Music has the power to transcend communication challenges, elevate mood, and help to build relationships. It has measurable benefits in the general population, but its effects on individuals with cognitive impairments can be life-changing. The staff and families at West Dover School know this all too well and applied for an EducationMatters grant to fund a music therapy program for their special needs students. West Dover’s TASC and SKILL programs are benefitting from working with a music therapist on a weekly basis thanks to the generosity of donors, and the impact on students, staff, and families is incredible.

“Music therapy goes beyond a typical music class. It engages students individually to work on communication goals; it helps students learn about expressing emotions; it provides opportunities for a better quality of life for students that have limited access to music programs because of specialized conditions,” says Lynn Barchuk, the SKILL teacher at West Dover School.

EducationMatters was invited to attend the school’s music therapy sessions, and had the opportunity to participate in two classes. The smiles on the students' faces, their willingness to participate, and their eagerness to demonstrate what they’ve learned was a great indication of how receptive the students are to music therapy.

“I have students that don’t speak, but they can make sounds. One little girl, she doesn’t have a loud voice and she’s always very quiet. When we sing some of these songs, she’ll start putting some of the sounds together and she’ll even sing by herself! This [music therapy] really gives her a voice because she has one, and it gives her that chance to use it,” says Lynn.

Funding for this music therapy grant was provided through the Schools Helping Schools Fund, which was established by a group of Briar Hill School parents and community members. They were passionate about donating to schools that had a harder time raising funds for educational enhancements. Many schools that are situated in less-affluent areas have no parent council representation, which ultimately means fewer people to assist in school fundraising projects. After the establishment of this Fund, other school parent councils within Calgary felt inspired to donate, and because of their generosity schools like West Dover are able to provide their special-need students with powerful resources that can transform their lives for the better!

The post Changing Student Lives with Music Therapy appeared first on EducationMatters.

“The pipe trades course saved my child from being a high school dropout,” says the mother of Dean, a grade 11 student in Calgary.

Dean’s elementary school teachers often described him as slow to learn, lazy, and unmotivated. He struggled with his learning and socially with his peers. By the time he was in grade three he was clearly behind the rest of his class.

Eventually, after a series of tests, the reason for Dean's struggles became clear. Dean was 90% deaf and needed surgery to repair his eardrums.

The surgery was a success and suddenly Dean was thrown into a world filled with sound.

Learning without hearing had been holding Dean back, but being surrounded by a noisy world was causing an entirely new set of problems.

The classroom continued to be a struggle. Dean would constantly complain to his mother. "School is too hard Mom. I can't do it."

Even with hours of support outside of the classroom, every school day was a challenge.

By grade nine, Dean was so stressed about school that he missed several days due to stomach aches, headaches, and pure exhaustion. Dropping out was beginning to look like a reality .

Everything changed in grade ten.

Through a friend, Dean discovered the pipe trades exploratory program. With funding from EducationMatters, students work with Local 496 to learn about trades in the pipe fitting industry.

After attending the orientation, Dean's excitement was obvious.

"I will never forget that day," says his mother. "He had stars in his eyes, a skip in his step and was ecstatic about his future."

Dean’s life changed. He showed up to pipe fitting training early each day and finished the program at the top of his class. He never missed a day.

He was offered an apprenticeship with a local company and began working part-time during high school towards his journeyman ticket.

He even began asking his teachers for additional help at school.

Dean will graduate with a high school diploma, many of the courses needed for his journeyman ticket, and over 1000 hours towards his apprenticeship.

The kid who was seen as lazy and unmotivated is now one of the hardest working students in his high school.

*Dean's name has been changed for privacy reasons

The post The Hardest Working Student in High School appeared first on EducationMatters.