Living Sky launches project to help more children graduate

Oct 19, 2017 | 6:00 PM

A doctor, an artist, a mother, and a firefighter.

Those are some of the careers the kindergarten students at McKitrick Community School have in mind for their futures, and the Living Sky School Division hopes with the help of the community each child goes on to graduate in 2030, and realize their dreams. 

On Thursday, the school division launched the “It Takes a Community to Educate a Child” program at the North Battleford school. The 2017-18 pilot project aims to boost graduation rates. Educators, parents, and community stakeholders came together for the event to make a “promise” to the students to help them succeed, and eliminate barriers they may encounter on the way.

The school division will work with stakeholders – city council, local businesses, community organizations, elders, justice and health services, First Nations communities/organizations and community leaders – to partner on this project – and also plans to follow each child to graduation.

“It’ does take a community to raise a child,” said Living Sky’s Director of Education Brenda Vickers. “So let’s start early and see what it will take to get them there.”

“Today was a celebration of those people who care for these kids, to say: ‘You’ve got a support system, and we’ll see you in 2030, for sure,’” she added. 

The 19 McKitrick students received their own adult-sized Class of 2030 Grad T-shirts, and a plush gift – the school’s mascot – in the ceremony. They went on to take part in creating time-capsules with photographs and written messages from parents and the community. The division also presented an original painting that will be given to a student in the 2030 graduating class. The time-capsules and artwork will be kept at the school until then.

Vickers said students will have something tangible to remind them of their goal to graduate.

“I’m really happy about this. It’s a great idea,” she said.

The project comes out of the division’s strategic plan that focuses on increasing graduation rates and attendance.

“As a director, I can say I want to see a day when everybody is graduating. That’s the ideal. This is a start towards getting there,” Vickers said.

McKitrick School principal Amanda Risling said the more support that is in place to help students, the better chance they will graduate.

“It’s all about getting [people] to see it starts in kindergarten, getting these kids engaged and excited about learning,” she said.

North Battleford deputy mayor Kent Lindgren spoke to the students, offering words of encouragement. He also read from the children’s book, I Wish You More, about the importance of staying positive. Battlefords MLA Herb Cox also offered his support.  

Wilfred Whittles, whose grandson Keagan was one of the kindergarten students taking part in the launch, likes the idea of the school and community working together to guide the kids to do well in school.

“It gives the kids something to look forward to. If they are here in 2030 they’ll have that time capsule to look at,” he said, adding: “I think it’s mostly the parents, grandparents and the community who will help them graduate.”

 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow