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27 Division St, New York, NY 10002, USA

+1 (044) 123 456 789

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Active Learning & Literacy

Active Awareness Engaging Education

We use active engagement and play as the basis for and extension of foundational learning and academic skills.

What

We Do

Our series of award worthy workshops are designed by and FEATURE current and former ELITE sport specific ATHLETES and/or COACHES. We offer a number of options for the scheduling and delivery of our AGE-APPROPRIATE programs. The lengths of our workshops are FLEXIBLE, which allows simple and EFFECTIVE COORDINATION with established school routines and CLASS SCHEDULES. Programs are aligned with Ministry of Education’s HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS. All awareness topics are INTERCHANGEABLE with sport of interest and choice.

Our innovative sport and play-based approach supports learning and literacy, promotes healthy active living, and has lasting benefits on children and youth’s foundational learning skills, such as self-regulation, reading, writing, and number knowledge

We offer a number of options for the scheduling and delivery of our age-appropriate programs:

PLAY & LEARN

(FUNdamentals) Foundational Learning Skills

PHYSICAL LITERACY & LEARNING FOUNDATIONS

(FUNdamentals) Foundational Learning Skills

READ & 
LEAD

(Basketball)
Number Knowledge

LEAGUE &
LEARN

(Soccer)
Literacy Skills

Our creative sport and activity-based approaches serve as a constructive solution to the identified issue of learning gaps and loss following the pandemic, which has proven to have disproportionate negative outcomes for underserved populations and students in particular.

PLAY & LEARN

FDK – Gr 3
This workshop will use play-based pedagogy as the vehicle to encourage and enhance students’ love of learning, build literacy competencies, reignite relationships and belonging, and fuel healthy social interactions and movement.
Dr. Angela Pyle’s Play Learning Lab at the University of Toronto describes a continuum of play that includes five distinct categories: learning through games, playful learning, collaboratively created play, inquiry play, and free play. The value of this continuum is that it softens the sometimes-misplaced hard distinction between play and learning (Play Learning Lab, 2021).

*This workshop designed to teach, develop and promote foundational learning skills. Students will practice basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills, that are the building blocks for a life of learning. 

Sample Activities:

Partner Poly Spots – Floor Discs – Colours and numbers, Cooperative Play

Active Bingo – Decoding & Integration of Information

MOVEMENT FUNDAMENTALS & LEARNING FOUNDATIONS

FDK – Gr 3
This workshop series will inspire foundational learning skills through FUNdamental movements. Children will be actively engaged in movement related activities and challenges as they develop physical literacy and move confidently, competently, creatively and strategically across a wide range of health-related physical activities. The program will support youth in foundational skills as they explore movement fundamentals and athletic foundations as they learn to make healthy, active choices, that are both beneficial to and respectful of their whole self, others, and their environment.

*This workshop is designed to teach, develop and improve foundational learning skills. Foundational learning is the foundations of a childs education. It refers to basic literacy, numeracy, and transferable skills, that are the building blocks for a life of learning.

Sample Activities:

Fitness ‘Skilllastics’ – Numbering & Reading. Gross Motor Skills

Make a Word Relay – Spelling & Comprehension

BASKETBALL READ & L.E.A.D

(LEADERSHIP EMPOWERMENT AWARENESS DEVELOPMENT)
Gr 4-6
Basketball Read & L.E.A.D. will creatively support the development and enhancement of foundational academic skills through strategically scheduled Play & Learn sessions. Each workshop will creatively support numeracy skills through the careful integration of ‘number knowledge’ and learning within each sport related skill, drill and challenge.

*This workshop is designed to teach, develop and improve numeracy skills and practice the ability to use, interpret and communicate mathematical information. Students will use numeracy skills to solve problems and make sense of numbers, time, and patterns though a creative series of workshop activities.

Sample Activities:

Double Dribble – Counting & Measuring

High Percentages– Estimating and Charting

Soccer League & Learn

Gr 7-8
Soccer League & Learn will engage students in healthy competition, while creatively promoting cultural awareness and international connections, and supporting literacy in the process. This workshop will creatively promote knowledge of international teams, as well as the professional leagues from around the world, while providing opportunities for the creative integration of literacy and learning through special presentations, postings and announcements.

*This workshop is designed to teach, develop and improve literacy skills. Literacy skills are all the skills needed for reading and writing. Workshop activities will include vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension. Students will practice sounds of language, awareness of print, and the relationship between letters and sounds.

Sample Activities:

World Cup Qualifiers – Spelling & Comprehension

International Leagues & Learning – Awareness of Print

This creative series of Active Learning & Literacy workshops has contributed to our ongoing efforts in supporting our students in meeting the provincial standards for literacy, using sport and physical activity as the connection

HWCDSB Consultant Equal Opportunities

Active Learning & Literacy Workshops

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Rising Stars

MORRIS PARRAS

RS Technical Director

Brock University, NCCP Level III

SPECIALTIES

*Soccer Development
*Sport Promotion

VAL SEARGEANT

RS Technical Director

Humber College, Dip.
NCCP – Physical Literacy, Master Trainer
Athletics Ontario – RJTW, Master Trainer

SPECIALTIES

*Track & Field  
*Athletic Development

As a Technical Director at Rising Stars, Val coordinates both recreation and competitive track and field programs in support of youth, students-athletes and athletes of all abilities.

As a former elite athlete, Val competed and set records in both track and field events.  He is a two-time member of the Canadian National Track and Field Team, and a former Barbados 110mH National Champion.  Val is a Run Jump Throw Wheel Facilitator for Athletics Ontario, the recognized provincial sport organization for Track & Field, Cross Country, and Road Racing in Ontario.  Val is the founder and head coach of Stoney Creek Athletics and the Track & Field Coordinator for the International CANUSA Games.  He also currently serves as the Head Para Athletics Coach for the Hamilton Olympic Club.

MELISSA FAMME

RS Regional Director – Athletics & Education

Waterloo University, BA
Lakehead University B.Ed, M. Ed

NCAA: Referee/Official
High Five: Principles of Healthy Child Development
Sport for Life: Physical Literacy for Early Childhood

SPECIALTIES

Sport Development 
Youth Development

LYNN CAMPANELLA

RS Technical Director – Play & Recess

NCCP: Coaches Physical Literacy Training

SPECIALTIES

Play & Recreation
Recess Programming

High Five: Principles of Healthy Child Development
Sport for Life: Physical Literacy Instructor Program
Sport for Life: Physical Literacy for Early Childhood
Member of the US Play Coalition (Since 2011)
Founder of the Canadian Play Network
Creator of the PlanetPlay Stencil line

MATT KING

Regional Director

Lakehead University, B.A.
University of Newcastle – Australia, B.Ed
Specialist PE & Health

SPECIALTIES

*Indigenous Education
*Youth & Sport Development

As a Regional Director with Rising Stars, Matt coordinates and facilitates various programs across both our athletics and education divisions. He currently serves as the Director of Rising Stars Basketball Academy Six Nations.

Matt King grew up as an all star athlete. He played NAIG for Team Ontario, and represented Ontario at National Aboriginal basketball camp, where he was selected MVP. Matt competed as a varsity athlete for the Mens Basketball Team at Laurier and Lakehead Universities, and went on to coach U Sport at both Lakehead and Guelph. Matt continued his education and began a professional career as a certified teacher. After ten years of dedicated service as a teacher, coach and Athletic Director (Chair) with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, Matt embarked on a new professional adventure, while continuing to compete in triathlons and Iron-Man races. As a Regional Director with Rising Stars, Matt coordinates and facilitates various programs across both our athletics and education divisions. Matt specializes in facilitating programs and instruction for youth, students, and athletes, both on and off reserve. He currently serves as the Director of Rising Stars Basketball Academy – Six Nations.

DEE CHANNER

RS Associate Director

Laurier University, B.A.
Queensland University of Technology – Australia, B.Ed,

SPECIALTIES

*Basketball Development
*Indigenous Education

As an Associate Director at Rising Stars, Dee coordinates programs both in the athletics and education divisions in support of youth, students, and athletes, both on and off reserves.

Delicia Channer competed as a varsity athlete for Laurier University Women’s Basketball Team, where she was the team captain and a division all star. Dee continued her education and began a professional career as a certified teacher. Dee now serves as an Associate Director with Rising Stars. She is a LEAD Facilitator for Indigenous projects, programs, and services. In this role, Dee facilities creative programs and workshops that promote Indigenous awareness and empowerment. As Rising Stars most Senior Programs Instructor & Facilitator, Dee coordinates programs in both the athletics and education divisions. Dee specializes in facilitating programs and instruction for youth, students, and athletes, both on and off reserve. She currently serves as the Head Coach for the Conestoga College Women’s Basketball team.

ERIN FORMAN

Senior Vice President, Director of Programs

Spring Arbor University, BSc Concurrent Education
Specialist Sport Science

SPECIALTIES

* Female Empowerment
* Sport Development

As the Senior Vice President at Rising Stars Athletics & Education, Erin serves as the General Manager of the Education Division. Erin facilitates Advanced Programs and Instruction for administrators, coaches, and teachers. Erin develops and designs programs and curriculum for student engagement and athlete development.

Erin Forman is former member of both Softball Canada’s National team program and Baseball Canada’s National Team. She played in the 2004 Women’s World Series in Japan, and the 2006 World Cup in Taipei. Erin was named All American, All Conference, and Player of the Year, while playing on a U.S. Softball Scholarship. She was recently  inducted into the hall of fame for her achievements in sport. Though Erin’s sport specific bio clearly demonstrates an extensive combination of all around athleticism and personal achievement in softball that very few athletes can claim, equally impressive is her continued commitment to helping others achieve their goals through sport and education in her professional endeavours. Erin serves as role model in her trade and community. She demonstrates an unwavering commitment to making positive differences in the lives of others.

Erin continues to use sport as a vehicle to empower others in the work she does in coaching, and also in her professional endeavours. As a founding partner and Director of Softball Development at Rising Stars, Erin has become one of the most highly sought teachers and coaches of the game. Erin is on the cutting edge of instructional techniques, tools, and theories for optimal development. She has worked with countless local and regional athletes, supporting aspiring student-athletes as they continue in their positive development and successfully pursue opportunities to play college or university ball in Canada, and/or secure U.S. softball scholarships, with many advancing to become provincial and national calibre softball players.

DR. ANDREW PETERS

Founding Partner, President & Chair

McMaster University, B.A., M.A
University of Western Ontario – Ph.D

SPECIALTIES

*Leadership & Empowerment
*Youth & Community Development

As the original Founding Partner of what would eventually become the Rising Stars Group of companies, Dr Peters has been instrumental in the continued expansion and reach of positive sport, youth, and community development programs and special projects.

From early beginnings as a competitive student athlete in the Hamilton region, and many local achievements and recognitions at the secondary level, Dr Peters went on to compete as a varsity athlete for McMaster University, winning numerous regional, provincial and national medals as a member of the Men’s Basketball Team. Dr Peters earned both a B.A., and M.A. at McMaster University, and went on to acquire a teaching certificate from D’Youville College, and a Ph.D. at the University of Western Ontario. These formative years laid the foundation for what would eventually become Rising Stars Athletics and Education.

He continues to serve as the conglomerate’s most senior executive, with 25 years of success in youth and community development through athletics and education. He continues to leverage his passion and extensive experience to engage youth and community in a positive and healthy development.

Dr. Peters devotes his time and energy to creating and partnering with stakeholders in the facilitation of innovative student and athlete development programs. Through strategic partnerships with national, professional, and elite athletes, coaches, sport science professionals, and educators, Dr Peters continues to collaborate with local organizations and expand through offering a variety of programs designed specifically for the benefit of athletes, students, schools, and communities.