An exciting part of going back to school is seeing old friends and catching up on what happened over the long summer break.
Almost equally important is new school supplies.
I remember how exciting it was to get shoes - after outgrowing the previous year's - backpacks, and new packages of pencil crayons that had no colours missing and were all sharpened to the same length.
I may be a geek, but I still love paper clips, new notebooks and great pens.
Mom would take my brother and I to Staples and we'd pick out the pens, pencils, and colourful staplers that we wanted and needed.
Not everyone has that opportunity.
Many youth in Prince Albert don't have the opportunity to get new school supplies, special gym shoes and a functioning backpack.
Along with costs making it difficult to have what is required, going to school without adequate school supplies tends to affect self-esteem.
While social services does supply some funding to parents on assistance for each of their children, it's frequently not enough for everything on the list. Parents that are working, but struggle to make ends meet, receive no help from the government. Even careful budgeting doesn't help in some of these circumstances.
In other cases, it's easier for parents to support younger children who are just starting school, than it is to support their older children.
In some families, parents were not given the opportunity for a complete education, so they don't have the background to encourage children to continue.
The Bernice Sayese Community Centre has made it a goal to support youth in their return to school. A major challenge they face is the need for basic school supplies. For the most part, youth within the West Flat community participate in fundraisers to raise the money they need to buy supplies.
For those that still come up short, program staff members at the centre want to provide some of the necessities.
They aren't filling school supply lists in entirety, but rather giving out some pencils, pens, crayons and erasers where needed. Centre staff said they would appreciate any donations to help all kids in the community get back to school with what they need.
The Prince Albert Daily Herald is supporting the initiative and along with staff bringing in donations, the Herald will serve as a drop off point for any supplies people in the community want to give.
While shopping for children's school supplies if people have a couple of extra dollars to spend, I ask if some supplies could be purchased for those kids who need them.
Maybe if your child has leftover notebooks or pencils from a previous year and they aren't on this year's list those could help someone else get what they need.
Shoes are often the item that "breaks the bank." Children's feet often grow quickly, meaning a new pair of shoes and gym shoes every school year.
Gently used shoes and backpacks also help to ensure kids have everything they need to start the school year.
I can't really think of a better way to support youth in the community than giving them the confidence to stay in school. By staying in school, not only are these kids learning a curriculum, but the skills to make positive decisions in life.
For more information don't hesitate to contact me, Angela Hill, at the Daily Herald 764-4276 ext. 245 or staff at the Bernice Sayese Community Centre 763-9378.
Hill's column appears every Tuesday.
Pens/pencils
Notebooks
Loose-leaf paper
White glue/glue sticks
Erasers
Duotangs
Markers/highlighters
Pencil crayons
Notebook dividers
... But all school supplies are appreciated, including gently used runners and backpacks.
Additioinal information can be found:
www.paherald.sk.ca/documents/PrinceAlbertHerald/Supplies%20List.htm
