School’s Out – Thompson Nicola Cariboo
Patrick rushed into the classroom with his sister, excited to share that, “Today is my imaginary friend’s birthday!” He couldn’t wait to create something special for “Red Blob, or Red for short.”
Patrick’s little sister Holly followed in behind her brother, sharing that her letters were “H-O-L-L-Y”, proudly exclaiming that she has two L’s in her name.
Patrick and Holly are two of the kids who regularly attend United Way BC School’s Out program at the Ashcroft Hub. The Hub has been home to the program since the start of the school year in 2023, and its popularity is growing due to both the lack of after-school care available in the small community, as well as the calm, creative, and compassionate care of “Grandma Deb”, the School’s Out Program Coordinator.
Kevin, father of Kai, Mila, Emi, and Ena, said they signed their kids up as soon as they found out about School’s Out. “There aren’t many activities available after school for children who aren’t into sports. And my children love crafts!” he continued. Reflecting on her relationship with the kids, he stated, “She’s like Mary Poppins, helping them explore their creative sides… Every day it’s something new!”
Jessica Clement, the Executive Director at the Ashcroft Hub, went on to say, “A lot of the kids don’t have grandparents [available] and so Deb gets to be ‘Grandma Deb’ for them. Having someone to be that person in their lives is important.”
School’s Out is not a cookie cutter program
The beautiful thing about United Way BC School’s Out is that it is adaptive; designed to provide what each community needs and to meet the unique needs of the children. There are currently 108 School’s Out program sites across the province, and the demand continues to grow. There are currently over 1300 kids on the waitlist.
Because each community has individual needs, in Kamloops, United Way BC School’s Out looks markedly different than in Ashcroft, as it has a direct link to Kamloops Immigrant Services.
Providing friendship, support, mentorship, nourishment, and breaking down language barriers is what Sofiia, the School’s Out Program Coordinator, does with the children who attend each Monday and Tuesday. Among the students, there are three languages including Ukrainian, Arabic, and English. Teaching them how to communicate with each other empowers them as they go about their days outside of the program. Sofiia said, “…understanding how I can support children in socializing, even if their level of English comprehension is not there yet, is a really important part of my work.”
Daniella, an 8-year-old in the Kamloops School’s Out Program said that when she first joined, she was really
*Sofiia and Diana nervous, but making friends made a world of difference.
“Alisa was the first ever friend I got here and I was really scared… [Now, she’s] my best friend here. She’s kind and she always plays with me.”
Building blocks for positive development
United Way BC School’s Out looks different from community to community, region to region, but each one focuses on these core principles:
a) Health and Wellness
b) Connectedness
c) Interests and Competencies
d) Service to Community
e) Social and Emotional Development
For kids in the critical middle years between 6 and 12 year old, School’s Out plays an important role during a time of physical, emotional, and cognitive change.
Constable Richard Wright, a police officer in Ashcroft, and father of Patrick and Holly who attend the program, said, “As a community professional, I can see the difference between the youths that are engaged in programming like this, and the youths that aren’t. And just having that small engagement, that extra safe space where they feel they can come, their additional comfort within their own community can make the world of difference.”
The difference is you
Making such a significant impact in the lives of these kids is entirely credited to those who donate
In Kamloops, Sofiia spoke about how important it is to support programs like School’s Out. “Funding this program means that other children will get a chance to connect, to find activities, to see that someone cares, and these children will get to foster those connections… and maybe support and mentor those new kids who are still only starting their journey.”
Kevin declared that seeing is believing. “Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces, the smiles on the adults’ faces! Seeing donations at work in your own community is powerful. We need any kind of help we can get, and we so appreciate it.”
Let’s be UNITED for kids and youth in need.