Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
3 Dec 2012
Some of the children were blind. Others had been born with Down Syndrome or were autistic. Still others had severe developmental or learning difficulties. But all were filled with the joy of life and proud to show off their creative and musical talents to mark International Day for People with a Disability.
The choir accompanied by fellow students on drums and other instruments were all youngsters from St Lucy's School, a Dominican co-educational primary school at Wahroonga that provides specialist education for children with a disability by concentrating not on what they can't do but what they can.
For the Principal of St Lucy's, Jo Karaolis along with the school's staff, students and parents the performance of the childrens' this morning at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Polding House was a celebration of ability rather than disability and was also the launch of the powerful and moving 20 minute DVD "Through Our Eyes - St Lucy's Child."
An initiative of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell to raise awareness about disabilities at Sydney parishes and schools, and to encourage acceptance of those with a disability no matter what their age, the DVD reveals the impact of creativity to foster the development and the remarkable achievements of the young students at St Lucy's School.
Taking the title of Valerie Foley's uplifting song: "Through My Eyes," which she wrote to explain what it was like for her autistic son Billy and which was sung by the young members of St Lucy's Choir this morning, the DVD via a series of interviews with staff and parents as well as footage of the children themselves shows what can be achieved through individualised training programs and patient dedicated teachers.
The results are remarkable with the DVD capturing the positive and joyous responses of children at St Lucy's as they paint, participate in drama classes, enjoy interaction with a large purple puppet, make biscuits and cakes and have the time of their lives singing, playing musical instruments and dancing.
"Cardinal Pell is very interested in St Lucy's and would very much have liked to have been here today. But as he is in Rome, he asked me to step in," Bishop Julian Porteous told today's large gathering at Polding House which included sisters from the Dominicans, the original founders of the school, as well as parents, staff, students, a group of teenagers from SCEGGS Darlinghurst who helped raise money for St Lucy's earlier this year, and 12 members of the famous Sydney Street Choir.
The Sydney Street Choir was formed 10 years ago to inspire and empower those who were homeless or living in disadvantaged communities They are now in demand giving concerts across the country as well appearing on television specials. As with a large percentage of those living on the streets or disadvantaged, many members of the choir have physical as well as intellectual disabilities. But today just as the students from St Lucy's revealed, music and the arts can transform lives.
"Children at St Lucy's have many gifts from which we can all learn, whether this is their capacity to live in the moment, their unconditional love and the joy they have in life and in living," says Ms Karaolis, who has been Principal of the School for the past 10 years and is passionate about changing society's attitudes to those with a disability.
"Social attitudes are changing but there are still different levels of appreciation," she said. "Disabilities such as deafness and blindness are generally accepted these days but those with intellectual disabilities are still not understood."
Ms Karaolis is convinced one of the reasons for this is that most children or adults who went to mainstream schools have never come across someone with a disability. This is compounded by ignorance so that those with intellectual disabilities are still not accepted as the vital special people they are, with talents and special abilities of their own.
"Even the students at St Lucy's, and our children are cute, face this non-acceptance by mainstream society," she said and added that there was still much to be done to turn around these entrenched but totally inaccurate perceptions.
But it is hoped the DVD will go a long way to changing attitudes.
"Everyone created in life was created in God's image and there is dignity in every single person and this is what animates the work of St Lucy's," Bishop Porteous said.
At today's celebration for International Day for People with a Disability and the launch of "Through Our Eyes - St Lucy's Child, Josephine Giliotti, the mother of 8-year-old son, Luca spoke of the "amazing change" in her child since he started at St Lucy's School two and a half years ago.
Luca has a severe global developmental disability but since he has been at St Lucy's he has developed in confidence and is making great strides. "He is so excited each morning and just loves going to school," she says.
Faith is an important component of St Lucy's and for the children this is something to which they not only instinctively relate but also gives them strength and joy.
Like many parents of students at St Lucy's there is uncertainty about the future when their children reach high school age. Thanks to St Lucy's some will be able to enter the mainstream and attend Catholic high schools, but for others the options are far more limited and seem restricted to ending up in a special classes at a government school without the faith education their parents may want and standard curriculum studies they may not cater for their specialised needs.
"These children will no longer have their faith to hold on to and will be shut in a classroom rather than getting the individual attention and training to make the transition from childhood to adulthood so they can take their place in the world with confidence and independence," Ms Karaolis said. She hopes one day St Lucy's may also include a high school so that all those with a disability can realise their full potential.
As the children sang today:
"Imagine what it's like to be me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free
Imagine what it's like to be me
Imagine what it's like...
Imagine seeing the world through my eyes''
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
3 Dec 2012
The choir accompanied by fellow students on drums and other instruments were all youngsters from St Lucy's School, a Dominican co-educational primary school at Wahroonga that provides specialist education for children with a disability by concentrating not on what they can't do but what they can.
For the Principal of St Lucy's, Jo Karaolis along with the school's staff, students and parents the performance of the childrens' this morning at the Archdiocese of Sydney's Polding House was a celebration of ability rather than disability and was also the launch of the powerful and moving 20 minute DVD "Through Our Eyes - St Lucy's Child."
An initiative of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell to raise awareness about disabilities at Sydney parishes and schools, and to encourage acceptance of those with a disability no matter what their age, the DVD reveals the impact of creativity to foster the development and the remarkable achievements of the young students at St Lucy's School.
Taking the title of Valerie Foley's uplifting song: "Through My Eyes," which she wrote to explain what it was like for her autistic son Billy and which was sung by the young members of St Lucy's Choir this morning, the DVD via a series of interviews with staff and parents as well as footage of the children themselves shows what can be achieved through individualised training programs and patient dedicated teachers.
The results are remarkable with the DVD capturing the positive and joyous responses of children at St Lucy's as they paint, participate in drama classes, enjoy interaction with a large purple puppet, make biscuits and cakes and have the time of their lives singing, playing musical instruments and dancing.
"Cardinal Pell is very interested in St Lucy's and would very much have liked to have been here today. But as he is in Rome, he asked me to step in," Bishop Julian Porteous told today's large gathering at Polding House which included sisters from the Dominicans, the original founders of the school, as well as parents, staff, students, a group of teenagers from SCEGGS Darlinghurst who helped raise money for St Lucy's earlier this year, and 12 members of the famous Sydney Street Choir.
"Children at St Lucy's have many gifts from which we can all learn, whether this is their capacity to live in the moment, their unconditional love and the joy they have in life and in living," says Ms Karaolis, who has been Principal of the School for the past 10 years and is passionate about changing society's attitudes to those with a disability.
"Social attitudes are changing but there are still different levels of appreciation," she said. "Disabilities such as deafness and blindness are generally accepted these days but those with intellectual disabilities are still not understood."
Ms Karaolis is convinced one of the reasons for this is that most children or adults who went to mainstream schools have never come across someone with a disability. This is compounded by ignorance so that those with intellectual disabilities are still not accepted as the vital special people they are, with talents and special abilities of their own.
"Even the students at St Lucy's, and our children are cute, face this non-acceptance by mainstream society," she said and added that there was still much to be done to turn around these entrenched but totally inaccurate perceptions.
But it is hoped the DVD will go a long way to changing attitudes.
"Everyone created in life was created in God's image and there is dignity in every single person and this is what animates the work of St Lucy's," Bishop Porteous said.
At today's celebration for International Day for People with a Disability and the launch of "Through Our Eyes - St Lucy's Child, Josephine Giliotti, the mother of 8-year-old son, Luca spoke of the "amazing change" in her child since he started at St Lucy's School two and a half years ago.
Luca has a severe global developmental disability but since he has been at St Lucy's he has developed in confidence and is making great strides. "He is so excited each morning and just loves going to school," she says.
Faith is an important component of St Lucy's and for the children this is something to which they not only instinctively relate but also gives them strength and joy.
Like many parents of students at St Lucy's there is uncertainty about the future when their children reach high school age. Thanks to St Lucy's some will be able to enter the mainstream and attend Catholic high schools, but for others the options are far more limited and seem restricted to ending up in a special classes at a government school without the faith education their parents may want and standard curriculum studies they may not cater for their specialised needs.
"These children will no longer have their faith to hold on to and will be shut in a classroom rather than getting the individual attention and training to make the transition from childhood to adulthood so they can take their place in the world with confidence and independence," Ms Karaolis said. She hopes one day St Lucy's may also include a high school so that all those with a disability can realise their full potential.
As the children sang today:
"Imagine what it's like to be me
I'm not trapped but it's hard to feel free
Imagine what it's like to be me
Imagine what it's like...
Imagine seeing the world through my eyes''
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
Comments