Kids on the Block

The Kids on the Block

News! News! News!

The Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe Launched October 12

On October 12, The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia officially launched its Kids on the Block puppet program in HRM schools as part of the Stamp Out Stigma epilepsy awareness initiative. The program is aimed primarily at Grade 5 students, and is at present available only in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Grade 5 teachers in HRM wishing to book presentations for their schools should call Iris Elliott, Outreach Support Coordinator, at 429-2633, or e-mail her at iris@epilepsyns.com.

Thanks to a major grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, and support from the Department of Health, the Nova Scotia Credit Union Foundation, and the Halifax Youth Foundation, the Association has purchased three puppets and all the equipment and materials to perform specially written scripts that will entertain children as well as inform them about different aspects of epilepsy.

Brian, Nam and Joanne chat with young fans after the show

Brian and Nam with MLA Diana Whalen (left) and Duc d’Anville Elementary School Principal, Annmarie MacInnis

Some of the audience got the opportunity to shake hands with the "Kids" after the show

Meet the Kids!

This is Brian McDaniel. Brian, who is 11 years old, is a bright, outgoing boy with lots of friends. He has had epilepsy since he was five years old. Brian’s favourite activity is playing the saxophone in the school band, but he also enjoys baseball, basketball, karate and reading scary stories. Brian appears in all the Kids on the Block scripts about epilepsy. At age 11, he is already a budding disability rights advocate. As he likes to say, it’s really important to remember that in most cases, people with disabilities can do everything that other people do, even if they might do it in a different way.

Brian’s best friend is Nam Nguyen, who is also 11 years old. Nam is funny and a bit naļve at times. He likes art, and loves playing soccer and video games. Through Nam’s humorous and open interaction with Brian, children in the audience learn more about epilepsy and some of its social consequences. Nam’s family moved to Canada from Vietnam before he was born, and he is very proud of his Vietnamese heritage.

Joanne Spinoza lives on the same street as Brian, and the two usually walk to school and home together. Joanne, who’s 14, is involved in soccer, cheerleading and the school newspaper. Along with Brian and Nam, she plays in the school band. Joanne is sometimes confused about how to approach sensitive subjects, but with her openness and concern about doing the right thing, she represents the children in the audience who are searching for the right choices and are willing to learn as they grow.

Puppeteer Training - June 26-28 in Halifax

Our volunteer puppeteers were very excited! On June 26, we welcomed Rose Weinberg and Judi Egelnick, who together run Kids on the Block Toronto and who visited us in Halifax to give us some intensive training in puppetry.

All of us who are involved in the Kids on the Block program here in Halifax would like to thank Rose and Judi, as well as our sponsors who made this training possible: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Air Canada and Holiday Inn Select Halifax.

Our Sponsors

The
Halifax Youth
Foundation

The Kids on the Block



News! News! News!

*The Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe Launched October 12*

On October 12, The Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia officially launched its Kids on the Block puppet program in HRM schools as part of the Stamp Out Stigma epilepsy awareness initiative. The program is aimed primarily at Grade 5 students, and is at present available only in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). Grade 5 teachers in HRM wishing to book presentations for their schools should call Iris Elliott, Outreach Support Coordinator, at 429-2633, or e-mail her at iris@epilepsyns.com.

Thanks to a major grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, and support from the Department of Health, the Nova Scotia Credit Union Foundation, and the Halifax Youth Foundation, the Association has purchased three puppets and all the equipment and materials to perform specially written scripts that will entertain children as well as inform them about different aspects of epilepsy.

Brian, Nam and Joanne chat with young fans after the show

Brian and Nam with MLA Diana Whalen (left) and Duc d’Anville Elementary School Principal, Annmarie MacInnis

Some of the audience got the opportunity to shake hands with the "Kids" after the show

*Meet the Kids!*

	This is Brian McDaniel. Brian, who is 11 years old, is a bright, outgoing boy with lots of friends. He has had epilepsy since he was five years old. Brian’s favourite activity is playing the saxophone in the school band, but he also enjoys baseball, basketball, karate and reading scary stories. Brian appears in all the Kids on the Block scripts about epilepsy. At age 11, he is already a budding disability rights advocate. As he likes to say, it’s really important to remember that in most cases, people with disabilities can do everything that other people do, even if they might do it in a different way.

	Brian’s best friend is Nam Nguyen, who is also 11 years old. Nam is funny and a bit naļve at times. He likes art, and loves playing soccer and video games. Through Nam’s humorous and open interaction with Brian, children in the audience learn more about epilepsy and some of its social consequences. Nam’s family moved to Canada from Vietnam before he was born, and he is very proud of his Vietnamese heritage.

	Joanne Spinoza lives on the same street as Brian, and the two usually walk to school and home together. Joanne, who’s 14, is involved in soccer, cheerleading and the school newspaper. Along with Brian and Nam, she plays in the school band. Joanne is sometimes confused about how to approach sensitive subjects, but with her openness and concern about doing the right thing, she represents the children in the audience who are searching for the right choices and are willing to learn as they grow.

*Puppeteer Training - June 26-28 in Halifax*

Our volunteer puppeteers were very excited! On June 26, we welcomed Rose Weinberg and Judi Egelnick, who together run Kids on the Block Toronto and who visited us in Halifax to give us some intensive training in puppetry.

All of us who are involved in the Kids on the Block program here in Halifax would like to thank Rose and Judi, as well as our sponsors who made this training possible: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Air Canada and Holiday Inn Select Halifax.


*Our Sponsors*


		The Halifax Youth Foundation