As summer comes to a close, thousands of children across Toronto are currently getting ready to head back to school, starting in new grades, with new teachers, and maybe even some new friends. But for the 11 school-aged kids living at Nellie’s, the new school year may also mean starting a new school, away from their familiar friends and community. This is because they recently arrived at Nellie’s, and are now registered at our local school for the fall.
Starting at a brand-new school can be a difficult adjustment for these children, but our staff is working to make the transition as smooth as possible. Ahead of their start at their new school, we work with each child to talk about the move from their old school to a new one, and what they can expect when they get there. Our shelter staff also work directly with school staff to help moms complete the registration forms, transfer transcripts, and create a safety plan. A mother and her child who are fleeing violence need to ensure that the child’s school is not only aware of the situation (and any potential behavioural problems that may arise as a result of the trauma the child has experienced), but also knows how to best protect that child.
While our staff is busy managing the emotions and logistics of the new school transition, we’re incredibly thankful to our amazing donors who are taking care of the back-to-school shopping! To help get the kids living at Nellie’s ready for September, our friends at One Fire Movement (as well as another anonymous corporate donor) have donated backpacks filled with water bottles, notepads, binders, and pencil cases loaded up with pens, pencils, highlighters, and post-it notes. Tony Roost, founder of arts collective One Fire Movement, has supported the kids at Nellie’s for several years through their “Backpacks of Love” campaign. These vital donations allow us to equip all the children living at Nellie’s for the new school year, as well as kids in families currently enrolled in our Community Transitional Housing program.
We know that starting at a new school can be stressful for kids of any age and in any situation, and we’re so very thankful to the generous donors who help us continue to support the families who need us.