The YMCA of Eastern Ontario is set to host the Student Impact Program, a newly named academic suspension initiative formerly known as SNAP (Student Non-Academic Program), starting February 2024. The program, transitioning from its previous management by Youth Diversions, aims to help students reintegrate into their academic environments by fostering essential skills for engagement and academic progress.
This restructured initiative is a collaborative effort involving the YMCA, local school boards, and the operating agency. Patty Gollogly, associate superintendent of Safe and Caring Schools and Program with the Limestone District School Board, expressed gratitude to Shawn Quigley and Youth Diversions for their dedication over the past two decades, shaping the program into a robust platform that aligns with the YMCA’s successful Alternative Suspension Program.
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board’s superintendent of education, Carey Smith-Dewey, acknowledged the program’s seamless fit with the YMCA’s existing student suspension program, prompting the decision to consolidate the programs within one institution.
Rob Adams, CEO of the YMCA of Eastern Ontario, highlighted the organization’s extensive work with youth, including the Alternative Suspension Program and partnerships such as the Focus on Youth program with the Limestone District School Board. Adams emphasized the strategic alignment and synergy between the programs, ensuring a smooth transition and the preservation of the Student Impact Program’s integrity during the move.
The YMCA’s position as a significant youth employer in the region, coupled with its wide array of healthy extracurricular activities, presents an enriching environment for the development and growth of students participating in the program.
