BARRHEAD-Joyce Venables knows first hand the impact Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services' (FCSS) mentor support program can mean in a young child's life.
The program pairs elementary school children from Grades 1 to 6 that could use a little extra support with caring adults who encourage the student by helping them achieve their full potential.
Venables is a retired teacher with more than 30 years of experience, teaching Grade 5 to 9 extensively. Most of those years were spent in Swan Hills however she began her teaching career in Saskatchewan before moving on to Calgary for a short stint.
After retiring from the classroom she served 12 years as a Pembina Hills School Division trustee.
Although she knew about the program through her time on the school board, Venables did not think about becoming a volunteer until someone from her church suggested that she might be a good fit.
And she is glad she did.
"It is so rewarding. To be able to see the difference you are making in a child's life. You can see how much having a little bit of extra attention, that one-on-one time from a caring adult, makes in their lives," she said.
On average, mentors and their student meet once a week for about an hour at the school. In addition to the weekly sessions, volunteers undergo a brief training session.
Teachers select students who they believe will benefit most from the program. Initially, Venables was paired with a young girl in Grade 4 from Barrhead Elementary School (BES). She stayed paired with the student right until she graduated from the school two years later.
"When you see your student outside the school setting they are always so excited to see you," she said, recalling a time when she went to see a drama production at Barrhead Composite High School (BCHS). "She saw that I was in the audience and she came up to me and told me how much it meant to her to have me there."
Her second student Venables was paired with a girl in Grade 1, who she remained with for her entire time at BES graduating from the school in June.
Unfortunately due to the coronavirus, Venables was not able to say goodbye to her.
Every year since she has retired, she and her husband spend part of the winter in the U.S. and when she returned, schools had already been closed.
Currently, the program is looking for adult mentors for approximately a dozen children at BES. Depending on the year and how many volunteers they have, the program has been expanded to include Fort Assiniboine School, Dunstable School and Neerlandia Public Christian School.
Mentors must be at least 18 years old and fill out a volunteer application form and include two references. Volunteers must also be willing to undergo a criminal record and child welfare check, both of which are free.
Venables noted mentors do not need to have any special skills, except an affinity for children, and the willingness to spend time with the student.
"You do not do any school work with your student. You just spend time with them, talking, doing an activity, or playing a game," she said. "Students are not chosen because of their grades but because it is felt they would benefit by having another adult in their lives that shows an interest in them. Someone they know, who cares for them and they know is on their side."
FCSS volunteer coordinator Ros Rudd said initially she was concerned that due to the pandemic and the restrictions put on schools for re-opening that the mentorship program might be indefinitely put on hold.
But she said she was pleasantly surprised when school principal Dale Bujold told her that they would like to continue the program and that their teaching staff had selected several students who they felt would benefit from a mentor.
In addition to the normal screening and hand sanitizing precautions people have to take when entering the school, the school has designated two areas specifically for the mentor program. Any materials used during a mentorship session, such as games or craft supplies, will either be sanitized or quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours.
It should be noted, as per public health guidelines, mentors must also wear a mask.
For more information about the program, call Ros Rudd through the Barrhead FCSS office at 780-674-3341.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
