Senior School News

Neurodiversity Celebration Week & Autism Acceptance Month

Celebrating Neurodiversity at EDSC

Neurodiversity Celebration Week runs from Monday March 17 to Sunday March 23, and Autism Acceptance Month follows in April. These are great opportunities for our EDSC community to recognise and support diverse learners—students who bring unique perspectives, creativity, and strengths to our school.

At EDSC, our values of Respect and Care & Compassion remind us that while neurodiverse students may face challenges, they also have incredible talents. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the idea that everyone’s brain works differently—there is no single "right" way to think, learn, or communicate. While most children’s brains develop in ways that are considered typical, about 1 in 5 students have natural differences in how they process information. This includes students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.

Diverse learners may experience challenges that others don’t, but they also bring amazing skills, perspectives, and creativity to our classrooms and community.

Why Celebrate?

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative that highlights the strengths of people who think and learn differently. It’s a reminder to be kind, accepting, and inclusive of everyone. Autism Acceptance Month in April is another chance to celebrate, support, and include autistic students. It grew from the United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day, which is marked on Wednesday April 2 2025.

How to Get Involved

To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week and Autism Acceptance Month, we’re sharing resources developed by autistic-led organisations and leading researchers in the field. These materials can help us better understand and support our neurodiverse community.

Let’s make EDSC a place where every learner feels valued and included!

Resources:

• I CAN Education has tips for becoming a champion for neurodivergent students and a graphic novel to help students navigate high school 
• Yellow Ladybugs’ All Brains are Different program introduces the concept of neurodiversity in an affirming way
• AllPlay Learn’s Inclusive School Communities: Monash University’s AllPlay Learn team has developed resources on how to create inclusive school communities where everyone feels welcome and supported

Anna Kissane

Learning Support Coordinator

Student Lunches

Just a reminder to parents that we are unable to deliver lunches to students during school time.  It is the student’s responsibility to come and collect their lunch if it has been dropped off at Reception. Hot food is not suitable to be left at Reception.

PLEASE NOTE: Take-away food is not allowed at the College during school hours.  Under no circumstances are students to be ordering take-away food to be delivered to the College.

Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards

Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards with them at all times.

ALL students must sign in and out with their card at The John Landy Centre (Senior School Building)when they are arriving late or leaving early for any reason. 

The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library card can be used as ID for student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) travel. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.

If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.