We run because we can
Beautiful day and we got the Streetfront crew out to Lighthouse Park for a fabulous day.
Nothing more than watching kids play in a beautiful setting. Nothing on their minds other than being kids.
A near perfect day.
Trevor Stokes
Teacher – Streetfront Alternative Program
Department Head – Alternative Programs, Britannia Secondary
604-506-9131
Last week’s monthly visit from the staff and volunteers from the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA) had us learning about our Mason Bees and giving them some TLC. Opening the nest tubes we saw the difference in the male and female cocoon’s. We saw strong healthy cocoons and those that were affected by mites, maggots and other creatures determined to destroy our pollinators. Collecting all the cocoons they were then given a gentle bath and left to dry. Once dried they will be placed in a ziplock bag and stored in a fridge until spring. It was a excellent experience and felt good to be giving our crucial pollinators a better chance of survival.
Hello Streetfront Fans.
We are hoping that the spam-filled issues we’ve had on the blog may be behind us.
Please keep checking out the amazing things Streetfront is up to. I’ll fill you in on the past 12 months over the next few weeks.
Trevor Stokes
Teacher – Streetfront Alternative Program
Department Head – Alternative Programs, Britannia Secondary
604-506-9131
This years VSB Junior Alternative was a smaller this year but the competition was still there. As usual we have strong interest in tournament play that we fielded two teams again – Team ‘Street’ and Team ‘Front’. Team Street dominated the tournament winning all of their games placing them in 1st Place. Team Front was in a three-way tie going into the finals but succeeded in getting a 2nd Place finish!
Thank you to Outreach and Eastside for your competition and participation!
We had 18 current and past Streetfront students run in the annual Seattle Marathon. The weather was cold but sunny and the youth did a fantastic job, especially those running their first full or half marathon! Well done all!!
Trevor Stokes
Teacher – Streetfront Alternative Program
Streetfront hosted their annual volleyball tournament. This is always a highlight of the year with over 100 kids in attendance, all vying for that coveted trophy. The competition was fierce with numerous games coming right down to the final point.
As the 6 game round robin came to an end we had 4 teams remaining – 2 senior alternative programs: Spectrum and Outreach and 2 junior alternative programs: Streetfront and Eastside. Once the dust settled – Spectrum was crowned champions.
Thanks to all the students and staff who made this such a memorable tournament.
Trevor Stokes
Teacher – Streetfront Alternative Program
Alannah Wong, a grade 10 student at Streetfront spearheaded a wonderful holiday initiative. She wanted to do something for those in need around our community. With the help of her generous parents, we had $100 ready to donate.
Alannah knew that money donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank can actually be multiplied in value by the Food Bank itself. As is the case with Alannah – she wanted to make the biggest impact possible. She proudly donated the $100 and knew that her efforts would make somebody’s holiday that much more merrier.
Nice work, Alannah. Thanks for providing such a great example.
Alannah Wong thought that Streetfront should do something for those less fortunate considering it was the holiday season. It made sense considering the social conscience the program has always been committed to. On her own, she solicited her parents to help raise some money – before the day was over – a $100 was raised. Streetfront then matched that $100 and with $200 we were ready to give.
Ideas were pitched – socks; blankets; gloves – all were considered but in the end it was decided that the goal was to bring fellowship to a lonely place. We would take $100 and buy cookies; candy canes; oranges; juice boxes and chocolates. We would put those items in a Christmas bag and then go out into the community and meet our neighbours.
The kids set up a production line and in the end we had over a 100 goody bags ready to deliver.
We then loaded up our gifts and dressed up our usual 21 passenger van in Streetfront colours and headed for a place that needed a little brightness and levity.
We got to Hastings and Cambie and spilled out into the community. It was such a moving experience. In my 14 years at Streetfront, I’m not sure if I’ve ever been prouder than I was that afternoon. The kids were a bit reluctant to get engaged at first – to be honest, it is such a demonized place, who could blame them – but soon a magical metamorphosis took place. Once someone shook a hand or talked to a stranger that whole edifice of fear and anxiety was replaced with confidence and brotherhood. Soon all the kids were shaking hands, hugging, talking to or singing carols with total strangers. The kids couldn’t get to the bags fast enough. They were actually running for the chance to engage with people they may have formerly ignored or derided. It took just a mere 10 minutes to give out the 100 bags but the feeling of community and support – will last a lifetime.
Those that think the youth of today are a lost cause of electronics and apathy need to come to Streetfront. I’m excited about the future – we all should be. Sent from my iPhone
Streetfront Alternative 