NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS UPON US

Each new school year begins with a to do /mission list.  The more relaxed pace of the “summer holiday” gives time for quiet reflection on where we want to go in the coming year and how we will get there. We consider, how we continue on our journey making our school a place where learning takes place in an atmosphere of lightness of spirit, strength of curriculum, and enlightened and energetic discovery. And while we always remember the importance of learning, engagement often begins with fun times.

This is my hopeful and directed "to do" list for The STEP Centre this year.  I have divided it into three main parts, but with one over- riding principle.

 – TO BANISH THE TRICKSTER WHO SOWS DOUBT ON OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS,  TO LET GO OF THE SMALL VOICE WHO SAYS BUT WHAT IF OR WE CAN NEVER, AND OTHER ANXIETY BLOCKS. 

Looking back on our past year, it is obvious that we did more than we thought we could and we will continue to grow in our capacity to serve.  So here is that dedicated to do list for our new school year. While we don't have the resources right now to attain them all, we will strive for those resources and these goals.  

Cleaning for the new year- excuse the date a camera oops!   

      Organizing is important 2014-15 school year- bring it on!  

   

Improvements to our building which will enable program development:

·         Install security grills. We have worked hard for the equipment we have so it makes sense to make it as secure as possible.

·         Furnish and equip our conference/resource room to make it a comfortable multi-purpose space usable for training and information sharing. ( We assist with training for outside teachers in special needs students as well)

·         Securing enough computers for administration so we are not time-sharing on one slow unit which cannot even read a disc. Our staff only has one computer for all of us and our children have only one for all their educational needs.

·         Turning the principal’s office from a de facto storage room into an efficient working space to meet the demands of a dedicated and expanding educational program and a place to meet with parents and guardians on progress and goals for their individual student.

·         Complete the tile work of the bathrooms to make them more hygienic, and pleasant.

2   The children’s program including curriculum development:

·         To refine individual/group scheduling to reflect individual learning targets.

·         To begin our recycling project and develop support curriculum material for it

·         To integrate our seedling nursery activities into the core curriculum

Our Seedling nursery

·         Expand the use of picture symbols including communication boards

·         Revitalize group assembly times

·         Develop multi-sensory storytelling as a part of literacy

·         Build on the strong foundations for inclusion of art and drama

·         Develop and adhere to a schedule for the optimum use of our wonderful sensory room.

For each individual child we consider the following questions:

·      Are we doing all we can to unlock this child’s capacity to experience and interpret the world ?

·       Are we recognizing quiet behaviors, not just the more demanding ones?

·       Are we securing and using new but available technology to assist this child?

·       Are we remembering the importance of play even for children with limited independent exploratory skills?

·       Are we respecting each individual’s right for choice?

Most important for all of us who work together, how can we strengthen each other as we try to work together as a team?

Inspecting the damage the drought has caused- sigh

As September comes closer,  it will be so good to see our children again and to begin to get to know our new students.  As always we start our year with a really focused and determined set of needs and goals, and through these missions we are cognizant that we build a better and more enlightened school. Most importantly, we work towards the goal that our children matter to this world and that each child has potential and personalities despite their many limitations.

Written by :Hillary Sherlock- Principal 

****Attention all*** 

We are collecting mobile phones (used) for a Digicel initiative. Digicel will give Ipad kits to special needs school who contribute to the drive and the school with the most donated phones gets $100,000 for their curriculum. Please bring us any old phones you have laying around. We are working hard for that goal!! We sure could use your help. Hey - make it an employee office project for a good charity!   
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/Special-needs-school-to-trade-phones-for-tablets_16961311         

Bring us your old mobile phones