Your kids will love this new school program
Good morning from the Valley — the fields are talking, the rivers are moving, and we've got stories from five communities that matter. You know, out here, we’re always looking for ways to keep our roots strong, especially with so many families moving in and out of the region. So when I heard about Peden Hill Elementary School in Prince George starting after-school Punjabi classes, my ears perked right up. It’s not in our immediate backyard, but it’s a story that absolutely resonates with what we see here in Abbotsford every single day.
### Keeping Our Kids Connected
This isn't just about learning a language; it's about connecting kids to their *virsa* – their heritage. In Abbotsford, especially in areas like South Abbotsford or down near the Sumas Prairie, Punjabi is spoken in so many homes. Our gurdwaras are bustling, and you hear the language everywhere from the berry fields to the grocery store aisles. What Peden Hill is doing, creating a space for kids to learn Punjabi outside of home, it’s a powerful move to help them feel seen and keep those cultural ties strong, which is so important when kids are growing up in a new place or just trying to navigate two cultures.
* **What Peden Hill is doing:** Offering after-school Punjabi language classes. * **Why it matters:** Helps students connect to their families and culture. * **The Abbotsford connection:** We have a huge Punjabi-speaking community right here, and initiatives like this resonate deeply with our local families.
It makes me think about how many families here in Abbotsford would jump at a program like this. We're a hub of multicultural agriculture, and ensuring the next generation understands and appreciates their background, whether it’s Punjabi, Dutch, or Plautdietsch, that’s how we keep our communities vibrant and strong. It's about more than just words; it’s about identity.
Harpreet Gill-Thiessen, MiTL Sports Desk, Abbotsford.
Gurpreet and the crew on the morning show talk about stuff like this all the time – tune in at mornings.live.