SPOKANE, Wash. -- A program through Spokane Public Schools that helps students when most routes fail, is now asking for the community's help.Â
Spokane Virtual Learning is a non-traditional school program, where students spend two days a week at Hive learning academics, and two days a week at the gym, getting P.E. credits and learning how to lift weights. The rest of the time, they're online. Â
"Students are referred to us through the Spokane School District who have experienced exclusionary discipline or have high levels of anxiety walking into the traditional school setting," said Dr. Kristen Arnold, an instruction coach at Spokane Virtual Learning.Â
For Erin Hadden's two boys, middle school especially was an uphill battle until they came to Spokane Virtual Learning.Â
"In 9th grade, was the start of when they got suspended for 40 days and I didn't think we were going to pull out of this, but we 100 percent have," Hadden said.Â
The program is funded through the OSPI.Â
"Our job is to provide wrap around support, with a social worker, with highly qualified teachers, and we implement best practices in a blended small group environment where students find success," Dr. Arnold said.Â
However, Dr. Arnold explains there's one thing missing for the majority of the 25 students that stops them from thriving completely.Â
"There's a lot of uncertainty that they're facing in terms of food insecurity," Dr. Arnold said. "A lot of students we have move between homes and so with that comes a lot of anxiety with where their next meal might be coming from."Â
Dr. Arnold wants to create a food pantry, or a "fuel pantry" as she calls it, for students to be able to access nutritional food when they're at the Hive. She's hoping the community can help.Â
"They're amazing students, and they're very resilient and they deserve a high quality education and access to food security," she said.Â
To help Spokane Virtual Learning create a fuel pantry, click HERE.Â
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Rania Kaur is a multimedia journalist and producer at 4 News Now. Previously a reporter at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, Louisiana, she reported on two catastrophic hurricanes, a winter storm, historic flooding and the pandemic. She stumbled into journalism after being a biochemistry major at Seattle University and immediately fell in love. Originally from Kent, Washington, her favorite things about Spokane are the weather, the parks and the people — she can’t wait to meet more of you. If you see her around say hi! She loves a good restaurant, so if you have any recommendations feel free to tell her. In her free time, you can catch her cheering for the Seahawks, binging Netflix, reading a book at a new coffee shop, or practicing Kirtan at the Gurdwara (ask her what that means)! If you have a story idea, you can email her at raniak@kxly.com, but you can also find her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
