ALEXANDRA Hill’s Sycamore School for children with autism has received about $2600 towards their fundraising projects thanks to Bayside’s Remax.
Real estate agents attended their usual weekly meeting at the school for the first time to have breakfast, learn more about the school and a tour of the facilities.
Remax principal Brad Neilson said the aim of the day was to show the school some support as a community-based project and to encourage staff to give something back.
“They don’t receive enough funding to run the school on its own and we want to help and show our team what the school entails,” he said.
Mr Neilson told the team in a speech there was more to their job than achieving good sales and urged them to focus on their community values.
Funds donated by real estate agents would go towards buying equipment to boost students’ science, technology, engineering and math and literacy skills.
The Sycamore School chief executive officer Cindy Corrie said she was pleased with the funds raised but wanted to focus on bringing awareness of children with autism.
“People on the (autism) spectrum have the highest unemployment rate among others with disability,” she said.
“Only six per cent on the spectrum receive their income from employment… we want to change that.”
The school combines the national school and Respect The Spectrum curriculums to further improve communication skills, adaptive behaviours, sensory processing and information processing skills.
Ms Corrie said the increase of students enrolling at the school showed there was a great need in the community to help improve the odds.
“We have grown with the number of students we have and our programs have continued to develop,” she said.
“We are focusing on three fundraising goals to build out STEM and literacy and to build a natural playground to encourage sensory regulation for students.”
The school aims to boost learning through a spectrum of play with a playground connect students to find peace by connecting with nature.
Funds will also go towards building the playground, which will include a barefoot sensory walk, vibration and wobble mats and a rainbow tunnel.
To donate, go the their website here.
Jocelyn Garcia
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
Jocelyn is a journalist at the Redland City Bulletin, covering education issues and school stories. She was a former journalist at Beaudesert Times, reporting about crime, schools and agriculture.
