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Kids
Network
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. . . a cool place to
hang out with kids
who understand
What is Kids
Network?
“I wish for someone who would understand how I feel about
school.”
This wish uttered in 2007 marked the birth
of Kids Network, an organization that
addresses the non-academic needs of
children with individualized education
programs (IEPs).
Our vision is to facilitate a social network
and emotional support system for kids who
receive learning support. (The students of
Mrs. Knabel and Mrs. Clark.)
As you might conclude from our name the
focus is on the kids. Our audience is
elementary kids at Radio Park with IEPs.
Though we love siblings and parents are
great, this is a special place just for Kids
Network kids.
So that is the “kids” part of our name.
What about the “network”? A network is a
group of people who work together as a
unit. Though our kids are each
incredibly unique, they have many
similarities that enable them to be a
support to one another. As a parent, do
you often wish that you could take away
the frustrations and challenges that
your child faces? Unfortunately, we
can’t take their frustrations away. We
can, however, build a net beneath them
that makes these early years of
discovering strengths and challenges feel
a bit safer and a lot less lonely.
Questions about Kids Network?
Email:
Pat Knabel– pak11@scasd.org
Christina Clark - cjy15@scasd.org
Phone:
Radio Park- 231-4115
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Kids Network (KN) seeks to
build a net:
Safe & Fun Environment:
We aim to create a place
where a child can share
frustrations and celebrate
successes with others who
truly understand.
Interesting Activities: Life
can feel pretty serious for
our kids. KN has interesting
and exciting activities
planned that will be a
complete departure from
academic work. The desire is
that our kids will form
natural bonds with one
another over these positive
shared times that we carry
over to school. Think:
bowling, movies, picnic at the
park and more!
Kids Network is financially
supported by donations. If
you would like to make a
donation or if you know of a
business that would like to
make a donation, please
contact Linda Bonness at
bonness@psu.edu or Shawna
Mukavetz at
shawnamukavetz@gmail.com
Kids Network Events
KN events will be held
frequently throughout the
year. The facilitators for
these kid-focused events
will be a combination of
skilled and highly supportive
Radio Park Staff. Adequate
supervision will be provided
in order to create a dropoff situation that keeps it
special for KN kids and
allows them to interact,
relax, learn a little about
themselves and have fun
KN Mentors
Kids Network will give
upper elementary
students a chance to be a
mentor/buddy to a KN
kid in the lower grades.
Mentors are uniquely
qualified to support and
encourage since they
have been down a similar
path.
Have you seen these
resources?
We all have a great deal to learn.
Thankfully, we are living in a time
when resources are plentiful and
many are excellent. Though by no
means exhaustive here are a few of
our favorites:
Books
“A Mind at a Time” by Mel Levine
“All Kinds of Minds” by Mel Levine
(for kids)
“Copy This!” by Paul Orfalea
Websites
www.Idonline.com
www.allkidsofminds.org
Organizations
SCASD Special Education Office –
Houses an extensive library of books
and videos on special education
topics. Talk with your child’s
teacher about title availability.
Learning Disabilities Association of
Centre County (LDA) –
http://www.Idanatl.org. Meets
monthly. Hosts speakers and offers
programs on a wide variety of topics.
Their mission is to enhance the
quality of life for individuals with LD
and their families; to broaden the
base of public awareness; and to
advocate for individuals with LD.
Revised Jan. 2013