Vera donations

We are looking for donations of sugar and baking margarine for our annual Christmas Pudding Mix. Please contact me if you would like to get involved - Anita Reed [email protected]

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER - 3 OCTOBER 2016 @ Vera School
As some of you know Vera School forms part of the ‘CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PUDDING ORGANISATION”. Please allow me, for the sake of those who do not know, to tell you more about this fundraising effort!

What follows is the story of “THE CHILDREN’S Christmas PUDDING MIX”:
The Children’s Christmas had its inception 51 years ago, in the Spring of 1965 when, spurred on by the ideals of Alex and Jean McGregor, a group of public-spirited ladies met to mix the first Christmas puddings at the McGregor home in Tokai. Their intention was to raise funds by selling them to help a needy Crèche at Raapkraal.

Each person contributed a different ingredient, and the final outcome of this first official mix was 12 large puddings – which were taken home to be steamed on family stoves, and subsequently sold.

The success of this philanthropic gesture led to more ambitious efforts, and from humble beginnings, the Children’s Christmas has grown to considerable proportions. Today over 2500 puddings are produced annually, necessitating the supply of huge quantities of ingredients namely margarine, flour, breadcrumbs, cake fruit mix, glace cherries, sugar, nutmeg, mixed spice, salt, carrots, potatoes, brandy, stout, eggs and bicarbonate of soda.

Various sponsors, amongst them In2Food Group, Windmeul Eggs, Braude’s Chemist etc. etc., who have a long-standing relationship with The Children’s Christmas, donate these ingredients.

The Children’s Christmas Puddings are mixed entirely by hand, in baths, according to Mrs. McGregor’s original recipe. Many volunteers come together for two days, every year to weigh, pour, count, chop, grate, carry and mix, - quite a logistical nightmare, but all performed in an atmosphere of great jollity at Vera School.

This year, the charities that will benefit from the sales of Christmas Puddings are: -
• Vera School for Autistic Learners
• Woodside Special Care Centre for the physical handicapped
• Leliebloem House for Children in need of care
• Bel Porto School, and
• Friends Day Centre

Our school can earn approximately R45 000 through this project with the assistance of all our parents through the different stages of the project. The pudding mix will be during the October school holidays (Monday, 3 October 2016 @ Vera School hall). We need each family to give us some of their time to assist with the pudding mix. PLEASE MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW! Puddings will be ready for sale from mid-October.

Our appeal to you:
• Donate baking margarine
• Donate sugar
• Lemons
• Volunteer to assist with mix on Monday, 3 October 2016 @ Vera School
• Take orders for sales

The Experimenters: Temple Grandin on the Autistic Brain An insider look into the mind of scientist, and voice for autism awareness, Temple Grandin.

Watch our deputy head principal's interview on the expresso show
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0ksXx2lIK6M

You can obtain your myschool card here: http://m.myschool.co.za/

You can add Vera School to your myschool beneficiaries list by following this link https://www.myschool.co.za/supporter/update/

https://www.facebook.com/aneesa.osman/posts/10152731892472116

Listen out for Vera's ad on KFM and CapeTalk from the 6th-20th of April. They have donated the ad to us by covering all the costs totalling R115 794! Thank you Primedia and Sonja Fahn!

Good morning all! It's Autism awareness day! Let's educate, spread the word support.

Don't forget to show off your BLUE tomorrow! Take a photo and tag it for World Autism Awareness Day!
And make sure to join the movement here: autismspeaks.org/liub

THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM: Autism Acceptance Month 2015

RED FLAGS FOR ASD
Contact Autism South Africa 011 484 9909 or [email protected]
if you see 3 or more of the following...
Little awareness of others.
Imaginative play may be poor. E.g. cannot play with a wooden block as if it is a car.
The development of speech and language may be atypical, absent or delayed.
Minimal reaction to verbal input and sometimes acts as though he/she is deaf.
Changes in routine or the environment may cause distress.
Pursues activities repetitively and cannot be influenced by suggestions of change.
Inappropriate attachment to objects.
Displays extreme distress and/or tantrums for no apparent reason.
Difficulty in interacting with others and little or no eye contact.
No real fear of dangers.
Prefers to play alone.
Self-injurious behaviour, e.g. head banging, scratching or biting.
Unusual habits such as rocking, hand flapping, spinning of objects etc.
Indifference to, or dislike of being touched, held or cuddled.
Sense of touch, taste, sight, hearing and/or smell may be heightened or lowered.
Sudden laughing or crying for no apparent reason.
Uneven gross/fine motor skills.
Abnormal sleeping patterns.

Hilary and Brenda's class have been busy this term, help them by donating goods for vocational activities like beads and beading accessories, old gift boxes, bags and cards, old magazines, used bottles, baking items and items that can be fixed for resale

"Autism friendliness does not mean pity, but keeping an open mind to see strengths and challenges in every person with autism" P. Vermeulen

The learners in Elsa and Janet's class say "thank you for helping us achieve our full potential"

"Autism... small changes can often be the most effective" P. Vermeulen

Please find the banking details under "about" here they are again,
Banking details:
Vera School
FNB
Claremont (200109)
cheque account
50152581367
email proof of payment to [email protected]

reference: your name and "donation"