Whole Person Education - Knox Grammar School

Social JusticeABBOX Camper with Hamish Smith and Max Turner (right)ABBOX of Fun:The Camp that Makes a Difference!ABBOX of Fun provides a great deal of fun,experiences and new challenges for childrenwith special needs. The children have the timeof their lives with activities which includeinteractions with all kinds of farm animals;a reptile display; swimming; a ‘Master Chef’challenge; a visit from the Police, Fire Brigadeand Ambulance; music; dancing; and lawn bowlswith a difference. This all adds up to four daysof great fun which culminates in a ChristmasParty. The party enables the children towelcome their families to share some of theCamp experiences.Sony Foundation Camps are held in variousschools around Australia, and Knox andAbbotsleigh commenced a special partnershipin 2008 for the ABBOX of Fun Camp. Successfulcamps have been held each December since. Thestudent carers are senior students in each schoolwho, in pairs, have total care of their specialcamper throughout the Camp. Of course Knoxand Abbotsleigh staff are on hand to organise,prepare, support, and listen during the Camp.Students make a formal application toparticipate in the Camp, including submissionof a resume and attendance at an interview.Extensive training then follows. Throughout theyear carers learn about disability, how to carefor, lift and bathe a child with various disabilities.The Camp challenges and transforms ouryoung Knox men; this is a profound experienceof giving of themselves and their compassionatecare for these children with their special gifts.Sam Cameron, one of the 2010 carers, said‘this was one of the most challenging experiencesof my life; I hope I have made a difference. I havelearnt so much and it’s changed me. I am so gladI applied to participate’.Carers Matt Yeldham, Matthew Green andBen Lawley shared their experiences withKnox staff on a recent Staff Developmentday. In each of the presentations by theseyoung men there was a profound sense ofcompassion and insight to their reflectionson the Camp. They shared the joys, challengesand awareness of the realities of families livingwith a child with special needs and this left adeep impression on staff, many of whom weresupervisors at the Camp.In 2011 Knox Grammar School will host theABBOX of Fun Camp in the Knox BoardingCentre. Plans are well underway for the 4-daycamp from 9-13 December. The camperswill have access to the new aquatic centre,Great Hall and related facilities. Carerswill have training provided by projectABLEwith additional training to include guestspeakers from organisations such as ASPECT;physiotherapists and occupational therapistswill further prepare the senior students forthe realities of the Camp.We will need the support of the KnoxCommunity with donations of activity materialsand opportunities, as well as supplies for meals,cleaning and medical needs. Helpers will also beappreciated to supervise medications, preparefood, clean rooms, set up activities and so on. Ifyou are able to help please email Helen Clarkeon clarkeh@knox.nsw.edu.auDaniel Drummond and Matt Green with theirCamper enjoying Mr Sean Ranyard’s HarleyDavidson. Mr Ranyard will be bringing his bike tothe camp again in 2011.Advocates for JusticeThe Knox Social Justice network is now wellestablished with our Community Serviceprogram, our Whole of Life programs forBoarders, our Indigenous program and ourinternational program in Papua New Guinea.Social Justice is an integrated education andadvocacy program across K-12.Each year group in the Prep is responsiblefor an area whether it be Closing the GapPrograms in literacy; working with St Lucy’s;establishing connections with local agedcare facilities; targeting homelessness by theprovision of meals; or developing resourcesfor the classrooms in Milne Bay, Papua NewGuinea or for ABBOX of Fun.The recent disasters in Queensland, Victoriaand Japan have led to a number of appealsin support of the people impacted by thesetragic events. The boys have held gatecollections, an appeal at Six-Event Day, and theKnox Language Department held a culturalday to raise money for the people impacted bythe earthquake and tsunami.Knox has been working on a joint venturewith Ravenswood School to form the firstTeen Variety Board in Australia. A trainingand orientation day was run by Variety tointroduce the team members to the work ofVariety Australia with guest speaker KeeganThe Thistle / June 2011 | 16