Langley School District Foundation

Pandemic of Kindness

2020-08-26T14:38:00.002-07:00

PANDEMIC OF KINDNESS

Every so often an idea resonates and becomes a phenomenon. And for once, this may not be hyperbole. Thanks to the amazing Foundation Fundraising Committee, our Choose Kindness and Be Kind t-shirts have emerged as a must-have fashion accessory. Rendered in black with a bold white image (Foundation Apple/Heart logo intermeshed with a message of either Choose Kindness or Be Kind), the 100% cotton T-shirts and their much-appreciated messages are a hit. This is such great news for the Foundation and its Food for Thought and Pandemic of Kindness Campaign.

The Campaign so Far

Social media is rife with the message, and orders to purchase the t-shirts are coming in at a rate way beyond our imagination. But, in order to sustain our Food for Thought Initiative, whereby, the Foundation provides $50 gift cards every week to more than 650 families over a six-month period and beyond, we need your help.

Here's the plan.

Businesses, associations, corporations, individuals and schools (we have childrens' sizes) order the shirts and challenge others within your field to do the same. Take a picture with your staff, colleagues, students and post on email, FB, Twitter and Instagram. Also forward to scairns@sd35.bc.ca and nleaf@sd35.bc.ca for posting on our website and in the Print media.

Order T-shirts at www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com. Pick-up at the School Board Office, receive in school mail or have them mailed to your address.

Thank-you so much to all who have already ordered. If you can pick them up at Langley School District Foundation, 4875-222nd Street in Langley, they will be ready for you. If you need them mailed please let us know.

We can do this!! Special shout-out to the amazing fundraising team! Rosemary Wallace, Frank Roberto, Linda Jensen, Ngaire Leaf, Lisa Farquharson, Mary Krische and Donna Mason.

Choose Kindness or Be Kind: Either One Works

2020-08-16T16:08:00.003-07:00

Choose Kindness or Be Kind: Either One Works

By Susan Cairns

If what you do makes a difference, then you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

Jane Goodall was speaking, and I was riveted. Her gentle wisdom, laser focus and unabashed confidence had me mesmerized for more than two hours. But that wasn’t enough. I needed more. Nursing my red and applause-damaged hands, I mustered up a rare truckload of courage, as I elbowed my way through a crowd of adoring fans. Suddenly I was staring into a set of pale blue eyes that burned into my brain. Before I could stop myself, I asked if she remembered me. Her gaze turned from boredom, to annoyance, and just as I was about to flee, I saw a glint of curiosity.

“I’ve known you for more than 20 years,” I said. She managed a sly Mona Lisa smile and nodded. After she extracted herself from the throng, we met in the hotel lounge.

Now Jane Goodall is not only brilliant, compassionate, far-seeing, gentle and kind, but she is also gracious.

“Where did we meet?” she asked as she slipped her tiny frame into a huge, leather lounge chair.

“Would you like a glass of wine,” I inquired. “Or anything else? Doesn’t have to be wine – do you like beer, maybe a martini?”

“Martini – who drinks those?” I thought as I desperately cast my eyes around in search of a waiter.

“I’ll have sloe gin on ice with water on the side – she instructed the suddenly attentive server.

“So will I”, I said with ridiculous enthusiasm.

“Not many people like that”, she said, her lip curving into that quizzical smile.

“My favourite,” I replied, even though I had never had anything close to such a concoction – and never will again.

That was how, as a young journalist, I met Jane Goodall. We talked for more than an hour and during that encounter I came to understand what true kindness is and how it is manifested by people of wisdom and grace.

Throughout my years as a teacher, journalist, magazine publisher and executive director of the Langley School District Foundation, I have observed and experienced many acts of kindness and even though I am into my seventh decade on this earth, I am still astonished by the magnitude and depth of the events. I have watched as people with few dollars give what little they have to others. I’ve seen young people sacrifice their time and energy to help their elders and vice-versa. I’ve been brought to tears by the dedication of teachers when it comes to their students. I’ve marveled at the generosity of Langley businesses, associations and individuals who always come forward when they hear that their fellow citizens need help.

As a journalist I scoured the Downtown East Side and watched as a group of characters came together to provide protection and solace to all who were trying to survive in desperate circumstances. I’ve travelled throughout the world and seen how people in countries with no social safety net help each other – providing food, transportation, care giving and child support.

If money is the root of all evil, as it often is, especially in these times; then kindness is the stem of all goodness and it often is, especially in these times.

Choose Kindness or Be Kind

The Langley School District Foundation has designed two beautiful cotton t-shirts for all to wear at your stores, restaurants, businesses, schools and associations. Our message is clear – Choose Kindness or Be KIND. The T-shirts are on sale for $20 each ($10 for children's sizes). Please purchase, distribute to your staff, and don them on our BE KIND Day, then send in pictures and we will display them throughout all our print and social media outlets.

All proceeds go to support the Langley School District Foundation’s Pandemic of Kindness Campaign to provide $50 gift cards each week to more than 650 struggling families for as long as the coronavirus crisis persists.

Send cheques to Langley School District Foundation, 4875-222nd Street, Langley, BC V3A 3Z7, Attn: Susan Cairns, or order on line at www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com.

The Next Garden of Eden!

2018-07-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

THE NEXT GARDEN OF EDEN!

There are only a few times in your life when you can truly say - without one scintilla of hyperbole - that THE FUTURE IS HERE. One of those times is NOW! Thanks to our sponsors and supporters, the Langley School District Foundation is now able to introduce to our schools miraculous gardens. Imagine, if you can, a simple growing machine that reaps bushels of organic produce every six weeks. It requires no soil, no land, very little water, and virtually no maintenance. Forget weeding, insecticides or contaminates. Don’t worry about drought, extreme cold or any kind of climatic conditions. How does your garden grow? It just grows and grows and grows right into the future.

Thanks to our community partners, with a huge commitment from Vancity Foundation, we are able to start the program. We have purchased 12 vertical gardens and we will be installing them in seven schools. Beginning in September the gardens will be producing vast quantities of lettuce, kale, herbs, spinach, tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, zucchini, strawberries, raspberries - perhaps even beets, carrots, potatoes and everything from yams to parsnips. The possibilities and potential are endless. Students learn to grow their own food. They taste it right from the vine and in so doing appreciate the nutritional benefits and inherent contributions to the environment. They develop a culture of sustainable consumerism and an appreciation for what nature provides.

And that’s not all. The produce is used to supplement the dozens of breakfast, snack, lunch and backpack programs that make up the Langley School District Foundation’s Food for Thought Campaign, a program that helps feed the more than 3000 students who come to school hungry every day.

THESE ARE THE FACTS

Four years ago the Foundation heard about students who were coming to school hungry. We did a survey of all our 47 schools and discovered that 3000 of our 19,000 students were actually coming to school without having had breakfast, and with no lunch. This was astonishing and disturbing and we knew that if these hungry students didn’t get help, they would most assuredly miss out on the education to which they are entitled. Realizing that the hungry growls of an empty stomach are much louder than the voice of an educator, we knew we had to do something.

We immediately got the message out, and because Langley is a caring community, individuals, associations, corporations and businesses rallied. Thanks to our community partners, including the United Churches of Langley, Re/Max Treeland, Shewan Foundation, Sunrise Rotary, Central Rotary, Aldergrove Rotary, Poppy Estates, Southridge Community, Lilianne Fowler, Premium Brands, Canuel Caterers, Starline Windows, Vitrum Glass Products, Walnut Grove Business Association, Breakfast Club of Canada, Township of Langley Firefighters, Weekend Fuel Bag, and Save-On Foods, we now have breakfast programs in 15 schools, snack programs in 13 schools, lunch programs in two schools and backpack programs serving 80 families.

THE VERTICAL GARDENS provide, thanks to Vancity Foundation, the final component of the Langley School District Foundation’s Food For Thought Campaign. We now have organic gardens, as well as breakfast, lunch, snack and backpack programs. We can only GROW! Thank you to all our partners. We could not make learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student without you!

First Annual I.D.E.A. Summit

2018-04-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

FIRST ANNUAL I.D.E.A SUMMIT

INNOVATION•DESIGN•ENTREPRENEURSHIP•ALTRUISM

THE LANGLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT invites you to witness their young entrepreneurs in action at the first annual IDEA SUMMIT on May 8 at the Langley Events Centre.

Students from kindergarten to grade 12, from schools across the district, will be participating and competing throughout the day. Be there for the MARKET AND SOCIALPRENEURSHIP SHOWCASES where students exhibit their innovative products for sale or explain their plans to change the world.

Watch the DESIGN CHALLENGES as students who are provided with an open-ended problem, thrust themselves out of conventional thinking and into a mind-set where original ideas and dynamic thoughts come fast and furious.

Then watch the PITCH CHALLENGE when the top 20 pitch their product or service in front of a panel of esteemed judges who will choose the top four presentations.

And that’s not all. DR. SARAH LUBIK, Simon Fraser University's first Director of Entrepreneurship, will provide the keynote address. Sarah’s research on topics that include entrepreneurship, education and innovated ecosystems has been published in leading journals. She has been named one of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 under 40, and an Innovation Leader by the Government of Canada.

And the GRAND FINALE will see the four outstanding presentations receive accolades and scholarships from the judges. Scholarships are $2000 each with $500 donated back to a charity of choice by each of the winners.

At the IDEA SUMMIT students are taking leaps of faith and attacking problems from different angles. With eyes and mind open to every possibility, they are breaking out of the usual box of ideas and turning brainstorms from familiar to fantastic.

THE IDEA SUMMIT is open to the public from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Don’t miss an opportunity to see youthful innovation, creativity and tough-minded optimism at work. Thank you to our sponsors: VWR Capital, Envision Financial, Premium Brands, Darnell & Company Lawyers, RBC, McDonalds Restaurants and the Langley School District Foundation.

For more information: Contact Susan Cairns at 604-532-1464 scairns@sd35.bc.ca
or Dawne Tomlinson at dtomlinson@sd35.bc.ca.

Hole New Ball Game - 12th Annual Foundation Golf Tournament

2017-06-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

Hole New Ball Game
12th Annual Foundation Golf Tournament

Okay it’s like this. You are standing on the first tee box. It’s just 420 yards to the green. Your aim is to hit a very small ball into a seemingly even smaller hole with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose. Okey doke you say with confidence. You swing and follow through with authority. You hear the satisfying whack and look yonder. But alas – your ball sits just inches away smiling up at you with its sassy dimples.

“Next,” you say as you creep off the tee box, and thank goodness there is a next. This is the Langley School District Foundation 12^th Annual Golf Tournament and everyone knows that you are welcome, whether you score eagles, birdies, par, bogies or even snowmen.

Here’s how it works. You arrive at Redwoods Golf Course at 10 am on the day of the tournament. You are quickly met by a couple of friendly giants. Armed with clip boards, they are facilitating your progress through the registration line. You buy your mulligans, your tickets for chipping and putting contests, your key that will hopefully open a door to a huge prize and then once you are equipped to tackle the day you mosey on over to the Tailgate Party to gorge on hamburgers and drinks. Don’t hold back – you have a long trek ahead filled with challenges, contests, disappointments, insurmountable obstacles and life-changing ecstasies.

So after you’ve recovered from your aforementioned debut, you and your foursome make your way around 18 holes of lush, green, summer-soaked acreage. You high-five often as the birdies come in fast and furious. You are on a roll. And at every hole there is a new surprise waiting and a new challenge to face. Frozen yogurt, smokies, sliders, chipping contest, putting contest, even billiard games, and you must answer a trivia question at each hole.

You are then treated to an evening of hunting and gathering (silent auction), delicious food (BBQ steak and salmon), huge gratification (prizes), extreme elation (opening a door to your immediate future – i.e. Mediterranean cruise) and satisfaction in knowing that your participation in a day of fun will help 100s of students in the Langley School District receive a safe and warm place to stay when they are homeless and a nutritious meal when they are hungry.

Riding High at the 12th Annual Grand Prix Gala

2017-06-09T10:36:00.001-07:00

Riding High at 12^th Annual Grand Prix Gala

With the world-famous Thunderbird Show park as our gala site and an international equestrian jumping competition going on inches away from the sun-drenched patio, 300 guests oohed, aahed and gasped their way through a luxurious Sunday afternoon.

The Grand Prix Gala is like no other fundraising event. At times upon entering the venue, I catch myself wondering if there can be such a thing as too much magnificence in a single place. First there is the stunning backdrop – acres of emerald green tract, punctuated with a series of obstacles. White fences, dazzling in the sunlight, troughs of shimmering, crystal clear water and redolent and colourful flowers blowing in the breeze. Then there are the horses. Stallions and mares of stunning stature and defined musculature prancing, galloping, leaping and crunching full force onto the grassy sod. You can hear the grunts and groans of exertion. Lithe and splendidly attired riders peer from beneath their caps with a laser focus. The pageantry, the elegance, the athleticism combine to take one’s breath away.

And if that is not enough, cast your eyes onto the patio, where 300 guests are provided with a front-row view of the spectacle. Dressed to thrill in rural chic, men and women mix and mingle and show off their latest millenary masterpieces. In between jumps they partake in aperitivo time, that easy stretch of sipping on award-winning wines and craft beers and snacking on hors d’oeurvres, good salty cheese from local farms, bread, olives, fresh, farm-picked tomatoes and an array of elegantly-crafted desserts made to order by chefs in training from the Langley School District.

But it doesn’t end there. Tables topped with an arresting array of items define the Foundation’s famous silent auction! Offering everything from exquisite pearl and diamond earrings, to nights out at the opera, symphony or Giants game; and from paddle boarding in Tofino to river rafting in Chilliwack, the silent auction appeals to even the most discerning shopper. And if you have the derring-do, purchase a ticket to win a set of diamond earrings or participate in the Calcutta. See what I mean by too much magnificence!! I’m exhausted.

Do the Ends Justify the Means?

A resounding YES! Even though the Grand Prix Gala is magnificent in the extreme, it is still a down-to-earth fundraiser with, thanks especially to Thunderbird Show Park, very low overhead. Raising more than $60,000, the event allows the Foundation to continue its support of the Food for Thought Campaign and the Youth Homelessness Initiative.

Food for Thought

When the Foundation first became aware of the fact that 3000 students were coming to school hungry every day, the problem seemed overwhelming. But armed with the irrefutable knowledge that children cannot learn on an empty stomach, the Foundation rallied its resources, called on its community partners and set about to provide healthy meals for hungry students. Now, in just three years since the inception of the Food for Thought Campaign 16 schools offer nutritious breakfasts to more than 1600 students. Snacks are delivered every two weeks to an additional nine schools and more than 150 families receive backpacks filled with food every Friday. But there are many more hungry students out there and many more schools who need to start up meal programs.

Homelessness Initiative

Imagine, if you can – being homeless at 15 years of age. You left your home in a fit of rage, or because you were scared of your parents or because there was no other choice. Whatever the reason – you are a child, suddenly cast into a scary scenario that could govern your life for years to come. It’s cold, rainy and dark. There is nowhere to go. No one to turn to. You are immersed in a strange and frightening reality and because you are only 15 you do not have the experience, life skills or wherewithal to cope. You need help.

Finally, thanks to the efforts of community organizations such as Encompass Support Services, the Township of Langley, the Provincial Government and most importantly Langley School District students who went to bat for their less-fortunate friends, the Youth Housing Resource is now being built and will offer a safe refuge for homeless teenagers. Of course, much funding is required to provide the services, food and lodging for the 170 homeless students in Langley. There is much more to do.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to the Food for Thought Campaign or the Homeless Initiative, please go to www.langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com or call 604-532-1464. scairns@sd35.bc.ca

Making learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student

2017-05-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

A DREAM YOU DREAM ALONE IS ONLY A DREAM.

A DREAM YOU DREAM TOGETHER IS REALITY

With a mission to make learning UNFORGETTABLE for every Langley student, the Foundation’s dream is to ensure that all Langley students receive the maximum benefit of the education to which they are entitled.

KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL

There are kids who go through their educational careers without a hitch. The programs seem to be designed to cater to their brains, lifestyle and outside support. But there are also kids who for a variety of reasons do not benefit from their education. Their brains may be wired a little differently from the norm; they may be gifted or challenged, they may have skills and abilities that run contrary to standard educational programs; they may come to school hungry, tired or abused.

Thanks to the support from all sectors, including our community partners, volunteers, sponsors, donors, school district staff, parents and board of directors, the Foundation has been able to provide hundreds of new programs for Langley students, thereby fulfilling our mandate to initiate and support vital and innovative programs that are not funded by the Ministry of Education.

Foundation Initiatives

Funny Farm: Located in Langley, the Funny Farm has been built and developed as a unique outdoor learning environment. This is where students come to learn about growing their own food and the whole art of beekeeping. They interact with rescued farm animals, including goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, hens and sheep. All students benefit, especially those with special needs, those struggling within a regimented school curriculum and those who find themselves in dangerous and at-risk circumstances. Some of their stories are heart-breaking. Read about them in the Summer edition of Student Success Magazine. http://bit.ly/2pjt1ZG

Food For Thought Program

What is the biggest hindrance to student learning. Is it boredom, disengagement, ADHD or lack of interest. It’s none of the above. It’s hunger. And when 3000 Langley students come to school hungry every day, their learning is compromised. But when they receive a healthy breakfast, snacks throughout the day, lunch and even backpacks filled with food to take home every Friday to their families, the improvements in their attention, engagement and behavior results are astonishing. Check out video https://vimeo.com/barbershopfilms/review/134976384/db9366cf5a

Youth Homeless Initiative

Case One

Your parents have had it with you and you’ve had it with them.

“I’m gone forever”, you scream, as you slam the door and march out onto the street feeling strong and empowered. But with each forceful step the cold air seeps into your bones. Your shoes slosh with slush, the night is suddenly dark and the slick, slimy streets loom ahead leading nowhere. The loneliness is intense and within just a few hours, you are hyperventilating. The thing you want most in the world is to be warm and cozy wrapped up in a blanket next to your little sister with your parents nearby. But you are 16 and you think that your parents don’t care. “I wish I had somewhere to go,” you scream in desolation. “I wish I had someone to talk to!”

Case Two

You are 15. Your mum is your best friend. It’s been you and your mum against the world ever since you were born, UNTIL one day a guy comes on the scene. You hate him. He hates you. You are miserable and in your eyes your mum has betrayed you. She starts going away with him and leaving you behind to fend for yourself. Your house is now cold, dark and empty. You are alone with no one to turn to and nowhere to go.

Case Three

You are 17. You have grown up in a loving household with pious parents who seemed caring and supportive right up until the day you told them that you were gay. The two people in the world who had nurtured you for 17 years, suddenly decide that unless you change, you are no longer their child. You know that was impossible, so you found yourself on the street – alone, confused and scared.

There has never been anywhere for our youth to go until now. Thanks to the Langley School District Youth Task Force consisting of a group of dedicated students led by two incredible teachers – Lara Petrie and Lenny Yen, in collaboration with Encompass Support Services, Langley School District Foundation and Langley School District, as well as huge support from the Township of Langley and the Ministry of Housing, the Youth Housing Resource is NOW a reality and will be built and operational in July, 2017. Homeless youth can now find a safe and friendly haven. Not only are there cozy rooms to spend the night or week or month, but there are people there who can help – counsellors, doctors, volunteers and other kids who you can talk to without feeling ashamed.

Stay tuned for more inspirational stories.