TUESDAY, September 26, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
Years of Maureen Doll KELLI COORDINATOR
K
YOU ARE MY
SUNSHINE
Ivy and Thatcher enjoying a hug.
erri and Thatcher (now 4 years old) have enjoyed Parent Child Mother Goose (PCMG) since Thatcher was a baby. Being from out of province, Kerri doesn’t get to see her family much so when she heard about the Intergenerational PCMG program at Gemstone Care Centre, she was excited. She loved the idea of spending time with seniors and felt it would be good for Thatcher too. At the first session, Thatcher took a liking to one particular senior, Ivy. Within the first weeks, he started calling her “Grandma Ivy”, sat next to her, and liked to touch her face and hands. Ivy has mild dementia and doesn’t always remember Thatcher’s name, but has a ready smile for him when she enters the room. “I think this program is just great and I love seeing the children,” says Ivy. Thatcher has a speech delay and tends to talk very fast. Ivy has a hard time understanding him, so Thatcher has learned to slow down and work on his pronunciation of words. “Mother Goose has been incredible for his speech delay by helping with his vocabulary. We sing the songs all the time especially “You are my Sunshine” because this is Ivy’s favourite song. Thatcher loves to sing it to her. “Watching their relationship grow is a gift,” says Kerri. For information: 250-554-3134 or kelli@interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca
OVER $700,000
Raised!
Jeremy reading to his daughter Willa
WHAT A SUCCESS STORY
T
en years ago a small group of people met in the Kamloops Daily News boardroom to plan the first Kamloops Raise-a-Reader campaign. At that time, no-one could have predicted what a success story it was going to be. Thanks to the generous support of our local communities, corporate sponsors and donors, the enthusiasm of our volunteers and committee, we have raised more than $700,000 to support local literacy programs for all ages. Local sports teams are the backbone of our volunteer effort; their enthusiasm and ability to raise funds for the campaign remain unmatched. The TRU Men’s Volleyball and Basketball teams compete against each other each year, and this year TRU Men’s and Women’s soccer teams join the campaign. The Kamloops Blazers, Kamloops Broncos and Kamloops Storm are long-time supporters as are the Rotary clubs of Kamloops, Kiwanis club, Kamloops Ambassadors, City of Kamloops, TRU ECE students, Urban Systems, Domtar, Active Health, ICS, Cathy McLeod’s office and Marilyn Simpson. Raise-a-Reader Day is a true community effort! The goodwill shown by our main venue locations - McDonalds, Starbucks, Tim Hortons and A&W - and the generosity of the public is much appreciated. Each year we have increased the amount we raise which increases the percentage of matching funds we receive from the province. Last year’s total was $110,637.88. By inviting the neighbouring communities of Barriere, Clearwater, Logan Lake and Chase to participate in 2010, we increased our pot. (Each community gets back all they raise plus their share of the matching funds). This year, 27 local elementary schools are pitching in to raise funds during early morning drop off.
DONATE TODAY
at these
Locations
W1
Proudly presented by
Hegyi Refrigeration is focused on excellence and is committed to providing our customers with honest genuine quality service they can depend on.
W2
TUESDAY, September 26, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Providing the tools to help children & famili Barriere & Area
LITERACY OUTREACH
Jill Hayward LITERACY OUTREACH
COORDINATOR, BARRIERE
We fund a Parent Child Mother Goose Program in partnership with Success By Six, a Family Day book-a-thon for kids with the District of Barriere, a homework help initiative for elementary students, and a homework assist program for students who are temporarily not able to attend school. We partner with the Barriere Lions Club in an annual Festival of Books Fundraiser for youth literacy initiatives, and we distribute new books for children at the Festival of Wellness and the Barriere Family Fun Day. We provide new Books for Babies, stock our blue bookshelves throughout the community, and maintain a “free books” shelf with new and gently used books for all ages at the Early Years Centre in the Ridge. We coordinate the Adult Partner Assisted Learning (PAL) program, and have implemented a popular twice a month free computer training session for our senior citizens at the Barriere Seniors Hall to help with computer and cell phone literacy. We held our first Teddy Bear Picnic in partnership with the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association (who donated the facility) in 2016 with approximately 40 children attending, and plan to do it again. For infomation: 250-672-9773 250-318-8023 • jill.h@yellowheadcs.ca
PALS ACROSS AN AGE DIVIDE, FORGED THROUGH A PAPER BOND By Cole Wagner MERRITT HERALD
Nine-year-old Evan Dallaire, a student in the Grade 3/4 split class at Logan Lake Elementary, made a new friend this year — albeit one who is a couple years older than him. Evan didn’t meet Pat Marshall in his class, nor did he make her acquaintance on the playground during recess. Instead, Evan got to know Pat Marshall and her husband Ian in a way that not many kids these days are familiar with — by becoming pen pals. Dallaire’s class was part of the pilot version of the PaperPal project in Logan Lake. PaperPals aims to pair up kids with seniors living in the community, who then get to know one-another through a correspondence of
handwritten letters. The PaperPal program was developed by Domtar, one of the world’s largest paper companies, and brought into the community through a partnership between the Better at Home program and Logan Lake Literacy, explained Melanie Michalewicz, co-ordinator of the Better at Home program. Since starting the Better at Home program in 2013, which aims to keep seniors living in the comforts of their own home by providing extra non-medical resources to the elderly, Michalewicz has been especially focused on expanding what she called “inter-generational connections.” “I’ve always been looking for new and different ways to connect youth and seniors in the community, so I took the lead on this as it came by,”
Unplug and
Ian and Pat Marshall pose with their PaperPal, nine-yearold Evan Dallaire. (Cole Wagner/Herald).
said Michalewicz. More than 20 kids in the Grade 3/4 class at Logan Lake Elementary were matched up with seniors in January. The kids and seniors — who had never met each other — exchanged about three or four letters per month in the lead up to meeting for the first time. Student Evan Dallaire’s favourite part of the exercise in letter writing was the
process of getting to know Family Literacy WeekPat his senior partner, in January Marshall, and the freedom to ask lots of questions. Should the program return, she’ll be a part of it again, said Marshall. “If they give me a new child next year, that’ll be great. But I’ll still write to Evan next year,“ she said.
GET
“UNPLUGGED”
For information: 250-318-3561 TODAY loganlakeliteracy@gmail.com Read Colour YOUTH TUTOR PROGRAM Walk Skip to one with a tutor. The program myself…I would like to keep Kerry Milner Cairns works in partnership with Raft coming because it makes me Singto be ableDance River Elementary and Clearwater happy to read.” Secondary ensuring that the Parents are appreciative of the support complements what is Playtheir children Visit support receive We believe it is important to being taught in the classroom. respect parents who advocate which helps them be more One to one programs tend for their children and work with successful at school. Write Drum to be so much more than just them to help their children have This program is funded by tutoring programs. As the tutor successful and joyful experiences Raise-a-Reader funds, with some Bake Paint and student build a relationship, with learning. The goal of the financial support from the TNC LITERACY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, CLEARWATER
Kallan McLarty and Laura Pickering
Unplug and Family Literacy Week in January
Clearwater Literacy Initiative Youth Tutor Program is to help youth under the age of 19 years build their math, reading, and writing skills while working one
Unplug and Unplug and Get “Unplugged today” Read Walk
Sing Write Family Literacy Week in January Play Bake
Colour Skip
Dance Drum Family Literacy Week in January Visit Paint
they can make a difference in each other’s lives. As one learner said, “I enjoy coming to the program it [makes] me feel happy and good about
Unplug For more info, and contact your local Literacy Outreach Family Literacy Week Coordinator in January
United Way.
For information: 250-674-3530 (extension 102) kerry.c@yellowheadcs. ca
TUESDAY, September 26, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
E TODAY BY HELPING RAISE A READER
ies improve their literacy skills is an investment in our community and our future
FROM BEHIND BARS Fiona Clare
LITERACY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, KAMLOOPS
It is hard to be successful in life without a high school education. 79% of male Canadian inmates lack a high school diploma, as do 71% of female inmates. 70% of inmates read at lower than a grade 8. Low literacy likely keeps many inmates from participating in learning opportunities available to them, but those who do, not only improve their literacy skills but also raise their self esteem. Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre (KRCC) offers inmates literacy and learning opportunities. Through the School Program inmates can work towards completing their high school diploma (Adult Dogwood). Tonia Gillespie, a Literacy Outreach worker for Street School, connects inmates immediately on their release with Street School, so they can continue their learning journey. In the Kamloops Partner Assisted Learning Program (KPAL) inmates work one on one with trained volunteer tutors to improve their reading and writing. One of the most popular programs at KRCC is the Storybook Program, a partnership between the John Howard Society, Literacy in Kamloops, and School District No. 73. Inmates choose a children’s book to read, volunteers record them reading it, and the book and CD is then mailed to their child/grandchild. Not only does this program give inmates an opportunity to improve their own literacy, but also gives them a way to connect with their family while behind bars. 160 books and CDs were mailed to families last year.
W3
Proudly presented by
Hegyi Refrigeration is focused on excellence and is committed to providing our customers with honest genuine quality service they can depend on.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Barbara Maher LITERACY OUTREACH COORDINATOR, CHASE
The Chase Literacy Program brought back the ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy Program this past year under the leadership of volunteer, Denise Harper with the help of Deb Kalinin. The ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy Program gives students the opportunity to practice their reading skills with a caring, patient adult. This one-onone time increases their self confidence, their reading fluency and comprehension, and their chance of meeting with success at school and later in life. “It was super fun. I loved how I got better and better at reading. I am sad it is over,” says Nolan, a past participant in the program. Tutors read with 3 students for 30 minutes each once a week, either morning or afternoon, for 12 weeks. They develop a relationship with their students and get to see them grow as readers. “Chase is fortunate to have many community members volunteering their time to help children in the community,” says Maher, LOC for Chase. The volunteers enjoy the program as much as the students and find it a rewarding experience. “My first time sharing my love of reading with the one on one students could not have been better. We learned from each other and the young folk were exceptional!” says tutor Donna Norman. Ed Garland, also a ONE TO ONE tutor recalls, “When the students first arrived they thought it was going to be just like a lesson. When they learned we would chat, read from a book then play a few games, it was much different. I enjoyed working with the students and looked forward to it. I wished it would not end because I saw the students were improving.” The ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy program has run in School District No. 73 for the past 18 years. ONE TO ONE takes place in most of the Elementary schools and is always in need of more volunteer tutors.
For information: 250-319-9653 literacyinkamloops@gmail.com Stats supplied by www.decoda.ca
Read the whole letter online at KamloopsThisWeek.com
Volunteer Tutors Needed
As a volunteer with the ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy Program, you will help a child build reading skills and selfconfidence. By dedicating just a few hours a week during the school day, you can help a child develop a love of reading.
Chase ONE TO ONE Tutors
For more info,
contact Cami at one2one.kamloops@gmail.com or 250.573.1785
W4
TUESDAY, September 26, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com Proudly presented by
Hegyi Refrigeration is focused on excellence and is committed to providing our customers with honest genuine quality service they can depend on.
“ TEDDY BEAR PICNIC IS OUR FAVOURITE EVENT!” - Parent “ SINCE THE ‘COME READ WITH ME’ PROGRAM BEGAN, I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN PARENT INVOLVEMENT AND READING RESULTS FOR MY STUDENTS.” - Janet Lewis, Grade 1 teacher
“ THIS IS HOW YOU BUILD COMMUNITY-WHAT A GIFT!” - Desert Gardens Mother Goose Participant
“ THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MY CHILD SUCCEED AT READING!” -Parent
Raise-a-Reader Committee THANK YOU
to our
Sponsors