On Saturday, April 9, 2011, CCSET and The Tides Restaurant (Dutchman’s Bay) will host an elegant evening with entertainment, a live and silent auction and exciting door prizes, all in aid of the CCSET Voices Special Needs program. Stellar sponsors have come on board to make this event memorable including international CCSET sponsor, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear which is donating Airfare and a Penthouse Suite in Honolulu Hawaii for one week as the grand Auction prize. Bidders in Antigua will be joined by interested bidders in UK, Canada and US as the auction will take place on line and then culminate with final bids on the evening of the event. Event tickets and raffle tickets go on sale March 9 and can be reserved: the online auction will allow bidding on March 9.
Tides manager, Didier Deleau has prepared a delightful fixed menu for the event which will allow patrons to sample many of their house specialities. Appetizers include Seafood Soup, Thai Beef Spring Rolls and a unique Chicken Salad with grilled chicken and avocado on mixed leaves, tossed with lemon crème fraiche and drizzled with parsley oil. There are four Mains on the menu, Chicken Provencal, Grilled Mahi-Mahi and Seafood Linguini, or Grilled Sirloin. The Mahi Mahi promises to be seasoned with Cajun spices, grilled and served with a Creole Basmati rice and steamed vegetables but it is a hard choice with the unique linguini with its seafood sautéed in olive oil, then tossed in a white wine and tomato sauce with fresh garden basil. Of course, dessert includes something chocolate—a molten cake made to order and brought fresh to the table with vanilla ice cream. Dessert lovers can also choose Vanilla Cheesecake with mixed berry compote or local fruits with mango sorbet. The meal will be graced with wines, fruit juices, and followed by coffee or tea enjoyed as guests mingle and take part in the live auction.
Organizer of the event, CCSET Principal Teresa Emanuel, said she was overwhelmed with the response from the business community: “We have had almost 100% participation from our top hotels, resorts, restaurants and now, retail outlets.” Some business owners claimed that in hard times they cannot give much, but they still would give a donation. These donations will be grouped to make prize packages so every effort will count. Interested businesses can contact the school if they wish to make a donation, ccset@ccset.net or 764-3210. It is exciting to see the response from the community as they take this step towards assisting the dedicated Special Needs program and camping program at CCSET.
CCSET’s Voices is a dedicated Special Needs program which began in September 2010. The program caters to children ages 4-16 with exceptionalities in various areas including Downs Syndrome, the Autism Spectrum, Developmental and Physical Delays and Speech and Behavioural difficulties. The program involves Music Therapy and oversight from two graduates from the Wilfred Laurier Music Therapy Degree. Children also have the support of remedial teachers; and are involved in swim and pool therapy, equestrian and other individual strategies such as sign language and the use of picture symbols to assist in communication. Some of these children were in a day care before or in a program that limited their potential. By encompassing the whole child, the Voices program truly allows children to be heard: Vision, Opportunity, Independence and Choices for Exceptional Children. Currently, there are several pending applications from student who do not have sufficient funds to join the program.
The program cost, with no overhead facility or administration fees is more than $240,000 per year. On top of this, CCSET needs considerable software and hardware, musical instruments, and accessories, and learning aids. The program brings in less than $8,400 per month as most of the students have marginal or no income and have extensive outside medical and other bills. Funds raised will go towards scholarships, camping and material costs for the program. Students not enrolled in the CCSET full time program can register for the summer camps, and can apply for sponsorship.
Sponsors include: Abbott’s, Admiral’s Inn, Big Banana, Beverly Hills Teddybear, Bluewaters Resorts, Caribareana, Carlisle Bay, Le Bistro, Curtain Bluff, Digicel, Halcyon Rex Resorts, Hemmingways Hermitage Bay, Jumby Bay, KFC, Lipsticks, Mad Mongoose, Mia Cucina, Oceanic View, Solaris, Tradewinds The Bay House, Tranquility Bay, Treasure Island Cruises, Tropical Adventures, Sandals Grande Antigua, Stingray City, St. James Club, Subway.
On Saturday, April 9, 2011, CCSET and 
