Faculty of Education Education News Spring / Summer 2013 Page 13 sessions about addictions . The cohort visited the Early Years Family Centre ( Scott Collegiate location ) on numerous occasions , bringing their own children to interact with the other children there . They worked together with the Scott Infant and Toddler Care Centre , where most of the moms in the course took their children , bringing babies into the classroom to teach baby care . Keeley and Sherrie also approached a variety of agencies to work alongside the students ; the agencies provided support and useful resources . And , because the project could also serve as part of Keeley ’ s course requirements for Dr . JoLee Sasakamoose ( Blackbear )’ s EPSY 830 : Counselling Girls and Women , JoLee became aware of the program and offered her support by providing a talk on self , balance , and determination and shared her own story with the young mothers . “ Her story resonated with the students ; they related to her struggles and found hope in her success ,” says Keeley .
Of her experience with the program , JoLee says , “ I loved speaking with the young mothers program . All of the women indicated that the program contributed to their self-care and well-being .” Jolee noted that the students “ expressed frustration that at times they had to miss school because of family obligations and they were a bit hard on themselves .” As a new mom , but an older mom , she reassured them that “ taking care of the family was a good reason for missing school and that to pressure themselves and to allow guilt to guide them was not useful .” JoLee also encouraged them to “ celebrate their success on the journey .” Keeley later informed JoLee that this encouragement was a huge breakthrough for the mothers , allowing them to move beyond feeling guilt and to celebrate their hard work .
“ I think the success of this program is the support that the women provide to each other . They are all going through similar things . Together they get to watch their own children and the development of the other children around them . The babies are seeing their moms go to school and the moms are role modeling success for their own and their children ’ s future ... This is a beautiful program , one that should be replicated in every school that has young mothers ,” says JoLee .
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This is a beautiful program , one that should be replicated in every school that has young mothers .
“ The program was life changing for everyone involved ,” says Sherrie , “ As a professional , it was an opportunity to work as part of a team ; the two of us meshed well .” Working together gave Keeley and Sherrie renewed energy , creativity , and enthusiasm . They observed that , “ the girls loved the energy we brought to the classroom and our creative way of meeting expected outcomes .”
The students became supports for each other , and learned to lean on community agencies for help when needed . They “ made lifelong friendships while practising important aspects of parenting .” Keeley and Sherrie recommend this type of project for any teacher / school that identifies this need . “ We all learned so much about life and each other , over and above curricular outcomes .” They feel that the “ value of this program was truly immeasurable .” Students commented in the year-end board book assignment : “ Nika was an amazing experience : I hope other young mothers get this experience as well .” And another student wrote , “ Thanks for everything . Now I have more knowledge to walk in to the big world with . This is not good-bye , just a new beginning .”
Since co-teaching the mother ’ s program , Sherrie ’ s and Keeley ’ s lives have taken different paths : They both graduated from their M . Ed . programs in spring 2013 , and they were both transferred from Scott Collegiate at the end of the school term in June . Sherrie is now teaching at Winston Knoll Collegiate and Keeley is teaching at F . W . Johnson Collegiate . They hope the program will continue at Scott Collegiate despite their absence . They are hopeful because they ’ ve heard that there are plans to run it again in the Semester 2 of this school year .