When Pastor Lyle Notice, Assistant Director of the Alberta Conference Youth Department, donned his super hero cloak and brushed up his acting skills to launch SUPER MANS (Small Useful People Expanding Resources for MANS), he brought both fun and food for thought to assembly period at Mamawi Atosketan Native School.

The students enjoyed the antics of SUPER MANS and his sidekick Luke Bannis, who played a student facing the challenges many MANS students face. The MANS family responded enthusiastically to the invitation to participate in fundraising for their new school.

SUPER MANS, an entrepreneur-style initiative of the Alberta Conference, encourages kids to use their power to do good by investing and growing a “seed grant” to help build MANS’ new high school. The purpose of the new school building is to allow First Nations kids who attend the one of a kind (but over-crowded) school to stay in the unique environment that fostered their success, and thus increase their chances of completing high school.

While SUPER MANS’ purpose is serious, SUPER MANS has a playful side. “SUPER MANS is also a superhero that helps kids realize they’re not alone and that they can make a difference,” said Pastor Lyle. “They have the power to do good. If SUPER MANS helps them to realize that, I’ll play SUPER MANS all day long!” he smiles. The event was covered by The Lacombe Express (Dec. 17 issue).

MANS students and their families are already getting involved. The first SUPER MANS fundraiser will be held January 28—a hot lunch put on by the Grade 4 class that’s open to the entire school community. Teacher Russ Nielsen began brainstorming fundraising ideas with the class immediately after SUPER MANS’ appearance, and organized the class to help with food preparation, lunch delivery, and cleanup.