Dyslexia Awareness Display

From 26 September - 17 October artwork and information about famous people with dyslexia will be up on display in the children's section of the Elma Turner Library in Nelson as part of Dyslexia Awareness Week which takes place the first week of October. This display is put together as a combined effort by the St. Joseph and St. Peter Chanel Vinnies. We hope that it will raise the awareness of the wider community as to just what people with dyslexia are able to achieve given the right help and support.

Bags of Love

To end off Term 3 the St. Joseph Vinnies have been creating small bags of potpourri and little cards to go with them which will be distributed to residents of a local rest home. Creating such bags was an activity that got underway last year and met with such a positive response that it has become an activity that has been revisited a couple of times since. According to the rest home these went to, this small gift made a huge difference particularly for one of the ladies.  The lady who was finding it difficult to adjust to being in a resthome, now carries the lavender bag around with her and sleeps each night with it under her pillow. We hope these gifts will equally bless those they will be going to. 

Baby Name Cards to Adorn SCBU Cots

If there is one thing mothers often treasure amongst the keepsakes of their baby's arrival it is the name cards that are attached to the baby's cot in the hospital. Not only do these cards serve a very practical purpose in identifying babies but also further down the track act as a reminder of just how far the baby has come from those very early vulnerable days under the care of the Special Care Baby Unit. It is therefore an absolute privilege as Vinnies to be involved in the making of these cards. We hope they will bless the mothers and babies they go to.

Candles Act as a Reminder to the Vinnies to Let Their Light Shine

During Term 2, the Vinnies also spent a session creating candles. The candles will provide a special reminder to the Vinnies who have been working with Monica Hailes-Paku throughout the term while Philippa has been on maternity leave, to put into practice Matthew 5:16 to let their light shine so that people can see their good deeds and give thanks to God - something which is very much in keeping with what being a Vinnie is all about. 

Fabric Blocks Will Assist in Fundraising During Dyslexia Awareness Week

To further the work the St. Joseph Vinnies began in Term 1 looking at famous people with dyslexia and putting together artwork and information based around these people, the St. Joseph Vinnies began the term by creating fabric blocks which will be part of the fundraising drive during Dyslexia Awareness week later in the year in raising money to assist students suspected of having a specific learning disability from families in need. The Vinnies also had a visit from Susie Cowper to start the term who came back to play a variety of phonic games with the students showcasing the variety of learning materials that teachers who work with students who have learning disabilities use.

Visit by Kathy Surridge from the 3D Learning Programme

On Wednesday 11 April, the St. Joseph Vinnies had a visit from Kathy Surridge who runs the 3D Learning Programme at St. Joseph's working with students who have a different learning style and therefore find fitting into the formal education system a little more challenging. She shared with us a story about Timmy - showing pictures of what life was like for Timmy as a preschooler and how this changed once he reached school. She also shared with us about the wonderful achievements of people who are predominantly right-brained thinkers and their contribution to almost every sphere of society once they had left school. This really backed up the work we have been doing this term on famous people with dyslexia.  

Famous People Portraits and Information Complete

The St. Joseph Vinnies have now completed their artwork and information about famous people with dyslexia which will go on display during Dyslexia Awareness Week later in the year. Here are the finished results...