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Tele-Drive offers more than just a drive to town

29/9/2015

By Deborah Carr

When Serge Levesque first moved to Hillsborough, he found the people to be warm and compassionate, but he didn't understand the full extent until he was diagnosed with cancer in June 2014.

"We needed to find a solution to our transportation problem quickly because I wasn't allowed to drive during my chemo treatments or the periods of crippling fatigue that came with them," he said. His wife, Martine, did not drive. An they had no family in the province.

While in a doctor’s office, Martine picked up a pamphlet describing a new Albert County service called Tele-Drive.

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Roots of Empathy at Riverside Consolidated School

23/9/2015

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“My favourite moment in Roots of Empathy was when you smiled at me.”

“My favourite moment was when you held my finger.”

“Dear Baby Andie, my wish for you when you are in Grade 3, is that you will have a Roots of Empathy baby just like you.”

Irisnova Dionne (former Roots of Empathy baby now in Grade 1), Barbara Gebuhr (Program Facilitator), Andie Sanford, current Roots of Empathy baby

As the fifth Roots of Empathy program at Riverside Consolidated School wrapped up, students reflected on what they had experienced since October with baby Andie Ada Sanford, daughter of Alicia (O’Hara) and Jon Sanford. Baby Andie was just six weeks old when she made her first visit to the school. As the children greeted her with the special Hello Song, she seemed unperturbed by it all. As they touched the butterfly sock she wore, they hoped for eye contact with the special visitor, but to no avail. A tiny newborn, she was able to lie on the special Green Blanket, and make sounds. The list the students had created, of what they thought she might be able to do, contained mostly “not yet” comments rather than a “yes” – sitting up – not yet, walking – not yet.

But by June – what a change in our baby – sitting up, crawling, making eye contact, holding fingers, interacting with vocalizations, smiling, laughing, eating a wide variety of foods! The students and even Mom Alicia were amazed as they watched the slide show of photos from October to May. How much change occurs in a human during the first year of life!

Roots of Empathy was developed by Newfoundland educator, Mary Gordon. It has spread internationally, and is widely acclaimed.

“Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.”

Roots of Empathy’s goals are:

· To foster the development of empathy

· To develop emotional literacy

· To reduce levels of bullying, aggression and violence, and promote children's pro-social behaviours

· To increase knowledge of human development, learning, and infant safety

· To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting

(Source: rootsofempathy.org)

Anglo East School District began Roots of Empathy in seven Grade 3 classrooms in the 2008-2009 school year. A facilitator must be trained by the national organization, and each program is supplied with curriculum materials, a special library and “props” – baby toys, a green blanket, a roll, and special T-shirts for babies that say “Roots of Empathy Teacher.”

Riverside Consolidated School has participated since the beginning, with a break from 2011-13. Five sweet baby girls have served as the Roots of Empathy “teacher” – showing the students how much babies learn in their first year. The facilitator is Barb Gebuhr, and the classroom teacher is Scott Tingley, providing continuity for the program.

The students soon adopt this baby as their own, and would never imagine harming her in any way; they empathize with her feelings, and transfer that empathy to their peer group, when reminded. They learn about normal infant development, and what is essential both prenatally, and during the first year, to ensure healthy and happy babies. A key message is “Never Shake a Baby” and students brainstorm ways that tired parents can deal with the frustration of a crying baby, rather than resort to shaking, which can cause brain damage, and even death. Students are very serious in absorbing these essential learnings, and plan to be great parents when the time comes!

For more information on the program, visit www.rootsofempathy.org

Submitted by Barb Gebuhr, Facilitator of Roots of Empathy program at Riverside Consolidated School.

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Garden Tour 2015

11/9/2015

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Recently a Garden Tour took place in Albert county. Seven gardens from Hopewell Hill to Alma were selected by a comittee, to showcase both ornamental and vegetable gardens. The goal was to highlight a variety of formal, informal, innovative, traditional, and different settings from within our area.

We had some young gardeners, and some who might get a movie discount now! All love to be outside, working with their plants. While most were reluctant to accept our invitation to participate, all were pleased at the end of the day, because of the opportunity to share their love of gardening with visitors to their special corners of Paradise. Members of the Fundy Gardeners, based in the Hampton area, gave high praise to organizer, Phyllis Sutherland, when they said this tour rivaled any they had been on in their area this season. Gardeners often say – “if only you were here last week” – something is always just out of bloom, but happily, something else takes its place. Gardens are meant to be enjoyed weekly, if not daily to capture the continuing magic.

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Health & wellness

Tele-Drive offers more than just a drive to town

Roots of Empathy at Riverside Consolidated School

Garden Tour 2015

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