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YOUNG LEADER:
Tamanawis grad inspires young people to make a difference, 3
Educate & Communicate
Shattering the Image
‘The key here is starting young’ Gang-prevention presentations are hitting home with thousands of young Surrey students Amy Reid amy.reid@surreynowleader.com
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B.C. gang-prevention presentation has been tailor-made for young Surrey students this school year, and so far, it’s reached about 4,000 students. Called Shattering the Image, the presentation was launched by Surrey RCMP’s Gang Enforcement Team, and aims to share “the true story of gang life in Surrey” and its consequences, said Sergeant Mike Sanchez of the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team. “With the current drug and gang climate in the Lower Mainland and kids being recruited at younger ages, we knew we had to adjust the way we were approaching gang prevention in Surrey,” Sanchez said. “We found that when we share stories of kids who have gotten caught up in dial-a-doping right here in Surrey, it really hits home with the youth.” It is geared toward a younger audience – primarily students in Grade 6 and 7 – and an average of two to four presentations are put on each week. Sanchez told the Now-Leader the rash of shootings on Surrey streets in 2015 sparked the
PHOTO: SURREY RCMP
Sergeant Mike Sanchez of the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team says a new gang-prevention program, geared toward students in Grades 6 and 7, is hitting home with Surrey students. The new program is called Shattering the Image. idea for the presentations. “We were experiencing a rate of shootings in our city that were occurring almost every other day,” he recalled. “There was a lot of pressure from the mayor’s office and management to curb these shootings because a lot of these shootings were occurring in public, on the street.” A shooting near Strawberry Hill Elementary that year sticks out in Sanchez’s mind. “That was when we started looking at all the individuals that were involved in the shootings, and what we determined is they were all roughly the same age. We broke it down even further and tried to
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identify what neighbourhoods these individuals came from,” he revealed. “What we found is they all came from one particular area in Surrey and that’s where we starting. The question was brought up – where that neighbourhood is and where the concentration of these kids were, has anybody talked to the elementary and high school kids there?” From there, Surrey RCMP delved into analytics to zero in on areas and high schools where youth were known to be involved in gang life. They then developed this presentation to reach children in the elementary schools that
would feed into those secondary schools. “The key here is starting young,” stressed Sanchez. “We’re hoping to deliver a message, then follow up with that generation of kids when they go into that high school,” he added. “Next year, when they go into Grade 8, we’re going to follow up with those kids as the gang enforcement team and hopefully do some type of outreach or after school program to open up with them and continue with that relationship with the kids. The following year, we’ll go into Grade 9. It’s a four-year commitment, working with the
Surrey school district.” In addition to real-life, tragic examples of youth who didn’t make it out of gang life, the presentation also highlights the use of social media in gang recruitment. “Young people can get exposed to glamorized ideations of gang life through videos, images or chat rooms, normalizing these behaviours at a young age,” notes an RCMP release. “Gang recruiters then prey on individuals showing interest in this material, and draw them into a lifestyle that is extremely difficult to escape.” Rob Rai with Surrey Safe Schools, says there is “definitely a need” for safe, open discussions with youth prior to them entering secondary school. “Building these connections early and often has a real impact on students and can start to turn the tide and prevent the next generation from entering this lifestyle altogether,” Rai said. “The Surrey RCMP is shedding light on the realities of drugs and gangs and instilling confidence in our students to make positive life choices.” A modified presentation is also available for adults, with tips on how to recognize the signs of drug dealing, along with the emergence of fentanyl and the young victims it has killed. For more information visit surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca or email the Gang Enforcement Team at surrey_sget@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
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MAY 24 7 – 9 pm
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7th Floor Abbotsford Senior 13450 102nd Ave, Secondary School – Surrey Room 102B, (Central City Tower) 33355 Bevan Ave.
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MAY 30
Coquitlam Public Library – The Nancy Bennett Room, 575 Poirier St.
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MAY 31
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Burnaby South 7th Floor Secondary School – 13450 102nd Ave, The Multipurpose Surrey Room, (Central City Tower) 5455 Rumble St. SURREY
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Please register online at stenbergcollege.com/events or by telephone: 604-634-0384
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People
Her leadership started in school PRABHJOT GADRI: Tamanawis Secondary grad works hard to inspire young people to be leaders in the community Jasleen Badesha EdCom contributor
Surrey teen wins national spelling bee Tom Zytaruk tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
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rom being a club leader at Tamanawis Secondary to a member of the Canadian Cancer Society’s organizing committee for Relay for Life, Prabhjot Gadri has proven to be the epitome of a community leader. Gadri defines a leader as “someone who is able to recognize problems and take action and initiative to make a positive difference in the world, whether that is through small gestures…or taking action within the community.” And Gadri walks the talk, having taken initiative in her community in ways both big and small. She graduated from Tamanawis Secondary in 2016. Now attending Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, she is a member of Enactus SFU, “a social enterprise that makes a positive social, economic, and environmental impact within the community through various projects.” She is also the vice-president of program innovation in the SFU Business Administrations Student Society. Gadri’s beginnings as a leader can be rooted back to Tamanawis Secondary. She says her development as a leader and her involvement in the community can be traced back to her experiences at the Surrey school. “The P.E. 10 Leadership
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Prabhjot Gadri is a graduate of Tamanawis Secondary school in Surrey who wants to inspire other young leaders. class played a key role in helping me become the leader I am today,” says Gadri. While Gadri had been involved in school activities in Grades 8 and 9, it was Leadership 10 that taught her “to focus [the] positive energy” that came with being involved and “shape the actions it takes to make a larger impact.” For Gadri, it wasn’t just about herself being involved, it was about getting others involved as well. She says Leadership 10 made her realize “the potential everyone really has to make a difference where they believe it needs to be made.” At the end of Grade 10, Gadri, along with a few of her peers, participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s an-
nual Relay for Life. The emotional impact the event left on her was long-lasting. With Leadership 10 and Relay for Life sparking inspiration in her to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer, Gadri founded the extracurricular school club, Cure for Cancer. In addition to fighting back against cancer, Gadri saw the club as an “opportunity to get other students involved in making a difference within the school and community.” Leading the club from 2014 to 2016, Gadri and her co-leader, Eunice Pang, got more than 90 other students involved in the club, and raised more than $8,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Gadri has continued to make
a difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer; her involvement has extended past being the leader of a school club and into community initiatives with the Canadian Cancer Society. She was a member of the general organizing committee for Relay for Life in 2017, helping to plan and organize the event that inspired her to fight back against cancer. She now continues to reach out to high schools to get youth involved in the event, hoping to inspire others to take leadership. In a nutshell, Gadri falls nothing short of an exceptional leader. She is a change-maker who has and will continue to work to improve the communities around her.
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urrey teen Praneet Singh Arora has won the Spelling Bee of Canada National Championship, intermediate level. The competition was held in Toronto on May 6. Praneet, age 13, of Newton, competed in the category for children ages 12 to 14. “He’s been participating for the last two or three years,” his dad, Jagjot Arora, said. “He’s good at memorizing things.” Praneet attends Praneet Arora Tamanawis Secondary school in Surrey. The spelling whiz, who lists reading among his hobbies, was not available for an interview because he was in class. His winning words were ostracod (a tiny crustacean) and disreputable (not respectable in appearance or character). The Spelling Bee of Canada is a not-for-profit “grassroots” organization that was established in Toronto in 1987 to provide a stimulating program outside regular school curriculum that focuses specifically on English language basics. More than 50,000 children have participated.
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[ Life Like No Other ]
L.A. Matheson Secondary student Gunreet Kaur plans to enter this year’s Dhahan Prize Youth Award for Creative Writing, saying the contest is a unique opportunity to bridge people and communities.
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he Dhahan Prize has, for the second year, launched its youth Punjabi creative writing contest, while celebrating last year’s winning students with a published anthology of their work. The literature prize encourages youth to connect to their mother tongue and preserve their culture through storytelling. Once again, eight prizes valued at $500 apiece will be awarded to Grade 11 and 12 students throughout B.C. who are enrolled in Punjabi language classes. At the contest launch at L.A. Matheson (LAM) Secondary, Dhahan Prize founder Barj Dhahan spoke to the crowd about the importance of language in generating an inclusive and caring society. “We hope this will continue to inspire our youth to write, not only in Punjabi, but also in English,” he said, “and by inference, hopefully it will inspire youth to write in other languages as well.” The contest launch also served as an opportunity to unveil an anthology, titled Lofty Heights, showcasing the work of last year’s winning eight writers. The stories are printed in English, as well as Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi
scripts. (Next year, it will also include French.) Gurpreet Bains, teacher and head of the language department at LAM, is thrilled the winning youth writers have been published in a book that can also be used as a resource for educators. “Instead of building walls that separate us, we are building bridges out of our students’ words,” she said. Grade 12 LAM student Gunreet Kaur plans to enter the contest this year, and is excited to express herself and share her experiences through writing, “It provides a voice to all the exemplary ideas within the youth,” Kaur said. “The Dhahan Youth Prize is a unique opportunity for B.C. youth to build bridges between people and communities, regardless of background, heritage and ethnicity. Nelson Mandela said it right: If you talk to a man in his language, it goes straight to his heart.” Stories must be between 800 and 1,000 words, written in Punjabi and translated to English. The submission deadline is May 31. For more information, visit dhahanprize.com/youth Surrey School District
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Educate & Communicate
Tamanawis community dinner
Annual tradition warms hearts Community dinner has symbolized school’s values for two decades
Group focuses on connection Arry Pandher EdCom contributor
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Tavleen Waraich EdCom contributor
E
very December, as people hustle to get last-minute gifts and prepare for family dinners, my peers at Surrey’s Tamanawis Secondary school are busy putting together a very special event. For the past 20 years, Tamanawis students have hosted an annual Christmas Community Dinner for underprivileged families from around our community, successfully embodying the caring and giving attitude of our school. With more than 300 attendees, it takes months of preparation and endless dedication to make the event possible. Through extensive fundraising around the school and in the community, we are able to put together a night that is memorable for everyone who attends. We hold an annual toy drive and contact businesses in our community in order to raise funds for our cause. In addition, Tamanawis has partnered with the Peace Arch White Rock Rotary for many years, and we are extremely grateful for the contributions they make every year. On the night of the dinner,
Break the Divide
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Students at Tamanawis have been hosting an annual Christmas Community Dinner for the past 20 years.
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The students’ main goals are to create positivity in the community and help people in need.
students in our culinary arts program prepare fresh meals for all of the families, cooking dozens of turkeys and hundreds of pounds of potatoes and carrots. As for entertainment, our jazz band and dance team perform and put on an enjoyable performance for the audience. Students from the PE
Leadership class serve our guests, making sure that they are enjoying their evening. Finally, near the end of the evening, the children get to take a picture with Santa and take home a present. This tradition of caring about the community has been developed at Tamanawis for as long as we can remember, and it is our job to keep it alive. For anyone who attends the dinner, it is an occasion to celebrate the festive season, and it is our pleasure to be able to provide them with that sense of belonging. Without a doubt, it is a challenging initiative, but having contributed to the Christmas Community Dinner for two years in a row, I
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can easily say that all of the efforts are worth it, to see the smiles on the faces of the children. Students from all different areas of our school converge to contribute to an unforgettable night, and our collaborative goal brings us together as a school as well. Our main goal is to create positivity in our community and help those in need. However, such goals are only achieved with the hard work and determination of all the teachers, sponsors, and students involved. This tradition truly symbolizes the values we have at Tamanawis, and I hope we can keep sharing these values by keeping this tradition alive for many years to come.
n a world where everyone has a nearly endless amount of information at the their fingertips, it’s easy to get lost and become disconnected from the significant problems facing the world. An effective method of overcoming these barriers is a simple one: Personal connection. This is exactly what student-led non-profit called Break The Divide (BTD) aims to do. Break The Divide helps students “connect, communicate and create change.” An initiative started by Seaquam Secondary student Abhayjeet Singh Sachal after an eye opening trip to the Arctic in 2016, it is now spreading through the Lower Mainland, Canada and the world. Break The Divide Foundation is based on the idea of connecting youth to inspire them through personal connection. Through the use of modern forms of technologies, youth are able to video call with one another and share stories about events affecting them personally. Then, inspired youth lead presentations and events to raise awareness and funds for issues affecting communities in the BTD Network. At Tamanawis Secondary school, the Break The Divide club is tackling community issues every day by doing things like playing board games with disabled students at lunch and hosting mental health awareness events to help break negative stigmas surrounding mental health.
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It was recently Education Assistant Appreciation Day. CUPE 728 would like to take the time to recognize the work that all of our Support Workers do with our students, that make a big difference everyday. THANK YOU!!!
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Organizations
The Plug is eager to help Tavleen Bhatia EdCom contributor
T
CARRIERS WANTED ROUTES AVAILABLE
GET YOUR ROUTE TODAY!
604-575-5344
he Plug is a new organization that aspires to help give marginalized people an equal opportunity in life. Formed in January, this initiative was started by students of secondary and post-secondary schools – Tamanawis Secondary, Queen Elizabeth and Simon Fraser University – who are passionate about serving the community. The students hope to achieve a society where one is given a fair chance in life to provide for not only themselves, but their families as well. They hope to achieve their goal by introducing and informing marginalized people, like new immigrants, low-income families and homeless people, about job opportunities, so that they, like the majority of the society, are given an equal chance at life despite their challenging circumstances in life. In addition to informing people about new job postings, the Plug will also aid them in the preparation for
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The Plug is a new group that aims to help marginalized people in our community.
these jobs. Moreover, the Plug also plans to prepare them for job interviews and provide any out-of-pocket expenses, like grooming and professional clothing. Although this is a new organization, the Plug has already shown initiative in raising funds. They have held a bottle-drive fundraiser near the Tamanawis and Boundary Park areas in order to cover their expenses for the supplies needed to help marginalized people. In addition, they meet twice a month in order to further discuss their goals and plans for fundraisers.
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Competition
Students show off skills Nine earn medals at BC Skills event, four proceed to nationals
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our Surrey students have earned a trip to the 24th-annual Skills Canada National competition after earning provincial gold. The BC Skills competition welcomed hundreds of secondary and post-secondary students from throughout the province to the Tradex in Abbotsford April 18, competing in an array of diverse fields, including welding, aerospace, baking and web design. Surrey’s gold medal winners were: z Samantha Hu & Julie Ma – 2D Computer Animation (Fraser Heights Secondary) z Sukhman Brar – Electrical Wiring (Princess Margaret Secondary) z Sam Schweigel – Website Design (Earl Marriott Secondary) The quartet will represent B.C. at nationals in Edmonton on June 4 and 5.
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Sukhman Brar, a Grade 12 student at Princess Margaret Secondary, took first place in electrical wiring at the BC Skills competition.
That was only a portion of the medal haul by Surrey students competing at the Skills BC contest, as five other competitors brought back silver and bronze awards: Taking silver were Fraser Heights Secondary’s Yejin Park (Baking) and Kwantlen Park Secondary’s Jaden Spies (Electrical Wiring) Earning a bronze were Fraser Heights Secondary’s Summer Chen and Christine Lee (2D Computer Animation) and Earl Marriott Secondary’s Marshall Ryan (Website Design).
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Athletics
AIM Games ‘pushes aside’ barriers for students Nick Greenizan Black Press Media
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undreds of athletes, spectators and volunteers took part in the Athlete in Motion (AIM) Games earlier this month in Surrey. The 14th-annual event, described by the Surrey School District as “a day of collaborative sport and play with individuals of varying abilities,” was held May 3 at Princess Margaret Secondary. About 220 students played a variety of sports, both indoors and outdoors, including basketball, boccia, soccer, hockey, softball, weightlifting, dancing and relay events. Deb Murin, a phys-ed teacher at Johnston Heights Secondary who co-ordinates the AIM Games each year, said this year’s event once again challenged myths and misunder-
standings about persons with disabilities. “We stepped over, wheeled around them and simply pushed aside barriers that need not exist,” she said. “We can all play together. The conversation is about abilities and connecting to local organizations that take our youth beyond school and deeper into the roots of community. Play lasts a lifetime.” The games included opening and closing ceremonies and an athlete procession. Representatives from multiple sport and health associations attended the event, as they do each year. Among those represented at this year’s event were SportAbility, Special Olympics, Semiahmoo House, the City of Surrey’s Accessibility and Inclusion services; South Surrey-White Rock Minor Softball and the Surrey FC Pegasus soccer club.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Chris Ure, a Grade 12 student at Semiahmoo Secondary, makes it safely to first base during a softball game at the 2018 AIM Games on May 3 at Princess Margaret Secondary school.
Unplug and journey into a world of art and imagination at Surrey’s arts festival for kids!
MAY 24 – 26, 2018
Surrey Arts Centre & Bear Creek Park
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EDUCATION ASSISTANTS: A career that makes a difference
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of a better life. However, it can be hard to realize your dreams in a new country when the language and lifestyle is different from everything you know. In search of a job and an opportunity to improve her English, Maricar worked at a fast food restaurant where she made good friends, adjusted to life in Canada and met her future husband with whom she has three beautiful children. For 16 years, Maricar worked tirelessly to provide for her family but dreamed of doing more. “I was scared to try something different. It felt like there were too many barriers, too many things holding me back. I felt stuck and thought I wasn’t good enough to do anything better.” Of course, this was not the case. While volunteering at her children’s preschool, Maricar’s path became clear the moment she met children with special needs. It was then that she knew a quality education would help her realize her dreams. “It’s the smile you get when you do something the child likes,” she says. “Or when they hold your hand because it’s hard for them to communicate. These little things give me a wonderful feeling.” She enrolled in Stenberg’s Education Assistant program and the rest is history. “I went back to school and had a wonderful experience. It was amazing. Especially for a mom like me because the schedule worked. I graduated and found a job right away. As an Education Assistant I’m making a difference with my family and the community.” Giving credit where credit is due, Maricar exclaims, “Who changed my life? I changed my life.”
Changing lives, moment by moment By Pamela Charach
An unforgettable moment Kerry Ogilvy is an Education Assistant and a Stenberg grad who feels lucky to work with children with exceptionalities. As she puts it, “It’s a privilege to work with these children. You can and do make a difference in the life of a child. I love it.” There is a moment that stands out in her memory. On her first long-term placement, Kerry supported a young girl with selective mutism. “She doesn’t speak at school, not a word.” Kerry started spending her lunch break with this student where they would have conversations without words. “Kids can communicate without speaking – I knew when she was happy, sad, if she enjoyed what we were talking about or if she didn’t.” Kerry fondly recalls, “She came one Wednesday and she was beaming! She had brand new Disney Princess lunch containers and wanted me to name the princesses. She pointed at the first one and I excitedly said, ‘Yes, that’s Ariel! Don’t you love Ariel?’” Kerry’s little friend nodded and smiled and pointed at the next princess. Kerry happily affirmed, “Yes, that’s Belle. Isn’t Beauty and the Beast a great movie?” It went on like this. But when Kerry’s student pointed to the last princess, Kerry drew a blank. She promised to go home and ask her daughter the name of that princess but the young girl continued
“In this tiny voice, my student whispered, ‘Rapunzel’. That was the first word she ever spoke at school. She trusted me enough to say that word, her first word at school, and it was Rapunzel.” – Kerry Ogilvy
Calling in the moment
Marilyn never dreamed she would go back to school at the age of 40, but it was the best decision she ever made!
to point at the lunch container, awaiting an answer. Kerry apologized profusely, unable to recall the name of the princess. When Kerry shares this story, it’s clear how much it means to her. She pauses, recalling the next life changing moment, “In this tiny voice, my student whispered, ‘Rapunzel’. That was the first word she ever spoke at school. She trusted me enough to say that word, her first word at school, and it was Rapunzel.” Today, one of Kerry’s most prized possessions is Mrs. O’s Princess Book. It’s a paper booklet handmade for her by this student, who never wanted Mrs. O to forget princess names again. The little girl stayed inside every day at lunch for a week to make the booklet. Kerry remembers, “She cut out all the Disney princesses, glued them in, and printed their names. This was her handiwork. Ariel. Belle. Tiana. And most important of all, Rapunzel. I’ll never forget her name again.” One of Kerry’s most prized possessions, the book her student made for her.
“It’s wonderful to see a student understand concepts for the first time, initiate conversations, overcome challenges, or make friends, and know you had some small (or large) part in it. Yet, the most rewarding part is what the students give me.” – Natalie Taylor-Lane a child. However, EAs are not limited to the classroom. Graduates of Stenberg’s Education Assistant program are prepared for employment in public schools, private schools, after-school programs, post secondary institutions, child care centres, home schooling environments, community or youth drop-in centres, home-based therapy programs, residential settings, parks and recreation programs and other services where educational programming is offered. Additionally, many of
our grads support adults with disabilities. Natalie Taylor-Lane, an EA for over 20 years and a Stenberg EA instructor, explains, “It’s wonderful to see a student understand concepts for the first time, initiate conversations, overcome challenges, or make friends, and know you had some small (or large) part in it. Yet, the most rewarding part is what the students give me.” She continues, “Working with students with exceptionalities has been exciting, challenging, joyous, frustrating, and full of laughter. The students I’ve had the pleasure to support have taught me about life and myself. They’ve shown me what hard work looks like, what it is to care, and what overcoming challenges really means. They accept people for who they are, enjoy the small things and embrace the moment. They show me how to do more than I thought, how to advocate for others, and how to see beyond the behaviour and appreciate the person. My job is rewarding not only because I get to help people achieve their potential, but because they help me achieve mine!”
Maricar’s moment Maricar immigrated to Canada from the Philippines with big dreams and in search
Parminder Bering is another Stenberg grad who found happiness as an Education Assistant. With 21 years of teaching experience in India, Parminder knew the EA program would be her fastest route into the Canadian education system.
“Every moment, every life experience makes us different. This career has changed my life.” – Kamaljit Kambo “I saw an advertisement on the sky train and made a call that moment. I was looking at the ad while I booked an appointment and now I love my job. It comes from inside – you jump in and do the work. You get to know the children and every day you learn something new. I’m very happy.”
“We create a ripple effect that changes our world. We model compassion, empathy and embrace differences as diversity.” – Lovey Sidhu
Moments that make us different Like Parminder, Kamaljit Kambo is a highly educated woman from India. With a Bachelor of Education and a PhD in Punjabi Language and Literature, Kamaljit is a lifelong learner who came to Canada destined for happiness. “I was searching for an appropriate course so that I could choose the profession of my dreams,” she explains. When she found Stenberg College, she knew her dreams could become a reality. Although she had never worked with special needs students before, Kamaljit’s experiences set her up for success. “I’ve taught diverse groups of students and classes of 30-35 students. I tried my best to attend to every student personally, but it wasn’t always possible. It’s my hobby and interest to get to know people and learn about their behaviours and problems. It gives me satisfaction to help. I can now work one-on-one and might be able to change a student’s life.” As Kamaljit reflects, she explains, “Every moment, every life experience makes us different. This career has changed my life.”
A moment of pride
Kamaljit found a career she loves in Canada.
When Marilyn stood on the stage as the Fall 2017 Valedictorian, she shared a story about a kindergarten boy on the autism spectrum. She explained the challenges she faced when she started working with him, as he had a hard time at school without his mother. As time went on and Marilyn continued working with her student, the boy cried less and less, and took strides in his ability to enjoy school. “I’ve found ways to communicate with him. I work with pictures to show him that he has power through communication. I’ve even gotten Mom to use pictures at home. Every morning, she shows him a photo of me to encourage him to come to school. She’s amazed at the progress we’ve made in just one month.” As Marilyn spoke the final words of her Valedictorian speech she took a deep breath and smiled, relishing the moment. She did it. She went back to school. She has a career she loves. She changed her life.
Marilyn Patterson is a Stenberg EA grad who found her purpose in this profession. “At 40 years old, I decided to go after my dreams. This isn’t just a job, it’s something I want to do. I want to go to work every day, see these kids, work with them, and make a difference. I’m making a difference.”
When she was young, she planned to pursue a career as an EA but as it often does, life got in the way. She was inspired by her sister who had a disability… Lyne wanted to provide children with the support her sister never had. She reflects, “When I retired, I decided to finish what I started. My friends thought I was crazy. They said, ‘You’re retiring and you’re busier than before.’ But this is my dream and I’m excited.”
Moments of change Being an EA is more than supporting children with special needs. EAs pave the way toward inclusion and help create an environment where people who are “different” aren’t just tolerated but are treated as equals. Stenberg EA instructor, Lovey Sidhu, passionately explains, “We create a ripple effect that changes our world. We model compassion, empathy and embrace differences as diversity. We create a classroom that values differences and teaches inclusion, not tolerance. We build a community where students with and without special needs work together, support each other, and demonstrate how to be kind to one another.” As Lovey fondly explains, “The difference we make extends far beyond one child. Our work makes a difference in the world we live in.”
Moments of success
Stenberg College Education Assistant instructor, Lovey Sidhu, is passionate about the work she does.
Taking advantage of the moment, no matter where you are in life The career of an Education Assistant is an ideal first and last career that can be enjoyed by a spectrum of age groups. Before enrolling in Stenberg’s EA program, Kody Lacroix worked at a pet store earning little more than minimum wage. When she came across the EA program, she was excited, “I knew it would be something different every day. I’d be able to challenge myself and even if I’m with a challenging student, that’s what makes it worth it.” Kody was hired out of her practicum and remarks, “I have a career, I have a life and the opportunity to go somewhere with this. I can’t think of a more fulfilling career.” Lyne Boehm also found success as an EA but under different circumstances than Kody.
Dr. Kenneth Cole is a Registered Psychologist at the Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (POPARD) and a District Psychologist in the Surrey school district. He teaches a two-week POPARD course to Stenberg EA students where he instructs them to focus on the good. He explains, “We must stop looking for things that are wrong, for things that we need to fix. We must look for what’s right. We must water the flowers.” This message embodies an EA’s purpose, as they are in the classroom to support students who need a little extra help. They are there to see them succeed.
Moments Regardless of the career path you choose, your life will be filled with moments. Time will pass and, in its wake, will be memories. Memories of a first word at school. Memories of coming to Canada and making your dreams a reality. Memories of progress. These are moments worth living for. These are moments that forever stay ingrained in the mind because they are full of substance, full of meaning. What type of moments will you fill your life with and what kind of memories will you create for yourself? To learn more about Stenberg College’s Education Assistant program, visit stenbergcollege.com/ program/education-assistant.
EDUCATION ASSISTANT
As an Education Assistant you’ll assist elementary and secondary school teachers as they work with students who may require additional support for academic, ESL, behavioural and special needs. • Earn up to $27.44/hour All attendees will receive • Become an Education Assistant in just 40 weeks $250 Bursary (Discount) for next • In-class & combined delivery (online) options available SEA/SEAD start on Aug. 27, 2018
EDUCATION ASSISTANT INFORMATION SESSIONS
Thursday
A career of life changing moments Education Assistants (EAs) make a difference. They work with students who require additional support with special needs and behaviours, ELL (English Language Learning) and academics. Typically, EAs work in a classroom setting and are one-on-one with
Thursday
Wednesday
MAY 31 7 – 9 pm
11 am – 1 pm
Abbotsford Senior Secondary School – Room 102B, 33355 Bevan Avenue
Coquitlam Public Library – The Nancy Bennett Room, 575 Poirier St.
Burnaby South Secondary School – The Multipurpose Room, 5455 Rumble St.
7th Floor 13450 102nd Ave, Surrey (Central City Tower)
ABBOTSFORD V2S 0E7
COQUITLAM V3J 6A9
MAY 29
7th Floor 13450 102nd Ave, Surrey (Central City Tower)
SURREY
Wednesday
MAY 30
MAY 24 7 – 9 pm
Maricar came to Canada to follow her dreams… and she did.
Tuesday 7 – 9 pm
7 – 9 pm
BURNABY V5J 2B7
Register online at stenbergcollege.com/events or by tel: 604-634-0384
JUNE 6 SURREY