The after-hours Whole Child Program currently offered at Whitehorse Elementary School is about to expand its boundaries and offer similar services at Elijah Smith Elementary.

'The Whole Child Program is a great example of how a school community can work together to build an exceptional education environment for students,' acting Education Minister Elaine Taylor told reporters this morning.

The Department of Education will be providing $91,000 in new funding to the program and continue to provide school-based space free of charge.

The five-year-old Whole Child Program works on the concept of it takes a village to raise a child. It focuses on involving students, parents, teachers and community leaders, such as the RCMP, in providing a positive and inclusive after-hours education experience for children and families.

'Education does have to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom in many different ways,' said Pat Berrel, principal of Whitehorse Elementary School and a member of the Whole Child steering committee.

'This is not an education program alone. This is a program that touches justice very significantly. This is a program that touches health and social services very significantly.'

Berrel was involved with the seeds that planted the program more than 15 years ago. Since its official launch five years ago, the program has continued to thrive on Wednesday nights at Whitehorse Elementary School.

It provides students and parents from all across the city, regardless of what school the child attends or his or her grade level, with the opportunity to take part in activities such as gym, swimming, parenting workshops, cooking classes, stain glass, crafts, babysitter training and access to computer labs.

Transportation to the program is arranged for any family interested free of charge.

Some of the more popular courses offered through the program have waiting lists and the usual weekly activities can attract up to 95 participants, said Berrel.

'The whole idea is to engage children on every possible level and engage the parents and bring the community into the school,' said John Wright, principal of Elijah Smith. 'It's so many things all in one program.'

The program will first go out into the community door-to-door, conducting a needs survey to determine what types of programming residents want, said Crystal Pearl-Hodgins.

She said she expected full programming to be available on Thursday nights at Elijah Smith beginning around Christmas time.

An abbreviated version of the program, such as computer lab availability and gym activities, may be starting as early as next month.

Wright said it is beneficial the program talks to the community first rather than simply creating a structure and then wondering why people don't show up.

At Elijah Smith, the program will be working in conjunction with the Kwanlin Dun First Nation to ensure the community's needs are addressed.

It really is a grassroots, homegrown program, said David Sloan, a director of learning with the Department of Education and steering committee member.

The Whole Child Program has been recognized nationally for its efforts, winning awards from the Road Not Taken, Chiefs of Police of Canada, Network of Innovative Schools and the Canadian Association of Community Living.

The program also received a seven-page mention in Silken Lauman's book Child's Play as an example of how to bring community involvement back into schools.

The core of the project is a can-do attitude that provides support for families to create a better life for their children, said Sloan.

'The single most important factor was that in that child's life there was some person to whom they could engage,' he said.

'One individual can make a massive difference in a child's life. That person believing in the kid. That person supporting the kid can make all the difference.

'This is a program that I believe we can make a difference and I believe we can make a significant difference.'