Transitions
After school, the youth of the lowertown community, occupy themselves by going to various amount of programs . The one we are writing about is about this program that receives youth from 12-14 years of age (kind of a teenagers program). It helps them with their transition into high school. The program is called “ Transition’s”. Transition’s staff teach us useful life and scholar skills like; cooking, writing, team work, etc. You can also socialize with many of the kids that go there. Transition’s is also a place where you can take a break from school, and have fun while learning. Here at this program, we have a lot of activities like; visits at the library, field trips, pizza parties, physical activities, etc.
In conclusion, Transition’s is a place where you can talk about any subject and have fun while learning about your transition into high school.
By, Naturelle Niyonkurn
Basketball Program
The basketball program is a place for youth ages 8 – 15. The groups are separated ages 8 to 13 from 5:30-7:00 and 13-15 from 7:00-8:30. All kids are welcome to join this program. The basketball program did not get its name because of just playing basketball. Before the program started all you would play is basketball so everyone called it basketball, but as the program changed into playing multi sports everyone still called it basketball. The basketball program is run by the resource center, there are usually three staff that work it.
Basketball program is a place to play sports with friends and to get a little competitive. Also it gives parents time to formulate the rest of their day. Fun fact, after basketball snacks are provided for the youth who participate in the activities. Not to worry the snacks are always healthy. If your child is interested in joining the program have a chat with the two staff listed on top. Sometimes they do open gym where half of the group is playing one sport and the other side is playing another sport. This session we have been playing dodgeball a sport my friend Suhaib and I. In conclusion basketball is a place that your child may soon join so if you’re interested you know what to do your actions can make a difference for your child please join now.
By, Suhaib Yusuf, Ryan LaGuff, and Ayden Dent
Summer Camp
Summer Camp is a fun place to go to during the summer vacation. Whether it’s to spend time with your friends or just there to participate in the daily team activities. Free breakfast, snack and lunch will be provided such as: yogurt & fruit, crackers & cheese, sandwiches and more healthy snack options are provided. For children and teens between the age of 5-14 this program is the best place to send your child.
Activities are one of the best parts of Summer Camp, from arts & crafts to sports & mini games, we also played sports such as basketball, soccer and soccer baseball. In the past, Summer Camp has been held at Ecole Saint Anne, Ecole De la Salle and York st Public School. Also there are field trips to Calypso, flying squirrel and Mont Cascade. We’ve also gone to museums like the Aviation Museum.
Last year at summer camp we went to Mont Cascade, Parc Omega and Arbraska Park they were all field trips that were very fun. The time we went to Mont Cascade was so fun because there were so many rides and lots of food. We also went to Calypso at the end of Summer Camp. We went for the whole time and we went into groups with one staff to monitor each one. Though sometimes we would leave the group and form one of our own without a staff if we were given permission to. At the end, the staff would come look for us. Some of us particularly enjoyed the ride called Tornado Alley, and the Boomerango! Every single time we went on a field trip it was really fun and memorable.
Sometimes, people would come every so often to teach and help us create different types of art, music and they would also bring animals to show us. We’d also have freetime outdoors playing sports for our daily physical activity. Swimming daily at the Lowertown Patro Pool, and Wading pool was one of the many activities that we would do. When summer camp ended we celebrated by having a small festival in the park.
By, Jade Lortie, Nathan Garcia, Ava Morton, Zoe Do and Suhaib Yusuf
Awesome Arts Festival
In May, there was a special event for the residents of Lowertown, it is called the “Awesome Arts Festival”. It is an art show, where you can dance, sing, rap, show animations, Cine Poems and also express your feelings. During the show there were people at all ages that performed at the second gym in the Patro of Ottawa. This event happened on a Friday evening in May 2019.
In awesome arts you can do several things to express your feelings such as poems, raps talking freely and dancing. Dancing: A dancing instructor taught kids a choreographed routine. Rapping: A rapping instructor taught kids how to rap and then they made a music video. It is a good place to share your talents.
So what do the performers do when they’re about to make a rap song? They meet up with Jamaal Jackson Rogers in the library at York St Public school. Then they chit-chat about their week-ends at the beginning of the session. The performers write lyrics about growing up and then they make a music video. Awesome arts debuted the music video at the Patro.
“Awesome Arts is a good program to join because it is fun for the kids and the adults. It is more than an event, it is workshops that teach you how to make artistic things and teaches you about becoming a better person in the future. Also it is a show to impress the public and to show love.” (Josh)
“Awesome arts is a really protective place for your child to be in. It improves your poetry and your grammar.” (Tamer)
“Awesome Arts lets you be able to explore and learn new things.” (Anonymous)
By, Joshua Barros, Tamer Zreg, and Noah Ball