In the words of famed cartoon explorer Dora, “Backpack! Backpack!”
Riverside Community School received 27,000 school supply items encased in 440 backpacks on Tuesday, courtesy of SaskPower employees across the province.
“For our kids, it means everyone will have supplies — everyone will have a backpack,” principal Mona Markwart said. “It’s a wonderful honour for us.”
This is the third year SaskPower employees from throughout the province have raised funds to help students in one lucky school — first a North Battleford school, followed by a school in Yorkton and now Prince Albert’s Riverside Community School.
“We selected a school with kids that are in an environment of low socioeconomic circumstance and where we can do something good for the community,” SaskPower diversity co-ordinator Pauline Streete said.
For our kids, it means everyone will have supplies — everyone will have a backpack ... It’s a wonderful honour for us. - Riverside Community School principal Mona Markwart
“We’re looking at our future workforce needs, so we’re trying to encourage kids to stay in school, get an education and to present SaskPower as a potential future employer for them.”
Students were handed their backpacks during a morning assembly on Tuesday, with school faculty and SaskPower employees sharing in the students’ celebration.
“It’s amazing to see a child’s shoulders fold as the old backpack falls off and they’re ready for the new one,” Streete said.
“So, the kids are great and they do appreciate it and it’s quite a sight to see.”
