Press Release
The Rainy River District School Board was one of 20 boards across Ontario to participate in Phase II of the “One Life . . . Many Gifts” pilot project, which is sponsored by the ministries of Education and Health and Long-Term Care.
This curriculum provides opportunities for deeper implementation of character education in Grade 11 and Grade 12 classrooms by providing students with opportunities to heighten their awareness, knowledge, and empathic understanding of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
This program assists young people in developing the capacity and desire to be empathetic and productive citizens.
It develops students’ compassion, and helps them recognize they can contribute to a caring society by making decisions which potentially could save the lives of those who are suffering.
In turn, they can expect to be helped if they are ever in need of a life-saving transplant.
“The ‘One Life . . . Many Gifts’ curriculum has provided opportunities for senior students across the district to engage in lively debate and reflection on the important topic of organ and tissue donation,” said Secondary Curriculum co-ordinator Beth Fairfield.
The program increases knowledge and understanding about donation, and encourages family members to discuss this important subject and communicate their wishes to one another.
The recommendation from the pilot group is to expand this initiative to other curriculum areas in the 2010-11 school year.
The “One Life . . . Many Gifts” curriculum easily is incorporated into Science, Physical Health and Education, English, the Arts, Canadian and World Studies, Social Science and the Humanities, and Guidance and Careers.
