Charlton School

#TEAMBLUE Challenge to raise Autism Awareness

One in 100 children have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the UK. It is a condition that can make certain life situations a challenge for these individuals. One of these examples is school life, where individuals with autism must overcome many daily challenges.

At Charlton School, Wellington, our House activities have reached new heights. For the next 7 weeks we are challenging all students, staff, parents, and carers to actively participate in our SUPER 7 Challenge. But why I hear you ask? What is the Super 7 challenge all about?

Well, on 29^th March 2021 until 4^th April 2021 it is National Autism Awareness Week. This year the focus is the Super 7 Challenge and Christine McGuinness is supporting this event, as an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, who herself has three children who are Autistic.

So, Charlton’s Super 7 Challenge! How can you get involved and support a worthy cause?

Collaboratively as a school, we have come together to create a programme which encourages ‘Inclusion’ across our #TEAMBLUE community. We have created a challenge to suit everyone. It is not just about Sport. The programme has a challenge from each subject within our curriculum, which encourages our students to participate in one or more of the challenges set. They can choose which challenges they want to succeed at and help to raise awareness of the condition of Autism.

Activities range from 70,000 steps ran, walked or jogged, to the Super 7 bake-off where we are asking for creations using the theme of 7. In technology students have been asked to research the 7 wonders of the world and manufacture a model of one or more of these wonders. Geography has got students researching places that they would like to visit- 7 in total. Whilst in Science students will researching people who have been inspirational from a science perspective. English has challenged students with the following activity- a 7-word-a-day short story. These are just a few of the challenges that have been devised and there is something for everybody!

During this week, students will be shown a series of powerful films, to raise awareness of autism. Each film provides a compelling and personal insight into the challenges individuals with autism have to overcome, to be accepted, understood, and supported by their community. Also, we want to inform our students of the barriers which an individual who has autism, has to overcome, in order to allow them to achieve. As their peers, they can support with this.

We would like as many of you to take part - make it a real #teamblue effort, but also a community one too.  We would like to share everyone’s efforts with each other and celebrate the achievements of those who have joined us, in trying to raise both our school community and our local community’s awareness about autism.