Back to School!
This school year started a little later than usual with a feeling that was full of excitement about returning to full-time classes and perhaps a little disappointment as safety protocols were still being held in place. The entire district moved to a semester model with the attitude that if we went into lockdown again it’s likely that four classes would be much easier to
The Last 3 Months of the 2020/21 School Year
The last three months of school before summer break are always a little daunting for teachers and often evoke the attitude that you have to “just make it through.” It’s a mad dash that demands an intimidating level of focus and never-ending hustle. You count down the days, you treat the weekends like refuge from the impending chaos and you hold on for dear
Congratulations to Scott Thomson, Britannia Class of 2020 Valedictorian!
Scott Thomson, an avid Homework Club participant for many years, was voted Valedictorian by his peers for the Graduating Class of 2020! Scott has shared some beautiful words about what the Homework Club has meant to him since he started in Grade 8. Thank you, Scott! We are so proud of you for this great achievement. As the 2020 school year comes to a close,
Journal Five
Describing this time in our lives has become such a difficult task. There are moments where I consider it nothing short of surreal; even months in I can’t quite wrap my head around it. There are other times I find it calming, the expectations softened, the world enjoying a slower pace of life. I struggle between feeling guilty about what I should and should
The Meaning of Clapping
This year was my first time hosting a holiday party for the Homework Club students as a new co-facilitator. I admit to being a little nervous about what the night would bring, but it was nothing short of absolutely wonderful. The kids were so excited to be there, to spend time with one another, to be celebrated. I think it was so important that
Starting the holidays with lots of cheer!
On Monday night, the Homework Club participants held their annual Winter Holiday party and it was a great success! Laughs and stories were shared over good food and gift exchanges. Check out the big smiles in the photos below! The Homework Club would like to thank all their participants, staff, volunteers and donors, and wish them all a very happy holiday season and a 2020 that brings
New Experiences in an Old School
When I took on Homework Club, the primary incentive was because our kids deserved a familiar and structured place to work, learn, play and eat; this program has become an essential part of their lives and I knew we needed to maintain it for their sake. But in the hustle and bustle of getting it up and running again, learning all of the ins
Open Invitation to Join Us
Last school year we had a new Grade 10 student come to Britannia. She was one of those students I sometimes refer to as a “full-time job” in that she required a lot of time and attention. Almost right off the bat she was being kicked out of classes or leaving, skipping and barely completing any work. I was practically at my wits end.
A Welcoming Place
My first few weeks of Homework Club were such a whirlwind of trying to keep up, stay organized, find this folder, put that away and remember lots of little details that make this place run smoothly. In the last few sessions, I have been able to spend more time observing the students and in those little moments of watching them work, share a meal
YEP! Camp 2017
With the generous support of our friends at Coast Capital Savings, we were able to take 13 youth to the beautiful Fraser Valley for our 4th annual YEP! Spring Break retreat. The Youth Engagement Project – or YEP! to us – provides social/emotional, academic and financial support to seriously at-risk students in the inner-city. Often these students have had precarious relationships with schools and