REGINA - Students and community members of the Imperial School and McDermid School have come together to participate in a week-long classroom program hosted by the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps (THFC).
Danielle Istace, principal of Imperial Community School, said the idea of the program is "building some meaningful connections with the students and finding ways to help them to create a sense of belonging."
A representative with THFC originally reached out to another school in Regina, looking for options for bringing in the program.
From Istace’s understanding, unlike most provinces, Sask. doesn’t have a THFC camp for the summer.
Once THFC reached out to Regina Public Schools, Istace pitched their unique transition situation to the group, and they were fully on board with it.
Both schools are set to close at the end of the school year, as students will transition to the new tawâw school community come Sept.
To help with this transition, Istace said four THFC members have engaged students in several activities.
On day one, "the students were challenged to make as many different connections as they could with different people in the room and try to find commonalities and things that they found interesting about each other," she said.
Istace also said students participated in joint-work activities to build puzzles or get items from one point to another.
After four days, Istace said they noticed a positive difference in the students. She estimates that around 75 to 100 students from the two schools have participated in the program.
One point Istace brought up is the difficulty students have adjusting to a new environment.
With the students engaging in this program, "it gives them a sense of welcoming the other students into their [new] space, so they feel more comfortable," she said.
As for the two schools closing down, Istace said there will be a last community event at the McDermid School on May 14th, while Imperial School will host one on the 15th.
At the McDermid School, community members are welcome to walk in and post their memories and photos with a QR code.
Istace explained that people can scan the QR code, which will take them to a form.
Once completed, the school's database will print it off and post it during the event.
Meanwhile, Imperial School community members will get the chance to walk down the hallways, looking at the keepsakes they have created over time.
Istace mentioned that Cindy Anderson, Subdivision 4 trustee, and other members have worked to establish a list of legacy items at both schools, which will be placed in the tawâw school community school.
Speaking about the new school, Istace spoke about its ongoing work to be ready come Sept.
Right now, she said flooring is going in, and the walls are being painted.
Items like furniture have been ordered, while lockers and cabinetry will go in shortly.
Istace said the school will be completed by July.
As the principal of the new tawâw community school, Istace mentioned what she is most looking forward to.
"I am absolutely excited to see their faces as they walk in and see that absolutely beautiful building that they will be able to learn in the fall."
Istace praised Tim Hortons partnership for allowing the transition for students to go smoother. She noted it has been a challenging time to find partnerships with organizations willing to come to schools
She is hopeful this "can start to re-establish some of those partnerships with outside agencies coming together as a community within the school but also within the community."
