North Dakota Weekend Exchange Digest

Here is the member feature package in North Dakota for Jan. 18-20. Members using Exchange stories should retain bylines and newspaper credit lines. If you have questions, please contact the desk at 612-332-2727

For use Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 18-19, and thereafter.

EXCHANGE-CATHOLIC SCHOOL-MONTESSORI PROGRAM

MANDAN, N.D. — Leaders at St. Joseph School in Mandan hope that starting a Montessori program to offer a more hands-on approach to education will boost student enrollment, just as it did for Christ the King School across town. “For decades, we just haven’t really seen an influx in our school,” said the Rev. Josh Waltz of St. Joseph Catholic Church, which is connected with the school. The school started a Montessori program last fall for its youngest children, ages 3-6, and it plans to expand the effort to cover all grades next school year. It also will add an “adolescent” program covering traditional junior high grades seven through nine. By Amy R. Sisk, The Bismarck Tribune. SENT IN ADVANCE: 827 words, photos.

For use Monday, Jan. 20, and thereafter.

EXCHANGE-NONPROFIT LEADER

MINOT, N.D. — Empowering people and engaging communities is Scott Burlingame’s strategy for making a difference. The executive director for Independence, Inc., in Minot, Burlingame has nearly a 20-year history of advocating for people with disabilities. His mission is to share his knowledge so more people can successfully do the same. Burlingame said his passion comes from personal experience. In addition to having had a brother with a significant disability, he received services in school for a learning disability and has dealt with depression and anxiety as an adult. “But I think I’ve always just been passionate about community. I’ve always been passionate about ‘How can we use our God-given skills to help others and to make our society better?” he said. By Jill Schramm, Minot Daily News. SENT IN ADVANCE: 1,552 words, photos.

The AP