News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

A group of Kindergarten students at Marie Sharpe Elementary School had some special guests this week when  Mary McNeil, the BC Minister of Children and Family Development, paid a visit to the school.

The event was the result of an announcement by Minister McNeil that the government has allocated $3.4 million dollars to Success by 6 for 2012/2013. The provincial government is one of three funding partners for Success by 6: the other two are BC Credit Unions and United Way.

MLA Donna Barnett acted as MC for the event in the school library, which included speeches by Arla Driver from the Williams Lake and District Credit Union and Francy Hayward from United Way. Minister McNeil spoke eloquently about her passion for the importance of children getting a good start in life, adding that those early-year benefits will follow them throughout their lives.

 

For the past two years Success by 6 in Williams Lake has dispensed $35,000 per year to programs and initiatives in the area that support children 0-6 and their families. This announcement by the Minister assures that this support can continue—support that funded two programs in the Kindergarten class at Marie Sharpe in the past two years.

Most recently, Marie Sharpe Kindergarten teacher Tanya Isnardy was successful in applying for Success by 6 funds for Ipads with special programs for kids with autism. Nearly two years ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters was successful in getting Success by 6 funding to provide high-quality tools, toys and games for their in-school mentoring program in the Kindergarten class—items that are still in use today.

(Photo: Tanya Isnardy.)

Both Tanya and Marie Sharpe School Principal Elaine Elliott expressed heart-felt gratitude for Success by 6 funds that have supported the youngest students in the school. Six of Tanya’s Kindergarten students accompanied her to the event, while the rest of the class waited until it was concluded and participants enjoyed a tour of the classroom.

In the past year Success by 6 in Williams Lake has funded initiatives that include a preschool program at Scout Island Nature Centre, a playground project at Little Moccasins Education Centre, a series of ‘Parents as Literacy Supporters’ workshops, various cultural and language projects, a health and development preschool screening event, the annual Children’s Festival and the annual Family Literacy Festival and Ipads and software for the Child Development Centre.

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