Normandeau School seeking sponsorship to help send kids to camp

“Currently what we’re doing is selling freezies, popcorn sales, that sort of thing” explains Stennes-Koot. “Then what we’ll do in turn is kids will write a letter explaining their interests and things that they would like to have an opportunity to do in the summer. Then we’re going to try and fund those things.”

Stennes-Koot says a similar program at Fairview Elementary School in Red Deer has been very successful over the years.

“I just felt when I moved to Normandeau this year that the kids here are kind of in the same boat,” acknowledges Stennes-Koot. “They need more support for doing the things that they want to do that, you know, parents are busy or working or not able to provide maybe some of those opportunities.”

She says it’s been a busy year at Normandeau and they haven’t been able to do as much fundraising as they wanted, so they’re really hoping for more community members or corporate sponsors to come forward to help give the students the opportunities Stennes-Koot and the other teachers at Normandeau would like to see them receive.

“When you’re selling one freezie at a time, the money doesn’t add up quickly,” she explains. “If we had more sponsorship, we would love to be able to help all of the kids that take the time to write a passionate letter about their interests and provide all of them with those opportunities.”

Stennes-Koot says at this point, the students are asking her every day about what they can include or apply for with the scholarship fund.

“I’ve had kids as simple as, ‘Can I get a badminton racquet maybe?’ or just tiny little things,” she explains. “Art supplies, a bus pass, simple things but would mean a lot to those kids. I would love to be able to help every kid that asks for something.”

Hans Huizing, Principal at Normandeau School adds they have quite an extensive food program and feed a large number of kids within the school both during the week and on weekends as well through the Salvation Army.

“We know there’s a lot of families struggling just to meet those basic needs, so sending a kid to camp is way beyond their means,” explains Huizing. “We have had early sponsorship from certain people, private individuals but what we would really love to have is some corporate sponsorship. I think that would be great because some of these camps can become quite expensive and we know that there are a lot of kids within our neighbourhood who would greatly benefit from this, not just this summer but for a lifetime.”

by Sheldon Spackman

Normandeau School seeking sponsorship to help send kids to camp

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