Shaftesbury Films is entering the public school system, teaming up with the Toronto District School Board to offer master classes and set visits for high school students from the Etobicoke School of the Arts. Shaftesbury CEO Christina Jennings made the announcement from the Toronto set of its new live-action comedy Baxter. (The 13-ep series will debut on the Family Channel this fall.) The ongoing initiative comes with a $25,000 cash donation, and marks the first collaboration of a Canadian prodco with a public school in Ontario.

Jennings says the company started discussions with ESA about a year ago when it found out about the school’s new film program, now in its second year. (ESA is the oldest arts-focused high school in Canada.)

Performers and creative staff from various Shaftesbury series will conduct the master classes, with the first session getting underway this month, led by actress Cynthia Dale, who plays a drama instructor on Baxter.

Shaftesbury is about to start shooting Ken Finkleman’s new half-hour series Good Dog for The Movie Network and Movie Central.