Fostering a better relationship between school and community

This year the Arcola School opened up a new position, Community Education Liaison, which focuses on fostering better relations between the surrounding communities and the school.

As Community Education Liaison, Katrina Chase, finds a large part of her position focuses on bridging relationships between the communities the students come from with each other as well as amongst the students themselves.

"[W]e have been working together in terms of making the school a better place for everyone to be and seeing the change we want to see," Chase stated. "And that's come mainly from Challenge Day. We've had a great involvement from the Pheasant Rump community in particular with school events that are happening here and everyone's been really involved. So, we certainly appreciate that at the school and we hope to continue to work together in the New Year."

Ruth Maygard, Pheasant Rump councilor, agrees with Chase in seeing this change: "Since Challenge Day everyone's been working together. The kids all want to help each other out and Challenge Day has helped the kids all get along."

Both Maygard and Chase mention the Challenge Day, which was held in October, as something which has helped propel this positive change in relations amongst the students.

"I think the Challenge Day has opened a lot of eyes for a lot of students and even the staff," Chase stated. "It got the ball rolling in terms of how we can better interact within the community [Arcola, Pheasant Rump, and other surrounding areas] to include everybody that's connected with the school. Challenge Day helped us break down a lot of barriers and helped us get down to the foundation of what everybody wants to see happen and that's to make it a better place for the kids."

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Pheasant Rump organized a hamper drive for people in the community and surrounding area in need of food during the holiday season. Usually with six people helping, this year 24 students from Arcola School stopped by to help with what they could. Done every year Maygard explained anyone in the area is eligible for the 100 hampers made.

Though something they do annually, Maygard said that Pheasant Rump was pleased to have the students of Arcola come out.

"It's nice to have the kids from Arcola come out, we never turn anyone away," Maygard explained. "It's good to have the students come and see the band office and become more involved in the community."

This strengthening relationship is something both Maygard and Chase are proud of as there had been a disconnect over the years.

"In terms of changes I've seen within the students since the beginning of the year there's certainly better sense of community within the school," Chase said. "There's a sense of positivity that's roaming the halls. Kids are more eagerly wanting to get involved in various events whether it is the food bank that we had or Pheasant Rump's hamper drive, they wanted to be a part of it."

"It's been great and we certainly praise Pheasant Rump for their involvement and the open lines of communication with the school."

This improved relationship has impacted the communities and the school as Chase explained that attendance records have seemed to improve, while usually quiet students have now begun speaking up and bringing their ideas to making the school an even better environment.

One of these ideas includes an afterschool beadwork program, which will hopefully develop in 2014, while Maygard says she hopes to see more Arcola students attend events at Pheasant Rump including Round Dances, their annual Easter Brunch, and a variety of other fun things including a yearend barbeque for students.

Overall relations have improved amongst the students as well as between the school and the surrounding communities.

"I've seen an improvement and, what I've been told from staff that has been here for years, that there is a difference in how the students from different communities relate to one another," Chase stated. "There seems to be a sense of positivity in the hallways and more openness in terms of relationships which may not have been seen in previous years."

For the future Chase and Maygard are both excited to see how the interactions will continue to improve and develop as they have seen much change in a short amount of time.

"For 2014 we hope to keep those doors open for new activities and I certainly encourage Pheasant Rump members to contact me about public speaking opportunities to share that cultural piece even more so with Arcola School which would be beneficial to all students," Chase explained.

Moving forward the school and communities involved with Arcola School will continue to work together to create a better tomorrow for all of the students.