School Program

Kolet here. My search for information on Alzheimer's disease took me to the Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan. The Society has resources in its Lending Library that were created . Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

They also have a brand new program to educate the province’s grade three students about Alzheimer's disease. It’s called the Children’s Education Program and beginning in January 2005, grade three students in Weyburn became the first children in the province to be introduced to it. The one hour, in-class presentations are delivered by retired teachers who also received instruction about the disease.

The program was such a hit with teachers and students alike that come January 2006, students in Weyburn, Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Yorkton, and some rural Saskatchewan schools will hear the same message.

The goals of the program are:

To provide children with a general understanding of Alzheimer's disease including a rough idea as to what to expect from someone with the disease.
To help people realize that Alzheimer's disease touches young lives too and that children need information and support.
To introduce students, teachers, and families to the services of the Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan so they know where they can get help.
To bring the Children’s Education Program to every grade 3 student in Saskatchewan.

Children's Education Program

The Program includes memory exercises, storybook(s) reading, a discussion on how to make sure that the relationship with the person remains positive, exploration of feelings, and a creative activity (drawing or writing) to express what they’ve learned.

Children are given cool freebies (something for nothing) including a fridge magnet, pin-back button and bookmark, activity booklet, and a general information sheet on Alzheimer's disease to take home to their families. The Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan also gives each classroom visited a book for its library. Check out our Story Corner and you’ll be able to see and hear the My Grandpa George storybook being read in English or French. Way cool!

The Children’s Education Program is a fabulous idea! I can’t wait until it’s offered in my school! If you want to speed up the process, invite your teacher to check out this page and to contact the Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan at www.alzheimer.sk.ca. Maybe your classroom teacher even knows a retired teacher or two that would be interested in delivering the program. You never know until you ask.

Help for today.
Hope for tomorrow…