Community connection and partnerships strengthen the experience for students. With the pandemic, many programs have found creative ways to continue in alignment with health and safety guidelines.
Meet baby Henrik – whose photos (above) are up at Second Street Community School. In previous years, he would have been able to come right into the classroom of the Grade 3 students, who have been learning from him.
With a little creativity, the Roots of Empathy program has continued virtually. Under the program, students follow a baby’s growth – observing their emotions and expressions.
This also provides a safe space for children to learn and talk about their own feelings, which supports positive mental health and well-being – something that has become perhaps even more important as the pandemic has gone on.
Another long-running program, Parents as Literacy Supporters in Immigrant Communities or IPALS, has continued virtually. Put on in partnership with Decoda Literacy, it helps local Burnaby families who are immigrants set their children up for success in our schools. The latest session wrapped up last month.
Play-based activities to support literacy and numeracy in the early years were shared virtually once per week for eight weeks. Parents then provided photos at the next session talking about the learning.
The program is offered in the families’ first language, providing connection with a view to a positive transition for the child to school.
Posted April 2022