Area Penguin Project kick-off meeting is Monday at Statesboro High

A national program that provides a supportive environment for children with disabilities to explore their creative talents is coming to this area thanks to the First District Regional Educational Service Agency and the Southeast Georgia Learning Resources System.

Gina’s Penguin Project will host an area kick-off meeting on Monday, February 3, at 6 p.m., in the Statesboro High School Auditorium. Students with special needs, parents, educators, and anyone from area communities who is interested in serving as a volunteer or mentor is invited to attend. For more information, contact Shelley Woodward.

The Penguin Project , according to its national website, seeks to “empower children with special needs through theatre.” Local volunteers and peer mentors work with the children to help them present stage performances of junior Broadway musicals. Area organizers are excited to bring this fine arts experience to the counties within the First District.

The First District Regional Educational Service Agency, located in Brooklet, Georgia, is one of 16 RESAs in the state. It is authorized by the Georgia Department of Education to be a public multi-service agency that develops, manages, and provides services and programs to local public education agencies and school districts in Appling, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Savannah-Chatham, Screven, Tattnal, Toombs, Vidalia-City, and Wayne counties.

The Georgia Learning Resources System is a network of 18 regional programs that provide training and resources to school district personnel, parents of students with disabilities, and other interested individuals to support the achievement, graduation rate, and post-secondary success of students with disabilities. The programs are funded by the Georgia Department of Education, Divisions for Special Education Services and Supports, and are operated in collaboration with Regional Educational Service Agencies and local school districts that serve as fiscal agents for the programs. GLRS programs are funded entirely with federal discretionary funds made available through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. The First-District RESA area is served by the Southeast-Coastal GLRS.