Angelyca’s School’s Out Story
Have fun, be kind, be safe, be respectful, try your best: these are the five principles of the United Way BC School’s Out Friendship Club run by Burnaby Neighbourhood House in the Metrotown area.
Every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the school year, approximately 20 kids, aged 5 – 12, pile into the portable when the final school bell rings. They’re happy and excited to be here. This is a place where good things happen – games, snacks, indoor and outdoor play. While there is plenty of structure, it’s also a place where choices are respected; the kids can have fun with friends or enjoy some alone time, they can read, do arts and crafts, or learn something new. They even go on field trips!
Like most United Way School’s Out programs across British Columbia, this vital after-school program is offered free of charge based on assessed needs. Many in this particular program are from newcomer and/or low-income families.
Angelyca’s family is originally from the Philippines, but she has grown up in this neighbourhood. She loves it here because it’s close to everything – the pool, parks, school, and friends. She likes volleyball and swimming, fantasy books, painting, and food (especially sushi and her mom’s spaghetti).
Angelyca has been attending this School’s Out program for three years now and she’s happy to say that she met her best friend here. “We’re besties now,” she says with a big smile. At 10, she knows that good friends are important. It’s not just about having someone to play with, but also about having someone you can talk to, especially when you’re feeling sad.
This United Way BC School’s Out program, like 37 others across the province, offers a lot of social and emotional support and development.
For Angelyca, “The program has helped me be nicer to people, share my feelings and speak out about how I feel in a nice way.”
During her time here, Angelyca has become a much better communicator.. This, in turn, has helped her become a good leader. A couple of weeks ago, she showed her friends how to make slime – a big favourite among this group.
“I just wrote the recipe on the board,” explains Maria Rojas, the Afterschool Program Coordinator, “And Angelyca did the rest, helping each child along the way. It was such a rewarding sight.”
School’s Out programs like this provide kids with tools and skills that will benefit them for life. But the best part of the program for Angelyca is that it’s fun!
In a neighbourhood where economic instability, precarious housing, food insecurity, and everyday struggles are realities for many, life can be incredibly stressful, and kids pick up on the anxieties their parents rightfully feel.
Maria notes that typical stress responses for kids of this age group can often vary between hyperactivity and shutting down. If the energy in the room is too high, Maria and her assistants provide a more calming environment – a quiet space, dim lights, sensory tools like a giant, cuddly bear, classical music, as well as visual supports and reminders on the whiteboard. If the mood is too low, brighter lights, movement, and more upbeat music are on the agenda.
At a time when the rate of anxiety in kids is growing higher than ever, Schools Out programs like the Friendship Club in Burnaby are invaluable in providing the support kids need, along with a good dose of pure fun and joy.
Last year, thanks to donors like you, almost 5,000 children participated in United Way School’s Out programs, but our waitlists are long and growing. Children in our communities need our support more than ever.
Let’s bring the joy back to childhood. Donate today. For tomorrow