We planned the Welcome Back BBQ for Wednesday, September 24th, choosing this evening because the school was already hosting Welcome Conversations with teachers and families, ensuring many families would be on site. We asked the school to include information about the BBQ in their communications with families, and we posted notices around the building. At the same time, we invited adults to sign up as volunteers. We also invited the SWIS (Settlement Workers) and school staff, along with the community agencies and organizations partnered with the school. This allowed families to become familiar with their staff and the services they offer.
Parks and Recreation hosted a very popular face-painting booth, and the Youth Krew from the South Central Youth Centre provided activities such as tug-of-war and other games. Burnaby Neighbourhood House and Burnaby Family Life also joined us, contributing to a strong sense of community with so many groups represented.
Before the event, we ordered chips, hot dogs, and buns from a local store, which generously sold the items to us at cost, though this still used the full amount of the grant. A challenge we faced was not knowing how many people would attend, which made estimating the amount of food difficult. Fortunately, we had enough, and families were able to enjoy additional servings if they wished. Another unexpected challenge was discovering that the BBQ did not work, requiring us to pivot to boiling the hot dogs instead. This adjustment was manageable, and the volunteers preparing the food handled the situation with good humour.
It was wonderful to help Maywood Community School begin the school year by hosting a Welcome Back BBQ for the community. Many families attended, and the event created a positive, welcoming atmosphere. Families new to the school expressed that they felt included and were excited to be part of a community that hosts events like this.
