Castlepollard to light up for tractor fundraiser

By Sinéad Devine

Today and in every community, we all know someone on the autism spectrum. Whether it’s a daughter or son, niece or nephew. Few lives are not touched by it.

Well, we are no different, I am writing on behalf of the families and staff of the boys who attend St Michael’s National School, Castlepollard ASD Unit. These units are the heart of our children’s development, inclusion and learning.

So, with that being said, we are hosting a Tractor Run Fundraiser, in Castlepollard on Saturday December 14 at 6pm. All donations from the night will go directly to the Autism Unit.

It will be a fun night out for the whole family and Mr and Mrs Claus will arrive to meet the children by horse drawn sleigh, and the Grinch is also expected to show up! Tea, coffee and cakes will be offered for refreshment.

The tractors will parade around the town, and the best decorations and lights will a prize.

A sensory room has been provided at Castlepollard GAA hall for anyone who needs it, and a raffle with fantastic prizes will also be part of the fun on the night.

The reason we are hosting this fundraiser is to support the school further and enable them to provide regular activities and experiences that will benefit the pupils as they progress and ready themselves for the future.

While the school receives funding from the DE, more is always required, particularly in the current climate. The school organises therapies such as horse riding, yoga and swimming lessons. There are further plans to broaden the variety of activities, but transport costs have hampered the school.

While we are delighted with the new modular building opened in June, we are conscious of the cost of sensory equipment, which evolves and changes as our children grow.

At school, the boys have access to a sensory ball pit which was part funded by the parents association, Westmeath Hunt and Collinstown Farmers Market. We thank sincerely those groups for their generosity, as the facility is essential for the boys to regulate, which in turn allows them to learn.

As a mother to one of the 12 boys who attends the unit, I know the world can be a scary place for our children. With added challenges such as, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays or being non-verbal, it can be tough to communicate everyday needs. So, to know they are in a safe environment, that is meeting their needs is priceless.

The boys have support from the principal, their teachers and SNAs, and we cannot thank them enough for all the work they do in caring for our children. The added therapies and equipment in the classroom are vital to support the children’s individual and complex needs – which is why we need your help.

Please come and support us on the night for a worthy cause. We look forward to seeing you all.

What the boys' parents say

Ollie’s mam: Ollie enrolled in St Michael’s ASD unit three weeks after receiving his diagnosis. He went from a boy who struggled with emotional regulation and making friends to a happy, social boy thriving and excelling way more than we could ever imagine. We owe so much to his teachers and SNAs who have nurtured and help him blossom.

Harry’s mam: It’s Harry’s first year in St Michael’s NS ASD unit and he has managed to overcome a lot of challenges. We would be lost without this unit, amazing teachers and SNAs. Our son comes home with a smile every day because he has people who understand him and his quirks.

Gage’s mam: Gage is young boy who didn’t have any school available for him in his own town, Mullingar. St Michael’s opened their unit to Gage and because of work his teacher and SNAs have put in, he has become this strong, amazing young man.

Liam's mam: Since joining the unit, Liam has achieved more than I could have imagined, he went from non-verbal to verbal, is learning so many new life skills, has made some lovely new friends and he runs in to school so happy every morning. I can never thank the staff enough for the work they do every day.

Oscar and Ross’s mam: Oscar and Ross have come on so well in their years at the St Michael’s ASD unit; we were divided as a family till this unit opened, and now they can be in their own community with their siblings and start to make friends.

Conor’s mam: Conor has thrived at the St Michael’s NS ASD unit. He has overcome many challenges he faced and we are so proud of the progress he is making. We are so thankful for all the support from his teachers and SNAs.

Patrick’s mam: Patrick goes between mainstream and the unit as he needs some extra supports. The unit provides one to one time for him and gives him the space he needs to decompress when overwhelmed. We are so lucky to have these services available to us so close to home.