New Beginnings During the Season of Rebirth
Every Child Counts March 2021 Newsletter
We must let go of the life we had planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.  - Joseph Campbell
Above: Front Exterior & Brand New Office Space! 
Above: Upstairs Sochet.  Visitors/Volunteer Housing!
Industrial Sized Kitchen, Looking GOOD! 
Workshop and Classrooms, Waiting for the Students! 
A Little From our Virtual Classes! 

Ms. Vernelle

Graduating Seniors Update

 

Graduating Seniors are introducing a number of firsts to Every Child Counts.

The 2021 Graduating Class will be the first students to graduate from ECC after Hurricane Dorian, during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the new form of education-Virtual Learning.

This progressive group of Seniors, some of whom are holding down full-time jobs, some looking for jobs while attending the first ever evening classes for students virtually, all the while planning their upcoming graduation in June. We are staying connected with two seniors that were relocated to Nassau. Gia Adderley is anxiously awaiting surgery to repair her leg and Quadray Curry cannot wait to return to Abaco, both about to realise their dream of participating in their graduation service.  Despite the many challenges of technology, unstable internet, and utilities that are still being installed, they remain committed to meeting their requirements to graduate.

 

Hoping for a “face to face” graduation that should have taken place in 2020, this group of young adults are planning for a possible virtual graduation or “hybrid” version of the graduation ceremony, with limited staff and family at St. Francis de Sales Church with family and friends joining in via ZOOM. They have mastered presenting in Google Meet, Whatsapp and Zoom; they have embraced the devices and platforms available to them; they are making history in Every Child Counts.

 

We are also proud to officially launch the Supported Employment Program where Jada Davis, Class of 2019, joins me virtually to assist with setting up the new state of the art industrial kitchen as my assistant,  while we wait to take the Ministry of Health Food Handler’s Certification and pursue job opportunities in the food industry locally.

 

Together we are discovering how resilient and creative we really are. This group of students is teaching me something new everyday and I am honoured to coach them this year as they transition into life after ECC.

Happy Easter! 

 Ms.Celia & Ms.Alicia


Welcome to the early primary life skills class. Not only are we excited, but thankful and grateful.  For the past few weeks we have been working on teamwork. Sounds good right?! The students are doing great at helping their peers. We know you’re thinking, “how do they do that through virtual learning?”. Well we’ll tell ya! The kids have been learning to show kindness, by telling their peers “well done” and have been showing love through loving words such as, “ I wish you well”. Connection is also a big part of our classroom. We connect through music, art, and breathing exercises. The students are doing very well. It has been such a pleasure to see how great our students are at helping each other to relax through Conscious Discipline. They are experts at breathing. We’ve been also exploring the different sounds of objects. They did so well at the different  sounds, which took me a while to guess! But it's a part of team work right?  Thank you for sharing this time with us, and we wish you well. Best seasons greetings to you! With love from the early primary life skills class. 

Ms. Beatrice & Ms. Vernie


This term was a success! In spite of the internet challenges, the secondary life skills group enjoyed doing many life skills activities in our virtual classes. Academics may be important for some, but in their world, life skills are more important and make a difference. They can use these skills that so many of us take for granted, and apply them to their daily lives. Lately we have been working on making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hand washing, folding clothes, oral hygiene and so much more.

Ms.Julie & Ms.Kelly


As the teachers for young adults, we have learned to adapt to new changes as they come. For the past few months, the adult trainees were introduced to virtual learning as the new norm. In addition to conscious discipline, breathing and song techniques, which help to stimulate their brain for learning, the trainees have been learning communication skills and COVID-19 safety protocols. At the beginning, it was challenging, as many would express how deeply they missed physically being in the classroom with their friends. However, after weeks of continued practice, they have learned to switch on and off their microphones and cameras during class time. Without any assistance from guardians, they are logging into virtual classes at least an hour before class time, following virtual rules, keeping their cameras turned on, and muting their microphones when it is not their turn to speak. Now With great success they have also been able to follow COVID-19 protocols with no hesitation. They are wearing masks properly, making sure to wash and sanitize their hands, as well as remembering to physically distance. We could not be any prouder of all they have accomplished! 

ECO NEWS - Ms Ellen


ECO class may be a challenge online, but not impossible!!  This term we have partnered with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to participate in the Trash Hacks campaign.  The primary and intermediate classes have been busy sorting through their household trash.  Anything that can be reused is put aside.  Tin cans, paper, cardboard, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, glass jars and single use plastic bottles (I am glad to say we do not have many of those!) may be transformed into many useful items.  We have made bird feeders, cereal box monsters and globes, utensil holders, compost containers, toys, turtles, landfill bottles and piggy banks, just to name a few.

Mr. Gary


Our class has twelve students whom have been learning subject and object pronouns, basic addition, how to calculate an hourly wage from weekly pay, conscious discipline and mechanics. In mechanics the students have been learning the parts of an engine and how to fix specific car parts. The students really enjoy weightlifting class and mechanics. Although the students have been making the best of online learning, they cannot wait to come to school again face to face. 

Mr. Jeman

ECC Music: Here and Beyond


The ECC music program has relaunched! In the current and past terms, the music program has been focusing on building a strong foundation in the music rudiments. 

Learning music with internet lag and disconnections has not been a hurdle for our ECC learners. Group activities that are very important, such as music circles and ensemble playing for example, have been difficult to apply in virtual learning. Despite this, ECC students remain enthusiastic in learning music with other successful activities in the Google Meet. Call-and-Response, Musical Spelling, Counting Rhythms and Music-and-Movement are some examples of activities that have been effective in learning music online. 

 

As preparation for the return in face-to-face learning (learning to play an instrument and singing in a chorus), the current and past terms focused on learning goals under the elements Rhythm and Pitch. Having built a good understanding on these two elements, our learners can proceed to learn music goals with lesser challenges.

Ms. Nathalie

ECC Parent Education Programme


As ECC continues to strengthen ties with students and their families it serves, we have begun a Parent Education Programme. Discussion sessions are held online by Primary teacher- facilitators guided by Master Teacher, Ms. Susan Diemer.

 

The main goals of these sessions are to share factual and useful information to parents of ECC, that leads to a greater understanding of disability as a human difference, instead of it being viewed as an unfortunate or negative condition. Importantly, parents have been introduced to the evidence-based, self-regulation practice of the Conscious Discipline programme which offers a systematic change in the way adults and children view and respond to behaviour.

 

Parents have responded very positively through their attendance and participation in the discussions and hands on activities presented.

Mrs. Rhonda 
ECC Crafts, Cosmetology
 
The ECC crafts & cosmetology students have reunited again. Although it has been a challenge with virtual learning, the ECC students remain active and engaged in learning online. They focus on subjects such as mathematics, english and online games. Under the umbrella of our Conscious Discipline practices, we utilize song, breathing and mindfulness to vitalize the heart, body, mind, and soul for learning with great completion. The students have also  been able to maintain the COVID-19 protocols, such as being aware of social distancing, washing their hands, and wearing masks correctly. Becoming proficient in these safety protocols will allow us to  get back face to face, once it is safe to do so! 
 
Above all, supporting and motivating the success of our students, I could not be more honored and impressed by the outstanding things they have accomplished.   
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