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Village
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ome sayings don’t wear out no matter how often they are repeated; “It takes a village to raise a child” is one of them.
North Americans were first introduced to this wise proverb, which originates with the Igbo people of Nigeria, when it was used in the title of a book by American First Lady Hillary Clinton. Published in 1996, her adaptation of the saying was It Takes a Village: And other lessons children teach us. A proverb that can be used in societies as widely removed from each other as village communities in pre-colonial Africa, to one of the most advanced techno cultures of the 21st Century, can be adapted to many circumstances. Which means two things: it has staying power that appeals to just about everyone in every age; and it needs to be defined in pretty well every context it is used. In Student Success the ‘village’ referred to is not so much a place, or a specific group of people you can point to, or a philosophy, or a policy. Rather, it’s the array of programs and services that complement and support families in their central role of raising children. 18 Student Success
What we hope to bring to parents in Langley School District is information that will increase awareness about the opportunities that exist for things like tutoring, counseling, child care, and other services that expand the range of possibilities for parents and children.
604-539-1386 www.accomplished.ca See More about us on Page 5
We live in a complex world. The notion of a ‘village’ seems quaint in this age of freeways, the internet and mobile phones. And yet, we are still fond of the village scale – that notion of a tight-knit community where everybody knows everybody else and there’s likely to be a helping hand extended in time of need. While we can’t create that village feel on the pages of a magazine, Student Success can bring together organizations and businesses that help families achieve their goals. Every bit of advertising and all the editorial in this space will be dedicated to presenting real options that are available to parents. If you have a story you would like to share about how a service in our community has helped your family achieve its goals, please call Susan Cairns at the Langley School Board Office, 604-534-7891. She will be interested in hearing what you have to say. It’s that kind of sharing that builds community. How can a ‘village’ make things happen? Athlete Sophie Schmidt and friends had a few words to say about that when she returned to Abbotsford and attended a celebration of the Canadian women’s Olympic soccer team’s bronze medal showing in London. Teacher Paul Giesbrecht, who taught Sophie in elementary school said: “Even though we may not know each other, everyone here is connected because of Sophie. We’re just coming from different avenues. We aren’t responsible for this, but we helped mentor and support her and get her through.” That’s an important part of what the Olympics is all about – the way communities help nurture people, and help them excel. It’s why we all get to share in the glory of people’s accomplishments, whether they are achieved on TV in front of audiences numbered in the millions, or in the extraordinarily ordinary things of day-to-day living. Said Sophie, “It kind of sums up everything that this medal signifies. The public sees certain percentages of the journey, but I think these guys have been here for the whole ride.” v
See our ad on the inside cover for more info! • IN HOME TUTORING • MAGIC MATCH - TUTOR MATCHING • ONLINE REPORTING & TRACKING OF HOURS 778.549.0750
Affordable Tutoring for struggling learners The Learning Disabilities Association Fraser South is a not-forprofit organization offering affordable programs for families of children with learning and attention difficulties aged 6 to 14.
One to One TUTORING in Reading, Writing & Spelling After-school at Douglas Park School 5409—206 Street, Langley October 1 to December 13 604.591.5156 www.ldafs.org
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One to one Tutoring in Literacy, Math & Keyboarding Self-advocacy Training for Youth Learning Disabilities Awareness workshops Educational seminars on LD Parent Advocacy workshops
Register Now for Fall Programs starting in October! ldafs ● Learning Disabilities Association ● Fraser South t. 604.591.5156 ●
email. info@ldafs.org ● www.ldafs.org
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