Community Partners to Pilot Literacy and Activity Program
April 28, 2016 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Saint John Riptide News Release
(Saint John, NB): A new program that has been developed to support literacy and increase physical activity for children is being launched in Saint John.
The YMCA of Greater Saint John, Saint John Mill Rats, Anglophone School District -South, and PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools) have joined forces to pilot this program in two schools serving priority neighbourhoods.
The four week "Basketball and Books" program will involve biweekly sessions with YMCA staff and special guest appearances by the Mill Rats. Students from Centennial and St. Patrick's Schools will enjoy one session a week at the Y and one session a week at their school. The youth will have a snack, read with the coaches and then learn basketball skills as part of the Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program.
"We are excited to launch a program that will support literacy and increase physical activity for our youth, stated Shilo Boucher, CEO of the YMCA. "By working with other organizations we can leverage our resources to build healthy communities together."
"Providing students with enriched experiences in and out of school, year round is one of the mandates of Living SJ under the Close the Achievement Gap. This is a good example of how that can be achieved by different sectors collaborating for the benefit of the children," Erica Lane, Community Engagement Coordinator for ASD-S, added.
The program will begin April 30th with a Rumble in the Station which will include a clinic with the Mill Rats, a youth game and the opportunity to attend a Mill Rats home game that evening at 7 PM. All participants will receive a Steve Nash jersey, basketball, bag, basketball sneakers and a copy of the book. The book, selected by Nicole MacNeill (Subject Coordinator for Literacy at ASD-S), is an award-winning story by a Canadian author, who has offered to arrange a Skype session to connect with the students once they have read the book. The youth will also be provided with a Y membership so that they continue to go to the Y after the program is completed.
"We wanted to do something to promote basketball and literacy in priority neighborhoods and we also wanted to partner with the YMCA in some manner. When meeting with PALS and the school district, we decided to combine both ideas. We are excited about the potential of this program." said Carol Kelly, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Saint John Mill Rats.
"Partnering to support children academically, socially, and in terms of healthy living is at the forefront in Greater Saint John, supported daily at schools by more than 150 PALS and community partners." stated Deborah Fisher, PALS Coordinator. "We are pleased to work with all involved on this exciting initiative, and to continue the Rumble in the Station program - first initiated with the Mill Rats and Dealermine and Middle Schools, and now with the Mill Rats and the YMCA for Elementary Schools."
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- Community Partners to Pilot Literacy and Activity Program - Saint John Riptide
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