AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH

On Monday, Echo A (13W) organised a Home Clothes Day and invited students to wear something red in support of Autism Acceptance Month. In addition, Echo gave a speech in Chapel on Monday and Tuesday to raise awareness of autism and, in particular, how this affects everyone differently.

Echo used the opportunity of their speech to bust a few misconceptions from their point of view: autism is: (i) neither a superpower or a tragedy; everyone’s experience is different and it is unhelpful to label autistic people in this way; (ii) the term neurodivergent is overused and a confusing replacement for autism; and (iii) the whole population is not on the spectrum somewhere and describing autism in this way belies the complexity of each autistic person’s experience.

In closing, Echo invited the School community to consider being less judgemental of others on the basis that it is impossible to know what is going on with everyone else all the time. Instead of making fun of people when they do something ‘weird’, Echo invited us to be kind by offering to help, or to stay silent if words are not helpful. If we do this, Echo said, we would be doing the bare minimum to move towards a more accepting world for everyone.

In prayer Reverend Kate gave thanks for the diverse world God creates and prayed that we might both accept the other and be accepted.

PREFECT HANDOVER

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week the Outgoing Prefect Team handed their responsibilities to the Incoming Prefect Team. This provided an opportunity for the whole school to give thanks and show their appreciation for the Prefects leaving us this summer and to welcome and encourage the new Prefects who will take on responsibilities in 2024/25. 

Mrs Cameron thanked the Outgoing Prefect Team for their service to the school and welcomed the Incoming Prefect Team. Quoting Rosalynn Carter, Mrs Cameron encouraged the new Prefect Team to be bold by telling the whole school community that ‘A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be’.

Reverend Kate prayed for the Outgoing Prefect Team, thanking God for their service and contribution to the school and asking God to grant them all they need to complete their forthcoming examinations with confidence and purpose; Reverend Kate also prayed that they may know God’s peace in this time of challenge and transition.

Reverend Kate also prayed for the Incoming Prefect Team, thanking God for their willingness to step forward in a leadership role and asking God to grant them all that they need to fulfil their responsibilities with creativity and passion; Reverend Kate also prayed that they may know God’s guiding hand in the year ahead.