An Okotoks outreach school has received money to boost its programming from 100 Women.
Cameron Crossing School was the recipient of this quarter’s donation from 100 Women Who Care Foothills, with a total of $10,530 raised.
“This will go to provide more extensive wrap-around services for our kids, connecting them back to the community,” said principal Jeff Mason. “Lots of our kids have been disconnected from our community for a variety of reasons, so this is a means for us to reconnect them as there’s a funding gap.”
The school was nominated by Marilyn Boake, who has been a member of 100 Women since it began in fall of 2015.
She was struck when, during a conversation with Mason, he mentioned Cameron Crossing does not have a parent council body. Having acted as parent council chairperson for 12 years in High River as her children went through the Foothills School Division, she knew the role councils play in raising funds for programs or equipment not covered by Alberta Education.
“When I heard that it just really struck me – how are you getting funding for these things?” said Boake. “Sometimes they get money from United Way, but there wasn’t a lot of ability to get money.”
She decided to present the school to the 100 Women meeting, when three charities were highlighted as potential benefactors of the donation. Members voted and Cameron Crossing was selected as the recipient of the May donation.
Mason said it will help with programs that help integrate students in the community, whether that means transportation to get to and from volunteer shifts or providing physical and mental wellness opportunities outside the school walls.
“It’s to bridge the gaps that are missing for our students and some of our families as well,” said Mason.
He said the school received support from groups like United Way and 100 Women, so it’s important to teach students to give back to the community. The donation from the 100 Women is the largest ever received by Cameron Crossing.
The students can often be found helping out at the food bank, seniors’ lodges or with the lunch program through the Okotoks United Church, and though COVID put that portion of the programming on hiatus this year, he said they’re hoping to launch it again in the fall.
“It allows our kids to rebuild connections with some of the adults in the community, and it just gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they can do,” said Mason. “A lot of times our kids are just missing that piece, and it’s an opportunity for them to build on those skills.”
When Cameron Crossing students start building strong connections in the community, they also tend to gain traction in the rest of their lives, including academic learning, he said.
That’s important to the school, which focuses on building individual education programs to meet students in their current situation academically, socially and emotionally, he said.
The school currently has a 15-student capacity, but will be moving into the existing library building in the fall once the Okotoks Public Library transitions to its new space in the Arts and Learning Campus, he said.
Moving to a larger space will mean the capacity of the school is doubled to 30 students, and the number of staff will increase as well.
The move will be funded by Foothills School Division, and not the money received from 100 Women, he said. The board is looking at options for furnishing the new building, and donated funds will be used for programming.
He said the location will be ideal for the types of programs offered at Cameron Crossing.
“For us it’s a connect to nature,” said Mason. “We use nature a lot to help our healing process with our kids and that location is prime with the river and pathways, so we’re extremely excited and fortunate we got that building.”
Julie Boake, director of 100 Women Who Care Foothills, said the membership was at 98 when the vote was done in May, which should have amounted to a donation of $9,800 since every member is supposed to provide a cheque for $100 to the school.
“We haven’t reached 100 members, but we have members who continually contribute over the $100 because it has become their way to provide a charitable donation through the year and they can see the results of it,” said Julie. “It’s really nice they chose 100 Women to give extra to.”
The membership continues to grow, despite some members having to step away from contributing. More continue to come on board, she said.
She attributes the interest to how impactful 100 Women donations can be, and the fact it’s an easy and effective way to give back.
“For all of our members to be part of that and to be part of something that tangibly makes a difference,” said Julie. “It’s not going to a ton of administrative costs, it’s going to something that tangibly makes a difference.”
For more information visit www.okotoks100.com
