Students from the two government Special Education Centers, located at theOrealiaKellyPrimary Schooland theAdrianT.HazelPrimary School, began celebrating their Special Education Week by participating in a church service at theAlwynAllisonPrimary Schoolon Friday, 16th March 2012. The theme for the week, “Our Challenges Do Not Limit Our Abilities“, was clearly expressed in the sermon given by Reverend Dunstan Richardson and further expounded on by Nurse Dana Ruan who spoke on accepting students who are different.
Following the service, the students were given the opportunity to visit the Special Educational Unit at Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School Campus B, the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and the Workshop Initiative for Support in Education (WISE). This interaction allowed staff and students to view current provisions for students who have specific challenges. The students and teachers enjoyed the tour and were even serenaded to by a student in the Special Educational Unit at Campus B.
Official start of Special Education Week 2012
Teachers, parents and students from the various Special Education Units or programmes on the island began their week of activities with a church service at the St.Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, 18th March 2012. The service was led by Fr.Paul and visiting priest Fr. Manual. They highlighted the work of educators in the field of Special Education. The teachers in attendance shared in song as they prepared for a week filled with sensitizing others as to how to include children who are special in all aspects of school and home life.
An assembly to mark the official start of the week within schools was conducted at theOrealiaKellyPrimary Schoolon Monday, 19th March 2012. All students and teachers at theOrealiaKellyPrimary schoolwere in attendance. This assembly encompassed the theme “Our Challenges Do Not Limit Our Abilities” as students from the Special Educational Unit at theOrealiaKellyPrimary Schoolshowcased their talents in dance, song and poetry. The guest speaker, Teacher Carrol Shannon, shared a story about a Special Duck Family that had some ducklings that were very different from the others. The story was shared to highlight that special children want to be included, they want to have friends, they want to be invited to birthday parties, they have unique talents just as all of us and they want to be part of what is happening around them. She left the audience with the thoughts that you will never be sorry for an act of kindness to someone and we all need to have more friends.
– Press Release
