to re-acquaint ourselves with best practices, and bonds staff over why we do what we do, and how to do it in the best possible ways.   

Ambassador Ariel Fernandez

A fond farewell is in order for Ambassador Ariel Fernandez from Argentina who became a friend of our school during last year's World Cup football celebrations. He visited us many times, introduced us to empanadas, and was always very supportive. He has now returned to Argentina and while we wish him well in his new posting, we will miss him. As we say here - Walk good Ambassador Fernandez, as the children wave goodbye to you.  

    

Thank you to Mr Matuschka 

As we enter the New Year with all our plans and hopes, we want to acknowledge the passing of Alexander Matuschka, the CEO of the Digicel International Group.  Mr Matuschka visited our school on his very first visit to Jamaica, and became personally involved in our work.  As a result of that visit he personally decided to sponsor a child himself, and did not solely limit his involvement to a financial one.  Mr. Matuschka kept in touch with us, and periodically inquired about “his little one’s" progress.  We will surely miss him and we join the Digicel community in offering our condolences to his friends, family and the 
Digicel group. 

Mr. Matuschka was a kind man with a golden heart who in one visit to our school, grasped how important our work was, and decided to personally commit to seeing that another child had the opportunity. That pretty much says it all about Mr. Matuschka.

 

 

Leslie Wan says..............

We are ever grateful for being given the honor and joy of working with our children and the staff, who lovingly care for our children and want the best for them. So many times we are reminded by visitors to STEP how much they share our dedication to special needs children and specifically OUR work and school efforts. For that, we are blessed. It is not a surprise that once someone has stepped  into our school, they return each year (or more), because it does their heart good. I recently sat with a group of folks (Boston College alumni) who have visited us from abroad every year for the last 5 years or so. One of them said that this school is contagious with kindness, and the joy they get every time they visit makes their whole trip! One admitted that their family hears all about the children of STEP  (perhaps too many times for the family's patience). They said what comes across is smiles, smiles of children and smiles of caregivers. These smiles will brighten their year till the next visit. In some ways, that is what this blog is about, keeping all the people in our circle (here and abroad) in the loop, as we also let others know, about the wonder of our children, and the blessings of the general special needs community. To our people - high 5 to all of you from all of us, and from one of our students who loves to blow kisses, one of those too. Our children's world gets bigger and brighter thanks to all those who believe in them and our school.  

      
We always are grateful for those who believe and share with us. Thank you to:

1. CAC Foundation and Pacers Running club for their continued support to our curriculum enhancement and means to engage our children in ways they love!!

2. AAA Financial: Thank you as always for the Christmas treat provided to our children each year of lunch, and their treat bags. Each child went to their respective places with a special reminder of your care for them. In addition we received 2 terrific and powerful fans to move that air in our hot Jamaica school days. God bless them, they stayed and chatted with the children and even helped to feed a couple children their lunch. That is HEART!

3. Thank you to Cannonball Cafe and Loshusan Supermarket for allowing space to sell our Christmas cards. They always come thru to help us in our selling push. 

4. National Continental Bakery - for including us with a booth in their Jamaica Made Christmas to sell our cards. We always appreciate being included in this inspired Jamaican event. 

5. Thank you to all those who bought our Christmas cards and helped us to sell our Christmas cards. Our major fundraiser each year brings out the best in all our people and we soooo appreciate you all.       

AND THE CHILDREN RETURN

Heroes Day 2018 -  Learning by playing is fun

Post by Leslie Wan

We are back in the swing of things at school. As usual, we have some new students and some we waved good bye to at the end of last semester. We are happy to have some students back that were sidelined by injury or illness last semester. As usual being back to school is a celebration of spirit in all of us, children, teachers, volunteers and our "fairy godmothers". 

Heroes Day

On the activity front we had a really delightful Heroes Day celebration. Thank you to our special guest judges and visitors on the day Christine Rodriguez and Lillieth Nelson. The children dressed up in characters or else in national dress. I wish a picture did justice to how much they enjoy these moments, but well just a couple. 

"Alexander Bustamante" 

National Dress of Jamaica 

    

   

A new collaboration to benefit the wider disability community 
  

A couple of months ago Hilary and I, accompanied by our trusty driver and fellow explorer David Wan (my husband), made a visit to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (Hollywell) to discuss with them the possibilities for collaboration on making the park a more disability and wheelchair friendly environs. They have expressed a desire to liaise with us to understand how to make (as best as they can) some foot pathways more accessible for wheelchairs and also some sensory expanding enhancements for all forms of challenges in children. It is their hope that the beauty of the park could become a place where more children could enjoy the wonder of bathing their souls in the sights and sounds of Jamaica's natural beauty. They have vowed to work through some "fixes" and hopefully source some added funding, to allow ALL children to hear the birds, linger in the mist, feel the breeze, smell the plants, and enjoy the peace that sometimes is so missing in their lives. They are working hard up there on so many wonderful changes, including a field house / potential cafe, new nature center (wheelchair access to it in the works) and some leveled pathways for wheelchair use as well. We appreciate their interest in all children having opportunities and we will be taking a couple of children in the future for a trial run. If you have not been up there lately, it is time for you to visit again. As we have said before in this blog, while our mission is about our children, it includes the goal of the wider disabilities community. 

 

Our Garden continues to increase in wonder and functionality for our nature inclusive purposes

1. Thank you to the Sherlock family (here and abroad) for a bench in our garden that blends in the serenity of the garden's purpose, and welcomes all to sit a spell under our shade tree and soak in the wonder. The bench is in memory of Grace and Sir Philip Sherlock. We are so grateful to them for giving us a bench to set a spell and linger peacefully. I sat in it the other day and listened to the birds, watched the butterflies dive and lift, and take in the plants we cherish. Delightful memorial.    

   

2. Thank you to The Key Club of Campion College for spending a morning playing games with the children. The children loved having new playmates and the Campion Key Club has decided to return, to work on a project to re-paint our wall in the garden.  

3.Thank you to the daughters of Dr. Molly Thorburn for providing us with a birdbath in memory of their beloved mother whom, during her life, was instrumental in improving the lives of the disabled, both with rehabilitation work and services for children with special needs.

Citation for Marigold ‘Molly’ Thorburn, OD Distinguished researcher in cytogenetics, pediatric pathology, childhood disabilities. Pioneered home based early intervention programs in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Regional and international consultant, lecturer and author in developing services for persons with developmental disabilities. Initiated and developed community based rehabilitation programmes in Jamaica and regionally. 

(CCRP living legends award) 

 Sometimes it is as simple as bubbles!

          
Leslie's Final thoughts  
Here is something I have to say about our STEP Centre. Because our students have such vast differences in capabilities, physical abilities, mental abilities and sensory awareness, it requires us to spend a lot of time working specifically ON THEM, and FOR THEM. So much of the work with an individual child must be placed on that child and THEIR goals, which means learning is extensively individualized. Sure we have approaches and therapies that are generalized by history, training and best practices, but that must be brought down to their individual needs. Many times it requires us to set aside our former goal for them because we have re-evaluated, or because despite our hopes, their bodies, capabilities and endurance are changing or even diminishing. But as hard as it may be, we are geared to NEVER GIVE UP. So much of our work is not what level they rise to, but are they well cared for, stimulated, loved, ACCEPTED and happy. We hope, we pray, we believe and we accept, because after all acceptance is what they need, and often what they are lacking in their wider world.Once you accept them, you become a believer, and once you believe your heart will NEVER be the same. 

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for believing in our children. Believing is in the title of our blog because it is in our hearts.  

Our major fundraiser has begun!!!! -- Our yearly Christmas card sales. 
Please Support our school by purchasing our cards for all your corporate and family/friend needs. The cost is $130 Jamaican per card and we have 4 new designs this year including new from our children's art. It is a tangible way for your support to be actualized into the needs of our children and the needs of the expenses to run our school. Just contact our school and we will have your order ready ASAP. For a small fee we can deliver. (Click on the photo to see larger) Thank you!!