November 21, 2008

Dunrankin students, staff use drama, education to rise above social issues
Award-winning play comes to Dunrankin as part of ETFO's Poverty Project

Students and staff at Dunrankin Drive Public School will welcome the Roseneath Theatre's touring production of Danny, King of the Basement on Nov. 25. The award-winning play focuses on triumph over social challenges and is being presented to 70 schools across Ontario through the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario's (ETFO) Poverty Project, which is funded by the Ministry of Education.

"Danny, King of the Basement identifies almost every hurdle a child living in poverty might face," says Gale Solomon-Henry, principal of Dunrankin Drive. "It creates an opportunity for the audience to examine and understand the lives of those in poverty, dispelling myths and assumptions."

Dunrankin is one of 16 schools across the province to be selected through the Poverty Project as a Danny School, which provides the school with extra resources to initiate a year-long focus on social change. Following the production, students and staff will extend their learning during workshops with actors. Themes from the play, including self esteem, friendship, homelessness and divorce, will be integrated in to the school's curriculum and character education initiatives throughout the year. In addition to student learning, staff will participate in professional development opportunities. The school's focus on social change will culminate in a grade 5 production planned for Education Week in April.

The play will begin at 9 a.m. Dunrankin Drive is located at 3700 Dunrankin Drive in Mississauga.

30-

Media contact:               Gale Solomon-Henry, Principal, Dunrankin Drive Public School

 905-677-2202, gale.solomonhenry@peelsb.com

Reference:         Deborah Everest-Hill, Acting School Communications Specialist,

905-890-1010 ext. 2098, deborah.everesthill@peelsb.com