Walnut Ridge celebrating Autism month

VERNON — April is Autism Awareness Month across the nation, and was most specially celebrated at Walnut Ridge Primary School with a theme of “Celebrating Differences”.
The week of April 10 was dedicated to activities, yet could be seen and remembered throughout the entire month. Each day started with a tip or brief activity of the day, such as: compliment someone that you don’t normally talk to in school, during outdoor or indoor recess, invite someone to play with that you don’t normally ask to play, give a high-five to someone new, help a friend clean-up their materials.
Teachers had access to books about autism that they read with their students such as:
Leah's Voice touches on the difficulties children encounter when they meet a child with special needs such as autism. It is the story of two sisters facing these challenges. Through her kindness and devotion, one sister teaches by example the importance of including everyone and showing acceptance.
I See Things Differently is written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas. This book helps children understand what autism is, how it affects someone who has it and will help children to better understand and support autistic classmates or siblings.
A Friend Like Simon is about an autistic child who joins a mainstream school. This story encourages other children to be mindful and patient of the differences that exist and to appreciate the positive contribution that an autistic child can make to a group.
Students decorated puzzle pieces which were hung in a main hallway for all students and staff to remember that “We are all different yet fit together to make a whole Walnut Ridge community”.
Students, faculty, and staff had a “Bucks for Blue” day in which they wore royal blue for autism for a small donation. Walnut Ridge Primary raised approximately $300 which they donated to SCARC. Walnut Ridge Primary School’s Autism Awareness Month was another example of how this little school’s heart grows bigger each day.