NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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The Simcoe County District School Board and the five Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies serving Simcoe County have committed to work together to better serve students who would benefit from an additional positive adult in their lives. On Aug. 26, the SCDSB and the Barrie and District, Georgian Triangle, North Simcoe, Orillia and District and York BBBS agencies will sign a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and commit to streamlining and expanding BBBS mentoring in-school programs in the SCDSB. A signing event will take place at the SCDSB Education Centre (1170 Hwy 26, Midhurst) at 1 p.m.
“The SCDSB is opening our doors to BBBS organizations and their long-established mentoring programs, which we know have an evidence-based impact on the lives of young people,” says Hanne Nielsen, SCDSB Superintendent of Partnerships and Lifelong Learning.
The goal of this partnership is to establish BBBS partnership agreements with all SCDSB schools, and to work together to increase the number of qualified mentors wishing to volunteer. Currently, BBBS has established agreements with 60 SCDSB schools. This partnership will support the growth of BBBS across Simcoe County, as well as better support students moving from elementary to secondary school.
“Having been involved with the BBBS in-school mentoring programs since 2004 as a school principal, I can speak to the high quality of these programs and the positive impact they have on students,” states Cathy Lethbridge, SCDSB Principal of Well-being. “It is inspiring to see the commitment to expanding the program across the county, and I look forward to the opportunities this partnership will open up for our students.”
In-school mentoring programs offered through BBBS include In-School Mentor, Go Girls, Game ON, Little Club and Boys Club Gym Program. Members of the community wishing to get involved with BBBS as a mentor are asked to contact their local BBBS office.
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