DSBONE has quietly participated in pilot project
Posted By Ron Grech, The Daily Press
Shania Kids Can has actually been quietly operating as a pilot program through one of the Timmins school boards for the last five years.
Shania Twain only announced the launch of this initiative last month.
Linda Knight, director of education for District School Board Ontario North East, said her board was "honoured" to be selected by the country music star for this $100,000 initiative.
Shania Kids Can is a program designed for children at the elementary school level who may come from financially underprivileged families and are having difficulties achieving their full potential in school.
Through her website, Twain said, the "program aims to help educators identify children in this situation and provide a safe, productive, confidence-building environment where the kids are coached in good and appropriate behaviour, taught practical life skills, assisted with homework, given an ear to just simply listen when they need it."
With the program still in its infancy as a pilot project, Knight said it is being offered at one school within the board's jurisdiction. She said more than 70 students are enrolled in it. She declined, however, to say which school it is.
Even though the program has been offered for the last five years, Knight said the board abided by Twain's wish that it not be publicized.
That changed when Twain announced it through her website.
Knight said Twain also expressed hope for the program to eventually be offered at schools across the country.
On her website, Twain wrote: "I can personally relate to the effects of growing up with difficulties at home and understand the problems kids can face while trying to fit in with other students who are not experiencing the same disadvantages in their personal lives.
"My reason for creating this program is to ensure that underprivileged children in our communities are provided and cared for during their time at school, to help prevent them from falling through the cracks. I feel luck saved me from falling through the cracks as a child and believe it's neither wise nor fair to
leave the destiny of any child to luck."
Knight described the board's arrangement with Twain as a "partnership" but declined to provide details about the amount the country star has financially contributed towards the program.
With the announcement, Twain is going through the process of applying to have Shania Kids Can become a charitable organization. In the meantime, Twain is inviting anyone who wanting to donate to the program to do so through the District School Board Ontario North East, which is hosting the pilot program.
http://www.timminspress.com/Article....aspx?e=2444220
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