With back to school around the corner, Rocky View Schools and Cochrane have some resources in place to help families that might be struggling with the recent economic climate.
With back to school around the corner, Rocky View Schools and Cochrane have some resources in place to help families that might be struggling with the recent economic climate.
“We need to support all kids, we don't necessarily discriminate on families, ” explained Chris Pawluk, Rocky View Schools (RVS) lead psychologist.
RVS offers a variety of resources including fee waivers for educational and transportation costs for families in the lower income brackets, while also offering free breakfast and snack programs in some of the schools in Cochrane and surrounding area including, Glenbow Elementary and Manachaban Middle School.
Individual school councils also fundraise to help with some of the associated educational costs, including technology purchases such as laptops.
“We also repurpose some of the school supplies so we can give it back to some of the families, or we have spare laptops for kids who don't have one or cannot afford one, ” Pawluk said.
RVS also received a $20,000 grant this year from an anonymous donor designated for “kids who are from low income families and don't come to school as much as they want. ”
Pawluk explained that RVS had a similar grant last year, where in one case a family was bought a used washing machine after both the parents lost their job and the parent who wanted to go to the laundromat was unable to after breaking a leg - the children in the family were then able to go to school again, as they had clean clothes.
“It is these little things to reduce barriers to go to school … and it is not always a lot of money we give but it is enough to make a difference in that family's life, ” Pawluk explained.
“These programs are not just necessarily for low income families, we don't really mind who accesses that, we just hope the people who need it are accessing it, ” Pawluk said.
The Town of Cochrane also offers several programs for families in the community and surrounding area through the Cochrane Family & Community Support Services (FCSS).
While not all programs are directly related with going back to school, the resources offered could be accessed by families struggling throughout the year, Susan Flowers, FCSS manager explained
FCSS is partnered with Staples for its annual Backpack program, offering free backpacks with school supplies for kindergarten to Grade 12 children and youth in the Cochrane and surrounding area.
Another event is the fall Jacket Racket, where organizers collect donations for months before hosting a day where families can shop through gently-used winter clothing.
Programs not directly related to school but available are the food hamper program, where after a brief assessment hampers are delivered to families in need; the Community Access Resources (CAR) program which provides subsided transportation for residents who do not own a vehicle or cannot afford to travel to local agencies, resources or community events; and the Legal Resource Centre that offers legal information for individuals who qualify for the program, working predominantly in family law matters.
For fee waiver forms and more information about Rocky View Schools go to rockyview.ab.ca/registration/schoolfees.
For more information on FCSS programs, go to cochrane.ca/160/Family-Community-Support-Services or visit the staff at FCSS at 209 Second Ave. W, or call at 403-851-2250.
FACTBOX
Rocky View Schools offers:
All school supplies paid for kindergarten to Grade 4
Breakfast programs and snack programs offered in some of Cochrane and surrounding area schools
Fee waivers for instructional resource and transportation fees.
And rebate applications for instructional resource fees (for general and summer schools fees only).
For more information go to rockyview.ab.ca
FCSS offers:
Backpack program
Food Hamper program
Community Access Resource (CAR) program
Jacket Racket
Winter Celebration event
Legal Resource centre
For more information go to cochrane.ca/391/FCSS
