Students in the school's 15 classes have spent weeks putting paintbrushes to paper to create pictures which will be featured on Christmas cards.

The cards will be sold in Rouse Hill Town Centre.

Centre managers chose the special needs students as their charity for Christmas and asked them to design wrapping paper for gift at the centre.

Assistant principal Debbie Swinton said that most of the students, who range in age from four to 18, had contributed to at least one artwork.

Money raised from the sale of the cards will go towards buying a 10-seater school bus.

``We started with 16 students five years ago and had one bus, but now we have 93 students and the school is full,'' Ms Swinton said.

``We need the bus to take students out to practise social and academic skills that we learn at school.''

The buses make two trips a day to swimming lessons at Blacktown Leisure Centre, aerobics classes at Richmond gym and to Rouse Hill Town Centre to sell food.

A new bus will take students to sporting activities and work experience as well as to future places of employment and integration opportunities with other schools.

The artworks will be exhibited at the Vinegar Hill Library and Community Centre until Christmas Eve.

Details: Christmas card packs are on sale at Rouse Hill Town Centre. Cost: $15 for a set of 12 cards.