Minister Officially Opens Guysborough SchoolsPlus Community Room

Kids and families from Guysborough and its surrounding communities have more access to services and after school activities thanks to SchoolsPlus.

"Putting Kids and Learning First means increasing services for kids and families in our schools," said Education Minister Ramona Jennex. "SchoolsPlus is helping Guysborough area students succeed, and the new community room will have a positive impact on the area for many years."

Ms. Jennex joined Guysborough-Sheet Harbour MLA Jim Boudreau, students, parents, teachers, representatives from the Strait Regional School Board and service providers from Guysborough County at Chedabucto Education Centre-Guysborough Academy to officially open the newly remodeled SchoolsPlus community room today, June 26.

"Schools Plus recognizes, acknowledges, and responds to the needs of students, families and community in Guysborough County through the collaboration of more than 15 service providers," said Nancy MacDonald, executive director, Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia. "The program is truly making a difference in the lives of families."

The province is investing $2.5 million in SchoolsPlus over the next few years. SchoolsPlus staff and community outreach workers consult students, families, teachers and others about their needs. They then bring together professionals and programs tailored to the those needs.

"SchoolsPlus has made a tremendous difference in my youngest son's attitude toward learning and school," said Alex Willson of Canso. It helped him with his self-esteem and is helping him engage in school."

SchoolsPlus delivers several services and activities in the Guysborough area, such as:

• St. Francis Xavier University summer science day camps
• School Transition Entry Program
• Information sessions for grandparents who are parenting their grandchildren
• Services provided by Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia including counseling and support to students and their families
• Kids Have Stress Too, a homework support group

The schools who are served by the Guysborough SchoolsPlus site include Chedabucto Education Centre-Guysborough Academy, Mulgrave Memorial Education Centre, Canso Academy, Fanning Education Centre, St. Mary's Academy, and St. Mary's Education Centre.

The province announced in May that SchoolsPlus is expanding into 48 more schools over the next two years, including establishing a new hub site at Richmond Academy for the 2012-13 school year. A hub site is a network centre for SchoolsPlus, that serves a family of schools. The Richmond site will be the second SchoolsPlus hub site in the Strait Regional School Board, and will serve kids and families from six Richmond County area schools.

For more information about SchoolsPlus, visit schoolsplus.ednet.ns.ca .