National Network of Digital Schools Donates Educational Materials to Orphanage in Guyana

BEAVER, Pa., May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Network of Digital Schools, a management foundation providing online curriculum and management services to schools around the world, has provided access to its premier Little Lincoln curriculum to the Bless the Children Home orphanage in Guyana, South America.

"When NNDS learned of Bless the Children's efforts and desires to help children learn effectively, we wanted to find a way to help," said NNDS Director of Elementary Curriculum Kellie Hamilton. "After discussing their goals and objectives, we decided to donate the kindergarten and first grade Little Lincoln curriculum for the children to use."

Little Lincoln is a standards-based elementary curriculum that combines online and offline components to teach children daily lessons in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. The curriculum includes printed activities books, sight word books, original fiction books, flashcards, resources for the adults helping the children learn, and all necessary supplies, such as handwriting paper, crayons, math manipulatives, and tools needed to complete science experiments. Online, students have access to a wide variety of resources, including mini-games for practice and reinforcement and 720 teacher videos for each grade level that model the more difficult objectives being taught.

Bless the Children orphanage currently provides for 17 children between the ages of 3 and 12, most of whom cannot read despite being enrolled in school. "A lot of the classes in Guyana don't have textbooks so the teachers will write everything out on the blackboard. The children write down everything verbatim but they have no concept of what they're seeing," said Pastor Fiona Pyszka, daughter of the orphanage's founders and spokesperson for Bless the Children.

Pastor Pyszka became interested in buying the curriculum for the orphanage after seeing the progress her son, a first grader enrolled in the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, made using the Little Lincoln curriculum. "He is a phenomenal reader and all he's had is the Little Lincoln program. After seeing his progress I thought this program would be awesome for the orphanage. This is what they need," she said.

The Little Lincoln curriculum is a perfect fit for the work Pastor Pyszka and her family is doing. "Little Lincoln was created to reach all types of learners, and the addition of extra practice, enrichment, and re-teaching for students who are struggling with given concepts make learning accessible," said Hamilton. "NNDS is pleased to provide the necessary tools to teach these children how to read, write, and problem solve, thus giving them hope for a successful future."

Pyszka is grateful for the generous donation, and believes its benefits will be realized for years to come. "This is a foundation for what they can achieve. Our children have high goals for themselves. We ask them want they want to be and encourage them. We don't say that's not going to happen because you can't read and write; we train them. And with this donation, with Little Lincoln, we can get them started on a better learning path right away."

"All children have the right to a high quality education, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status," noted Hamilton. "Our hope is that the hands-on materials and engaging teacher videos that are a part of the Little Lincoln curriculum will help the children at Bless the Children Orphanage to not only learn to read and write, but to gain the skills needed to continue a lifelong educational journey."

About NNDS

The National Network of Digital Schools (NNDS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit management foundation dedicated to providing the highest quality K-12 online curriculum and comprehensive management services to traditional brick and mortar schools, charter schools and cyber schools focused on expanding educational opportunities for students. As a community foundation, NNDS also lends financial support to educational initiatives that expand opportunities for young people. NNDS empowers its partners to expand curriculum options by offering accelerated courses, alternative education and credit recovery courses – as well as developing more effective educational programs for special education students. Lincoln Interactive is the premier curriculum choice for students who learn best from the safety of their own homes.

About Bless the Children Home

Bless the Children Home is a 501(c)3 orphanage in Industry, Guyana, South America. Opened in September 2008 by Rev. and Mrs. Surujpaul, the facility currently cares for 17 children, with the capacity to accommodate 64. Staffed primarily by volunteers, Bless the Children has a monthly operating budget of approximately $6,000. In addition to providing food, shelter, clothing and education to the children, they plan to offer classes for parents and leadership classes for the community. Their hope is eventually to start a school for the children of Bless the Children and local community.

Contact Toni Cicone, 724.764.7200, ext. 1712, [email protected]

SOURCE National Network of Digital Schools