Community Schools
Community Schools helps to foster relationships that allow schools to become centers of learning for the whole community. Schools maximize existing resources in their own community to provide unique opportunities not only for classroom
learning, but after-school programming for students, families, and the entire community.
Local businesses, non-profit organizations, municipalities, community groups and individual partners can all play a role by providing opportunities such as volunteers, in-kind assistance or financial support with the goal of expanding
and exposing students interests and strengths.
Community Schools Coordinators work regionally to support schools as they develop programs and initiatives in the following key areas:
- Literacy & Tutoring
- Enrichment
- Social Competencies & Positive Identity
- Healthy Active Students
- Special Projects & Events
Partnerships/Programs
The Imagination Library
“The Imagination Library” is a family literacy program that provides preschool children with a new, age-appropriate book every month, mailed directly to their home—FREE! It is open to all children from birth to age four, regardless
of socio-economic status, and ensures that children have quality books at home to enjoy.
The Imagination Library promotes and encourages a love of reading and helps ensure that children have an opportunity to enter kindergarten with a strong foundation in literacy and an eagerness to learn. Reading to a child early
and often improves their ability to succeed right from the start of their formal education.
Registration forms are made available to families through daycares, community centres, health care centres, and schools. Families may also print the
online form and send it by mail.
How it all began…
A partnership between the Anglophone East School District and the Moncton Regional Learning Council formed to develop a program that would support early childhood literacy in our region. A retired resource teacher from Port
Elgin introduced the idea of “The Imagination Library”, which was beginning to grow in other provinces and was unique in its simplicity of providing free books to very young children. As a teacher, she knew the impact these
books would have on preparing children for kindergarten.
The program was launched at Port Elgin Regional School that spring and has been growing ever since. To date, more than 1600 children in Southeast New Brunswick have received, at no cost, books that are chosen carefully in keeping
with the following fundamental themes: love of reading and learning; regard for diversity of people, their roles, culture and environment; promotion of self-esteem and confidence; and the appreciation of art and aesthetics.
It is currently available to children in the following Greater Moncton school catchment areas: Beaverbrook, Birchmount, Edith Cavell, Forest Glen, Lou MacNarin, West Riverview and Queen Elizabeth. It is also available in several
rural communities, including Dorchester, Port Elgin, Hillsborough, Riverside Albert, Havelock, Petitcodiac, Salisbury, and Shediac Cape. We are currently amongst the few Imagination Library communities in New Brunswick!
The Imagination Library was founded by Dolly Parton in 1996 and expanded to Canada in 2006. The Dollywood Foundation now distributes more than 1 000 000 books worldwide every month.
Our Generous Sponsors
The cost of providing a child with a book once a month is approximately $43/year. This program is 100% funded through the generous donations of local rotaries, health care foundations, municipalities and other local service
clubs, as well as local businesses and caring individuals.
For more information on the Imagination Library in our area, please contact Christine Allain at 506-871-4984 or by email at
christine.allain@nbed.nb.ca.
Imaginationlibrary.com/ca
Partners for Youth – The Adventure Classroom
Partners for Youth (PFY) is a Fredericton based non-profit organization. The Adventure Classroom is an adventure based social development and empowerment program designed for students in grades 6-8. The program is currently
offered at the following schools: Beaverbrook, Caledonia Regional High, Magnetic Hill, Petitcodiac Regional, Port Elgin Regional and Riverview Middle. The program begins in November and runs once a month until June. Selected
students meet with a community volunteer to participate in activities that build teamwork skills, communication, trust, community citizenship, explore career interests and environmental awareness. Three times during the year
a PFY instructor visits the school for a full day session with students to further develop the skills built during their sessions with the PFY community volunteer.
Students begin the program in grade 6 and continue with it through to grade 8. The program provides a safe, secure and accepting environment in which to improve their lives.
During the summer months, participating students are eligible to attend a week of camp free of charge. Located on the banks of North Lake, students learn to canoe, hike, sleep in the great outdoors and make lifelong memories.
Sistema NB
Anglophone East School District partnered with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) to develop the first Sistema NB centre at Beaverbrook School in October 2009.
Based on the revolutionary El Sistema (the System) program in Venezuela, the goal of Sistema NB is to inspire children and youth to achieve their full potential and to have a positive impact on their lives and society as a
whole. It’s about helping to foster better citizens, while developing talented musicians. It’s about inspiring excellence through music.
Sistema NB is a free daily after-school program that inspires children to achieve their full potential. They learn how to play an instrument and experience the joy of being part of an orchestra. Designed to be fun and engaging,
Sistema helps children develop as individuals, learning valuable life skills while at the same time growing musically. Not only do students learn to play with precision and poise, they also develop discipline, self-confidence
and improved self-esteem.
The NBYO has also expanded to include Moncton, Richibucto, Saint John and Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick.
For more information, you can contact the NBYO at (506) 854-9949.
Regional Health Centres
In November 2009, the Port Elgin and Region Health Centre opened its doors in its new home in a wing of the Port Elgin Regional School. It serves as a model, not only for our own community, but across the province, of the potential
of partnerships.
Port Elgin Regional School was designated as a Community School in the fall of 2008. Community Schools focus on partnerships with non-profits, local businesses, and other government agencies that benefit the growth of both
students and the greater community, often by providing access to the physical resources that the school has available. A team of Anglophone East School District and Horizon Health Network staff worked together to devise a
plan that was submitted to both Departments for approval. The project was approved, and the cost of the necessary renovations was shared by the Department of Health, the Department of Education, and Anglophone East School
School District, who led the construction and renovation project.
The Port Elgin Health Advisory Committee is comprised of local citizens, Health Centre staff and school staff. Together they identify opportunities and challenges existing in the rural community, and programs and services that
are most urgently needed. By providing a home to the Health Centre, the school benefits from increased access to medical staff for its students. Health care education, promotion and prevention are key. The Health Centre staff
works with students and their families by providing information on everything from nutrition and exercise, heart health, diabetes, to sexual health and pregnancy.
Since this time, this project has grown to include: Albert County Health and Wellness Centre, Petitcodiac, Salisbury, and Area Community Health and Wellness Advisory Committee, and Tantramar Health Action Committee.
Oulton College Dental Hygiene Community Program
Since 2007, Oulton College’s Dental Hygiene Diploma program has partnered with Anglophone East School District Community Schools to provide students on both sides unique learning opportunities.
The Oulton students visit schools and observe classrooms of different age groups to assess oral health needs of the general population, and develop a plan to deliver education and information on oral health to the students.
The College students either deliver sessions to individual classes, or take part in school-wide Health Fairs.
Toward the end of the school year, select students have the opportunity to go to the Oulton College Dental Clinic to have cleaning and non-restorative work done (with parental permission).
Roots of Empathy
Roots of Empathy is an international, evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among schoolchildren by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.
The program is designed for children ages 5 to 13. Currently, in Anglophone East School District it is offered in Port Elgin, Riverside Albert, at Edith Cavell, and West Riverview. At the heart of the program are a neighbourhood
infant and parent who visit the classroom every three weeks over the school year. A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor coaches students to observe the baby’s development and to label the baby’s feelings. In this experiential
learning, the baby is the “Teacher” and a lever, which the instructor uses to help children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.
To learn more, please visit
www.rootsofempathy.org or contact Heather Stordy at
heather.stordy@nbed.nb.ca
Little Free Libraries
Building Communities. Sparking Creativity. Inspiring Readers.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of
books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Academically, children growing up in homes without books are on average three years behind children in homes with lots of books, even when controlled for other key factors. (M.D.R Evans et al, Research in Social Stratification
and Mobility, June 2010)
One of the most successful ways to improve the reading achievement of children is to increase their access to books, especially at home. But 61% of low income families do not have any age-appropriate books for their kids at
home. Little Free Libraries play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce.
Presently, they are located in Salisbury, Riverside Albert, and Baie Verte.
To learn more, watch this quick introduction video or visit
www.littlefreelibrary.org
Youth Mental Health Summit & Mental Health Symposium
The Youth Mental Health Summit in November of each year brings together community members from PNB Wellness, Public Health, Horizon Health, CMHA, Atlantic Wellness, and other not-for profit organizations to collaborate on a
full day of workshops and speakers to educate and empower youth on proactive mental health.
The follow up to this day is in May of each year when students from all high schools gather once again at the Youth Mental Health Symposium to celebrate the projects worked on as a result of the Summit. The Symposium is an
educational evening featuring presentations from students showcasing the positive mental health initiatives they have made reality in their school communities over the year.
For more information, please contact Heather Stordy at
heather.stordy@nbed.nb.ca
Turnaround Achievement Awards
The Turnaround Achievement Awards recognize students in grades 6-12 who have shown perseverance and commitment to “turn around” their life. Anglophone East School District honour students who have been selected for this award
by their school each year in May. Nominees must have made a noticeable difference in their every day actions and/or performance at school. School staff are invited to nominate students who they feel deserve this recognition.
United Way
We participate and facilitate various United Way initiatives such as Day of Caring, Middle School and High School Transition Camps, YOU Turns, and Youth First.
Our Team
Community Schools Coordinators work with school staff and community partners to support the development of programs in the following key areas of focus: Literacy and Tutoring, Enrichment, Social Competence and Positive Identity, Healthy Active Students and Special Events.
For more information and to find out how you can get involved and make a difference, please contact:Heather Stordy
Community Engagement Coordinator heather.stordy@nbed.nb.ca 506-871-5534 Christine Allain
Community Schools Coordinator Moncton High Family of Schools Area christine.allain@nbed.nb.ca 506-871-4984 Natalie Griffin
Community Schools Coordinator Harrison Trimble, Petitcodiac Regional and Salisbury Regional Family of Schools natalie.griffin@nbed.nb.ca 506-229-2264Jessie Brown
Community Schools Coordinator Tantramar Regional High & Bernice MacNaughton High Family of Schools Area jessie.brown@nbed.nb.ca 506-229-1872Luc Malenfant
Community Schools Coordinator Riverview High & Caledonia Regional High Family of Schools luc.malenfant@nbed.nb.ca 506-229-0815Anna Paradis
Experiential Learning Coordinator anna.paradis@nbed.nb.ca 506-229-4820