Shaina Hawn
Observer Contributor
School is (almost) out for summer! As the school year wraps up, Big Brothers Big Sisters Quesnel’s (BBBSQ’s) in-school programming also comes to a close. This year we have a big reason to celebrate – through school-based programs, we were able to serve 104 children and provide volunteer opportunities for an additional 80 teen mentors in our community! We currently offer four in-school programs in the district.
Teen mentoring: teen mentoring pairs Correlieu Secondary School students with an elementary-age child for the duration of one high school semester. Our teen mentors teach by example the importance of giving back, staying in school, and having respect for peers, family and community. It can be a life-changing relationship built on friendship, trust and empowerment for both the mentee and mentor. This year, teen mentors provided a total of 1,435 volunteer hours. We extend our utmost gratitude to the students at Correlieu Secondary School that participated in the program this year. We would also like to thank the teachers and support staff that welcomed this program into their classrooms this year: Mr. Tourangeau & Ms. Stevenson (CSS), Ms. Reis & Mrs. Sutton (Voyageur Elementary) – without your support and belief in mentoring this program would not be possible.
Adult in-school mentoring: we had the privilege of working with three adult in-school mentors this school year. Adult in-school mentoring is a one-on-one match at the child’s elementary school, one hour per week. The mentors get to re-experience the joys of being a child while being positive and healthy role models. Thank-you to mentors: Karen Grunau, Elaine Prato and Charleen Nelin and the schools that welcomed them this year: Riverview Elementary and Carson Elementary. If you are interested in being an adult in-school mentor, please contact our office.
Go Girls!: this group program had great success this year. Programs focusing on healthy living and building self-esteem were offered at Voyageur Elementary, Red Bluff Lhtako Elementary, and Quesnel Junior School.
Golf for Kids Sake raised over $13,000 on June 2. The funds will be used to match a child with a mentor. We currently have 22 children eagerly waiting for a Big Brother/Big Sister.
Shaina Hawn is the mentoring co-ordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters Quesnel.