BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LEDUC Issue #1

Boys & Girls Club of Leduc

Program Newsletter

#102, 4330 BLACK GOLD DRIVE, T9E 3C3, LEDUC, ALBERTA 2016-2017 AFTERSCHOOL SEASON

The Boys & Girls Club of Leduc is excited to offer an even wider variety of afterschool programming this season. Careful planning and preparation go into the development and implementation of each program. We do our best to ensure that our members get new and diverse opportunities that will be both memorable and beneficial. From leadership programs, to monthly field trips, we aim to enhance the experiences of our diverse group!

Meet the Senior Program Staff! Program Director- Josh Williams

Josh has been with the club for a year. He has an extensive background working with children and youth in a wide range of settings, and is highly passionate about this place. He is responsible for overseeing programs and staff, and is happy to answer any questions you might have! programmanager@bgcleduc.ca

Senior Program Lead – Brittany Smith

Brittany has been with club for four

years in a number of roles. This will be her first year in the Senior Program Lead position. She brings tremendous talent, creativity, and commitment. Brittany will be the on-floor supervisor of programs. This means that she will be involved in the direct supervision and facilitation of all programs that the club offers. Feel free to talk to her during club hours with questions or concerns!

seniorprogramlead@bgcleduc.ca

Our Program Leaders! There is a high standard of excellence and expectation that is placed on all of the program staff involved with the club. We believe in selecting quality people who are invested in the kids, the club, and themselves. This season, we are excited to welcome back some returning staff, and introduce some new ones too! All of our staff members undergo training and receive consistent coaching. They will actively participate in all programs, assist with homework, and provide parents/guardians with feedback on the success of their children. This year’s team is diverse, experienced, and enthusiastic! The club works with local post-secondary institutions to accommodate students, studying in a child education or a related field. These students undergo background checks, training, and regular meetings with our Senior Staff, to ensure they are providing care at the highest possible level. With the strong cast of our core staff, practicum students, and volunteers, we are able to run a safe, professional, and quality club. Feedback is always welcome, and the use of each individual’s talents are required!

2016-2017 Afterschool Programs

Our staff members are very approachable! If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please feel free to email, call, or meet us in person!

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Kids in Nutrition (KIN) We’ve teamed up with the Leduc and District Food bank, to provide a weekly cooking and kitchen safety program. The kids get the opportunity to learn about cleanliness and sanitation, while making delicious and nutritious snacks and meals. Program Waivers are on the back of the newsletter, so if you would like your child to partake, please complete and return to us at your earliest convenience.

Melissa Meier is our main facilitator and has been living in Leduc with her husband and 2 children for 14 years. Her interest in cooking started very early, as a little girl with her mother in the kitchen. She later owned and operated her own meal assembly line business. She has been with The Leduc and District Food Bank for 5 years, and is passionate about working with children and helping them develop a healthy love for food. The RCMP will likely join us too!

Physical activity is a central part of our programs. We are strong advocates for healthy and active kids, especially in the

critical afterschool hours. After a long day of sitting in classrooms, we like to move around! Whether that’s inside the conveniently located fieldhouse, or in the great outdoors, we do activities that exercise the fundamental movement skills. Canadian Sport for Life defines this as physical literacy. Every Monday and Wednesday, the kids will receive a healthy snack before heading into the fieldhouse. They will play a number of organized games and then have free time. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays may involve outdoor activities, depending on

weather and the program plan.

Participation is strongly encouraged in all of our programs. The only kids exempt from participating in fieldhouse or outdoor activities are those who have homework, illness, or written/verbal permission from a parent or guardian. Activities will be age-appropriate and fun. We ensure that adequate breaks are taken, and that the kids are staying hydrated!

KIN DETAILS

This program will happen every Tuesday from 4:00pm-5:30pm at the Leduc and District Food bank kitchen, located at 4702 49th avenue. The Boys & Girls Club of Leduc will transport 10 members each week, to the kitchen. Parents are responsible for arranging pick-up for their children on these days.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Melissa Meier- programs@ldfb.ca

Field House/Outdoor Activities

Ultra-violet light germ experiment, demonstrating importance of thorough hand-washing. (Summer 2016)

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Music Lessons One of our most exciting new editions to programming, is our music lesson program. We have the privilege of working with the Thaddeus Lake Music Foundation here in Leduc! The foundation supplies us with instruments and very qualified instructors. Lessons are every Thursday from 4:30pm-5:00pm. We are offering piano lessons and guitar lessons at the moment. Both sessions will run until Christmas, and then we will swap in a new batch of kids for the remainder

of the year. There are 2 openings in piano and 5 for guitar. If you would like your child to be considered for guitar or piano lessons, please contact programmanager@bgcleduc.ca. About the Thaddeus Lake Foundation There aren’t enough good things to say about this amazing cause. The foundation provides funding for individuals to attend lessons, acquire instruments, and attend nationally accredited competitions. The primary goal of the foundation, is to remove barriers that may prevent children residing in Leduc and area from participating in music. The foundation is in honor of Thaddeus Lake and the local music legacy he began. He had planned on beginning his own organization to ensure those who could not afford lessons or instruments, could still enjoy and learn about music. (780) 986-0656 Karen Lake You can also find them on Facebook under Thaddeus Lake Music Foundation Jam Sessions! The musical fun isn’t just for those in the lessons! We will be hosting jam sessions, where the kids will have access to the drums, guitars, keyboards, piano, and bass. They will be shown the basics, before taking the reins and finding their inner rock star! Jam sessions are optional and can happen spontaneously!

If there’s one thing we understand, it’s that there’s a big difference between an 8-year-old and a 12-year-old. High 10 Low 10 gives kids 10 and up, the chance to have a little bit of freedom and choose their own activities. The kids under 10 will participate in an organized activity. This will take place on Tuesdays in the club.

What does High 10 Low 10 look like? Tuesdays are KIN days as well, which means that for the kids who are not participating in KIN on those days, there will be an hour of H10L10. From 4pm-5pm the older kids will select and participate in their own activities, in a separate space. There will always be a staff member present with them. At 5pm, everyone has free time!

What’s the point? We’ve heard your feedback and appreciate it. Some parents and kids expressed the desire for more distinction in programming for older kids and younger kids. Although it’s challenging to do this within our space, we had the opportunity to experiment with this program in the latter part of last season. The kids really appreciated it, and the results were excellent. We are excited to officially launch it this season!

High 10 Low 10

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One of the perks about being located in the LRC, is quick and easy access to the pool! Starting September 30th, we will swim every second Friday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. Staff members on duty those days, will swim with the group and stay with children under 8 years old. There will be at least one dry staff member present, to meet parents for sign out.

If you would like for your child to participate in swimming, please fill out the attached waiver and return to the club prior to September 30th. Only children with completed waivers and permission may participate in swimming. For those children who are not granted permission, or have not yet had their forms submitted, an alternative activity will be planned for them inside of the club space.

Swimming is regarded as a privilege in these parts! We like to celebrate good behavior and recognize participation. This is just one of the many ways we like to reward the kids! Should anyone be disallowed to participate in swimming, parents/guardians will be notified, and that child will participate in an activity determined by the Program Director.

Swimming

Monthly field trips are now a thing at The Boys & Girls Club of Leduc! Starting this September, we will go offsite to explore something new and exciting! The details of each trip will be made available at the beginning of each month and a new waiver is required for each trip. The children will be transported to and from site, so parents don’t have to worry about picking up elsewhere, unless picking up prior to 5:45pm!

Field trips are also regarded as a privilege, meaning that even though we want everyone to attend, only those with completed waivers and good behavior will attend!

FIELD TRIPS

Homework Help One of our principle priorities as a club, is to provide the kids with helpful and consistent homework help. We are fortunate to offer homework space with computers, tables, and school supplies. There will always be a highly qualified and experienced staff member assigned to the homework are. Most of them are bilingual as well!

Leduc Youth Movement (LYM)

The Leduc Youth Movement officially kicked

off at the beginning of 2016 as a small group

of teens, aged 12-18. Since then, it has

grown exponentially into a diverse group

that loves hanging out.

Partnered with The City of Leduc, LYM’s

purpose is to provide a safe, relaxed

atmosphere for teens to meet and spend

time after school. We have video game

nights, movie nights, and much more. There

are prizes from Rumour every week, and

free food! Come meet us every Thursday

starting September 8th, from 3:30pm-

6:00pm at the Kosmos kitchen in the LRC.

There’s something new and fun every week!

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Boys & Girls Club of Leduc

Leadership Programs

The first step in leadership at our club, is the Torch Leadership Club. Torch is open to leaders, aged 10-13 years. We meet every Thursday from 4pm-5pm in the club to discuss volunteer opportunities, community initiatives, and mentor fellow club members. A president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer are selected. This isn’t a popularity contest! The kids learn about responsibility and fair selection. We play an integral part in planning and running club events, like the haunted house. Although we have a great time with each other, we are a group that’s dedicated to improving each other, our club, and our city. If you would like your child to be a part of the Torch club, please sit down with your child and review the contract on the back of this newsletter. All children that fall within the age group, show a genuine interest, and demonstrate leadership qualities will be considered.

Torch and Mentorship

Keystone

Our Keystone leadership group consists of teens aged 13-18. We meet every Tuesday from 6:15pm-8:00pm, beginning September 6th to talk about things that matter to us. We are invested in our club, community and each other, and are actively involved in all of the above.

We have guest speakers, leadership trips, and this season we will be attending nationals in Ottawa. If you’d like to be a part of Keystone, please contact programmanager@bgcleduc.ca

There is no cost to join!

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B Our Mission To provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new

opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop

confidence and skills for life.

Core Values In our work with children, families and communities, all Boys and Girls Club are guided by the following core values. They define us as movement and are the standard against which all Boys and Girls Club services are measured. Inclusion & Opportunity We strive to offer children and youth from all economic, cultural and social backgrounds access to the resources, supports and opportunities that will enable them to overcome barriers and achieve their positive potential in life. Respect & Belonging We provide a safe, supportive place, where every child is listened to, respected and valued in an environment of inclusion and acceptance. Our staff and volunteers model honesty, fair play, positive attitude, cooperation and respect for self and others. Empowerment We believe all young people can grow into responsible, contributing and self-reliant members of society. Children and youth are the centre of everything we do. Through adventure, paly and discovery, we encourage and empower them to develop healthy lifestyles, a life-long passion for learning, leadership and life skills and a sense of social responsibility. Collaboration We work together with families and volunteers in each community, in partnership with the public and private sector, to create healthy community solutions to providing children and youth with what they need for optimal development. Speaking Out We speak out on behalf of children, youth and their families to reduce disadvantage, enhance their lives and enable their voices and ideas to be heard.

CJKASNhttps://www.facebook.com/BGCleduc/

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of calling this place home for a year now. I’ve learned a lot, and I have a who le lot more to learn, but I’m looking forward to the journey ahead.

Great families, driven people, and the kids that attend, are what make this a great place to be. We are a tremendous organization in this community because of you, and I intend to help it continue to grow greater with each passing season.

I depend on the honest feedback of everyone involved in our club, whether that be parents, children and youth, or staff. Many changes have come about because of you and your desire for change! You will be heard and I will do everything I can to ensure that your needs are met.

Thank you for taking the time to look through this newsletter. I hope you found it informative and beneficial. If you have any further questions, please contact me at any time!

Thank you for the privilege of working with your family.

-Josh Williams programmanager@bgcleduc.ca

Message from the Program Director

Contact Us #102, 4330 Black Gold Drive

Leduc, Alberta

T9E 3C3

780-986-3121

Executive Director- Shawna Bissell

executivedirector@bgcleduc.ca

Administration- Joan Nykiforuk

adminassistant@bgcleduc.ca

Board Members

Bretton Baynes, President Vacant, Vice President

Melanie Gesy, Treasurer Trina Baynes, Secretary

Chelsea Cameron, Director Shana O'Connor, Director

Dawn MacDougall, Director Jennifer Garries, Director

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Photo Release and Permission to Use Photographs for Promotional Purposes:

I __________________________________________ authorize Leduc & District Food Bank Association to take my picture and use my picture for the following purposes. _______ Inclusion in promotional materials and for promotional purposes such as agency slide presentation, visual advertising, video and/or public and professional marketing campaigns and agency media publicity including websites, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. _______ Other (please identify) _____________________________________ Signature: _________________________________________ Date _______________ Guardian (if applicable) ______________________________ Date _______________ Witness: __________________________________________ Date _______________ LDFB Learning Kitchen – Kids programs Emergency contact form: This form is a vital part of your child’s class registration. Please read and fill out accordingly. You must fill one out for each child attending class. Participants Name: _________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian(s): ________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ____________________________ Mobile Phone: ____________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________________ EMERGENCY CONTACTS: Name: ________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________ Name: ________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________ IMPORTANT MEDICAL INFORMATION: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ALLERGIES: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parents Signature _________________________ Date: _____________________________

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LDFB Learning Kitchen – Kids Programs Liability/Risk Waiver Acknowledgement, assumption of risks and waiver of claims for minors Please read carefully before signing. This document includes a release of liability and waiver of certain legal rights. You must fill out one for each child attending class. In consideration for my child _____________________________ being permitted to participate in a cooking class at the LDFB Learning Kitchen, I (we) ____________________________________, parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of __________________________, agree to the following provisions: ACKNOWLEDEMENT OF RISKS I understand there are numerous of inherent risks associated with participating in any cooking activities, including but not limited to using sharp knives, operating hot stove, boiling water, hot oil, oven and operation kitchen equipment. I give permission for my child to participate in all cooking activities, including those described above. I acknowledge and assume the risks involved in these cooking activities and for any damage, illness and injuries resulting from such risks. There are no physical, emotional or mental problems or limitations associated with my child’s participation in cooking programs except as disclosed to me in writing to LDFB Learning Kitchen. If there is please write on the back side and bring these notes to the coordinators attention. RELEASE, WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION I, on behalf of my clid, heareby release and waive any claim or porspective claim of liability by my child or by me on behalf of my child, against the LDFB Learning Kitchen, ehtir employees and agents, with respect to any injuries, illness, damage or death occurring to my child while he or she participates in any and all cooking programs. Parent’s Signature _______________________________________ Date ____________________________ Please return this form as part of your child’s registrations via email to programs@ldfb.ca or on the day of class. Leduc and District Food Bank Learning Kitchen 4702 49th Ave Leduc AB Mailing address: PO Box 5008 Leduc AB T9E 6L5 Direct phone line: 780-739-1998

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Swimming Waiver Form

I give permission for to participate in the swimming program at the Leduc Recreation Center pool, as part of the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc program, held every second Friday, beginning the 30th day of September 2016. I am permitting my child to attend every session. I understand that if my child is under 8 years old, or they cannot swim alone, they will be accompanied by a staff member. If my child is 8 and over, they will be permitted to swim by themselves, so long as they are capable of doing so according to the lifeguards on duty. I understand that if I must sign my child out at the club door prior to picking them up directly from the pool. I am responsible for ensuring the appropriate bathing suit, towel, and necessary supplies are packed for my child. Supervised by: BGC Staff Contact Person: Josh Williams programmanager@bgcleduc.ca (780)717-6184

I agree that my child is being asked to abide by the guidelines of the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc. I understand the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc staff and volunteers will be supervising the activity, with full knowledge of the existence and nature of my legal rights and in consideration for the opportunities provided to my child by the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc.

I waive my legal right against the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc, its staff or volunteers for any loss, injury, or damage suffered during or by reason of participating in the program and undertake to be responsible for any hospitalization, medical and ambulance or other expenses.

Parent/ Guardian Name:

Child Name:

Parent/ Guardian Signature:

Date:

BY SIGNING THIS FORM YOU AGREE to the above terms and in addition to the following statement:

Any participant that does not follow Boys and Girls Club’s guidelines and behavioral expectations and is perceived to be a danger to themselves or anyone else on the trip, parents/guardians will be contacted immediately and will assume all responsibilities to find alternate transportation home for your child regardless of location and within a specified amount of time as deemed appropriate by The Program Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc.

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Torch Club Contract 2016-2017

I, _________________________________ from ___________________ grade____________

Member name School you are attending

Age____ birthday _______ phone#___________ email ________________

Understand that these are my commitments to the Torch Club and fellow participants:

o I will participate to the best of my ability in the planning of Torch Club projects (fundraising, social, recreational, and educational) and I will actively participate in these and other events.

o I will offer my input and feedback to make TORCH an even better program.

o I will help promote interest, participation, and enthusiasm for Torch Club.

o I will respect the opinions, feelings and values of my fellow TORCH members.

o If elected as an official representative of the Torch Club, I will fulfill my required duties being a positive representative of the Torch Club and Boys and Girls Club of Leduc

o I will volunteer as a youth mentor whenever possible at the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc and act as an ambassador in the community as a representative of the Club.

o I will fulfill the minimum requirement of 8 volunteering hours a month. At least 4 of these hours need to be completed, on a weekly basis, either on a Monday or a Wednesday on Field house days, The remaining 4 hours can be completed mentoring during program hours, or working with the community.

o I will provide my availability for mentoring to the TORCH Leader, and he/she will set up a volunteer calendar. It is my responsibility, if I cannot attend to fulfill my volunteer hours, to find a replacement, and let the Leader know as soon as possible, why I am not attending and who is doing the hour for me.

o I understand that when mentoring, I will provide support to the Staff in charge of the program, and the members attending it. I will keep a positive attitude, lots of energy, and will make sure that the kids are interested and active. Remember that we lead by example: if we do not display a positive attitude, the members will not display it either.

o I will remember that I am not a youth mentor only when I am wearing the t-shirt, or when I am at the Club. I am also a Torch member and positive role model outside. I am expected to behave as a one.

o I understand that to be eligible to attend TORCH social events (fun nights, retreats, etc), or to apply to be a Counselor in Training (CIT) for the Summer Program, I do not only need to attend to the meetings, I also need to commit to some (if not all) of the fundraisers, community activities and mentoring programs.

o I understand that the Torch Club is not a drop in program, but rather a commitment for the duration of the 2015-2016 year. It will be held every Thursday, from 4-5pm at the Boys and Girls Club of Leduc. I will try to attend every meeting and if I cannot attend a meeting or event, I will contact the Boys and Girls Club and let them know.

Member Signature___________________ Date:_________________

Parent signature: Date: