STENEN - The newly formed Firmly Rooted Homeschool Support & Resource Centre provides a safe environment and supports for homeschooling families. This non-profit initially began as a Facebook group providing support and activities for both homeschooled children and their parents/caregivers.
The group quickly grew from six families to 38 and began holding weekly in-person meetings at Rawhides. “We faced numerous challenges in the beginning due to COVID but we always stayed connected even if only online.” said Pamela Vorstermans, organizer. “This year we were able to start meeting again when the Stenen Hall became available to rent. Our group continues to grow and weekly gatherings are looked forward to by both children and adults. Homeschool students can often miss out on some opportunity that other students who attend the traditional school get, so this allows them to come together to play, learn, and socialize in a group setting” she said.
Since opening in September, the group has had 21 families walk through their doors to attend the various in-person activities or support programs, bringing with them 65 children, and totalling 86 people served. “We offer support to the whole family throughout their homeschool journey. This is done by offering social and learning opportunities for the kids, curriculum and literature access, and by providing a support group for the parents. We are also looking to start incorporating field-trips into our programing now that the restrictions are being removed,” said Vorstermans.
Just recently, the students had the opportunity to participate in a two-part art workshop after being awarded the Artists in Community Development grant from SK Arts. Sarah Breitkreuz, an artist from Yorkton, travelled to Stenen to teach a painting class and do a craft, making a picture frame.
Families involved with the program travel from across the region from Preeceville, Sturgis, Endeavour, Kelvington, Hudson Bay, Norquay, Pelly and Canora and they have future hopes of involving families from Yorkton. The program is also welcoming to pre-school children who are not necessary in the school system yet. It is a non-profit that supports families with children in either school system.
