The Ready, Set, Learn (RSL) Early Learning Fair, held Saturday, February 25, at Bowen Island Community School, was a great success. Over 27 families (35 adults and 42 children) attended and made use of resources, activities, snacks and a chance to socialize. This event supported early learning and community-building in a fun, hands-on format. By combining provincial resources with local solutions, we created a RSL event that is unique to Bowen Island and featured our community's agencies and resources. The support of local partners was key to creating a rich, successful program for local families. For more information about RSL events, see www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/rsl/
A big thanks to our key event partners: Helen Davenport (Bowen Island Montessori), Ann Silberman (Bowen Children's Centre), Lynne Tomlinson (West Vancouver School District 45), Jennifer Pardee (BICS principal), Tracy McLachlan (Bowen Family Place) and the community school coordinator. The key partners all met over the last year to design and develop this annual event to benefit our youngest learners and their families. Additional community partners, volunteers and people who participated and gave generously of their time to make this event a success included Aubin VanBerkel (story time), Louise Escallier (active music lesson), Siobhan Catchlove and Sarah Pansino who helped with the importance of play activities, Shelley Shannon (Bowen Island Community Recreation), Terri Shea (speech and language development), Ellie MacKay (Vancouver Coastal Health nutritionist), and corporal Nancy Joyce and Efron Essevia representing the Bowen Island RCMP. This event fostered positive connections with the school system and local community agencies with local style and flare. Thank you all who came out to participate.
