A year-end celebration was held on May 30 at École John Wilson Elementary School (JWES) marking the end of the fifth year of the Roots of Empathy program in Innisfail.
This year one Grade 4 class from Spruce View School, five Grade 1 classes from JWES, one Grade 1 class from St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School, one Grade 1 class from Bowden Grandview School, and one Grade 7 class from Innisfail Middle School had the chance to participate in the program that teaches students about caring for others.
Through Roots of Empathy classes are partnered with a mother and newborn child for a year and receive monthly visits from their baby to watch and learn about their development and to witness the relationship between the mother and child.
“The overall goal for the program is to decrease the level of bullying between school children,” said Heather Dixon, a facilitator with the Town of Innisfail, adding that the program has proven to help increase empathy in students even after the program is over.
The program is facilitated by trained instructors who guide the learning process with the different classes. The children also spend time learning about how to interact safely with babies.
Program organizers are currently looking for mothers willing to participate in the program next year. Babies eligible to participate must be born between June and August of this year. Those interested can contact Shelley Gagnon at the Town of Innisfail.
