September 2012 Updates: Last Days of Term 3 at school After many months, at last Hahgoot is willing to be proactive and chose a calming activity from the shelf when she needs to wear her vest to calm her behaviour when transitioning.

Hahgoot enjoyed the visit of The Surfing Scientist (he is famous here as he has a TV show where he does funny and wacky science experiments while telling jokes). Unfortunately, during the show he had a balloon that abruptly popped, which got Hahgoot slightly on edge. She seemed fine, but when she got back to the classrooms and found out that the teachers were planning science themed stations, with one of them including sticking skewers through air-filled balloons, she lost it and had a panic attack (before the activity started, just the thought of a room filled with kids with skewers and balloons was terrifying for her). Her teacher kept her close and gave her a more calming activity to do, but the panic attack was bad, as the kids informed me about it the minute I arrived to pick her up. Took me three days to balance her back till she had a big meltdown to clean her system; it wasn’t an easy week.

The last day of Term 3 was the Infants’ sports day. The kids were divided into “houses” with theme colours (Hahgoot was in Lennox, which is red, like the regular uniform, so that’s easy) Here is Hahgoot, coming out the last of her group, next to the Hippie sub teacher

Mrs Loobeck, in pink jumper, was on the judging committee. Hahgoot was happy to warm up for the running race for 6 years old girls, while Alma snacked on.

Hahgoot came in last in her race and it didn’t matter – I was thrilled she ran the whole field and didn’t stop!

Hahgoot’s friend Charlotte Hughes did really well and won 3 rd place Hahgoot was happy to participate in the novelty races.

It was challenging but she participated in the egg-and-spoon race and the bean-bag-on-head race and tried her best.

Hahgoot and Hamish enjoyed dancing the Funky Chicken (left) and the Macarena (right)

Hahgoot had a very lucky day this month: she won a free icy pole when she bought a rainbow ice block at the canteen! In our next presentation: School holidays begin!