| 23 October 2007, Belleville, Ontario—Students from Queen Victoria School in east-end Belleville will be treated to a special performance on Thursday, October 25. The award-winning play, Danny, King of the Basement, focuses on social issues, such as child and family poverty. This live performance helps children and teachers to understand and cope with these issues.
Queen Victoria is one of 70 host elementary schools in 15 districts across Ontario chosen to participate in a 10-week tour by Roseneath Theatre. The theatre’s high-quality work is known across Canada and around the world. The Ministry of Education asked the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) to lead an initiative that would support students and school communities that face challenging socio-economic circumstances and also focuses on professional development for teachers. The Hastings-Prince Edward ETFO Local is sponsoring the Belleville performance.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our students and staff to see a world class production, and also gives us all a greater understanding of the challenges faced by so many of today’s families. The message that it sends us, that each of us holds the power of change, is both compelling and uplifting,” remarks Ann Slager, Queen Victoria principal.
Danny, King of the Basement, tells the story of a young boy whose spirit and imagination triumph over the challenges of homelessness and life in a single-parent family.
As a follow-up, ETFO has developed a professional development workshop that will be offer to teachers. Objectives of the workshop are to help educators learn more about the impact of social issues on student learning and how they can make a difference in their own school setting.
Queen Victoria School was selected in consultation with Director of Education Kathy Soule, the local ETFO president Karen Fisk, and the Ministry of Education.
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board serves approximately 17,100 students each day at 46 elementary and 8 secondary schools. Supporting student achievement is the goal of approximately 1,800 teaching and support staff who, in addition to the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners, share their passion for teaching and learning. The district covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south and Quinte West to the west.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354
|