Your school has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters Waterloo Region (BBBSWR) to participate in our Go Girls! or Game On! Programs for the 2023/2024 School Year!
Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds has been developed for girls in Grade 7 and 8 to provide them with the information and support they need to make informed choices about healthy, active living during a particularly challenging stage of development. Maintaining sensitivity towards emotional, social and cultural issues, Go Girls! addresses topics such as physical activity participation, healthy eating choices, self-image, and relationships. The students who take part in the group are withdrawn from class to work towards their identified goals with the support of their peers and caring adult mentors for 90 minutes each week over a 7-week period, in the school, during the school day.
Game On! Eat Smart, Play Smart, Live Smart uses a mentor approach to provide Grade 7 and 8 boys with information and support to make informed choices about a range of healthy lifestyle practices. Through non-traditional physical activities, complemented with healthy eating support, participants are engaged in life skills, communication, and emotional health discussions designed to engage participants in the pursuit of life-long healthy lifestyles. Game On! groups meet on a weekly basis over a 7-week period for 90 minutes in the school, during the school day.
Group Mentoring 2.0 is new this school year and is a combination of our Go Girls and Game On programs, but also discusses more specifically topics related to cyber/social media safety, mental health, and strategies for coping with stress. The program is also not meant to be gender specific and therefore more inclusive for youth. This could be facilitated as a co-ed group and encourages all youth to participate, regardless of how they identify or the pronouns they use. Overall, the program strives to create appreciation for the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle, improve mental health knowledge to reduce stigma and empower help seeking, support the development of leadership and life skills, and allow participants to develop the means to effectively deal with societal and peer pressures.
All Mentors for these programs are thoroughly screened by BBBSWR staff. The screening process includes a police record check, references, and an in-depth assessment interview with a Program Coordinator. Though volunteers may have previous experience with children and receive some training from the agency, they are not equipped to deal with students with severe learning disabilities, high needs or serious behavioural concerns.
If you have a student that you feel would benefit from participating in the Go Girls!, Game On! or group Mentoring 2.0 program, please complete the STUDENT REFERRAL FORM below. Also included is a PARENT/GUARDIAN/CAREGIVER APPLICATION PACKAGE to be sent home with each student you would like to refer. The caregiver must sign the included consent form prior to their child taking part in the program.
While the Go Girls! and Game On! programs were developed as gender-specific programs, BBBSWR is an inclusive organization that welcomes all individuals to participate in whichever group they feel most comfortable in. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact school or program staff.
Please collect the caregiver package forms and return them, along with your student referral form to BBBSWR. Thank you for your support! This program is a true cooperative effort between your school and BBBSWR as both organizations seek to promote positive growth within children in our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jenna.watson@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or by phone at 519-745-0180 ext. 205.