WEDNESDAY, September 25, 2019
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BACK TO STREET SCHOOL,
BEATING CANCER
Tamara Vukusic
A
s a 57 year-old greatgrandmother Leisa Kreiter came to school every day, pushing through the side effects of chemotherapy to complete her high school diploma. “The staff at Street School did whatever it took to help me. They even picked up and dropped off my assignments from home on the rough days,” says Kreiter. Health problems during elementary school in North Battleford, Saskatchewan were her first of many enormous hurdles. “I loved going to school, but getting there was a physical challenge,” she explains. “But I never missed a day unless I was in the hospital,” she adds. Leisa’s health improved in junior high, but school was no longer a place she loved. Severe bullying from classmates included her nickname “Olga”. “I still don’t understand why they called me that,” she pauses to add. “I lashed out at other kids and failed grade 9. That is when I decided never to go back.” Leisa lied about her age to land her first full-time job at a gas station. She moved in with her boyfriend at 15, married at 18 and soon after had her first child. She
LEISA’S MANTRA: Spread your wings It’s time to fly Make the leap Own the sky
survived the next 19 years of life in a controlling and abusive home. “I fell into the drug scene,” she says, “I refer to it as my life sentence.” She moved to 100 Mile House, got clean and started over. Eventually she moved to Kamloops where she worked her way up the Tim Hortons ladder and moved into management. She stayed for fifteen years. Then her injured back forced her to go on disability.
“I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t take a leap of faith and go back to school.” “I knew it was time to go back to school,” she explains. “Work BC told me about a program called Street School”.
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She was hesitant at first. Her association with school was negative. “I met with Tonia (Street School Outreach Worker) and realized this was a completely different thing from what I had known.” She registered for Street School in January 2018. In March 2018 Leisa was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. She took a brief break from school for surgery and returned during chemotherapy. “It was hard to comprehend math because I had a foggy ‘chemo brain’,” says Leisa. “I became discouraged. Tonia and Erika at Street School continued to remind me how badly I wanted to complete the program. They told me they knew I could do it.” “Street School was a safe and comfortable place to learn,” she says with certainty. She completed math, communications, family management and BC First Nations. “I enjoyed BC First Nations so much that I bought the textbook!” she laughs. Leisa is on the road to becoming an Addictions Counsellor. “I now have the credentials I need to do this. Thanks to Street School I also have better self-esteem, more confidence and better relationships with friends and family.”
If you’re reading this, thank you! You’ve just helped support literacy in Kamloops and surrounding communities with your generous donation, which will be paired with matching funds from the provincial government. Last year we raised more than $130,000 for our local literacy groups.
In this special edition of Kamloops This Week you’ll read about the many groups and programs your donation is helping to support. Enjoy it and again, thank you for your support!
Daybreak Rotary club members Jordan Marshall, left, Brendan Shaw, Bryce Herman and Lisa Lake promote Raise a Reader last year outside Cityview Starbucks.
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WEDNESDAY, September 25, 2019
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOD
Providing the tools to help skills is an investmen
WHO WE ARE
Literacy in Kamloops (LinK) is a group of community partners who work with a Literacy Outreach Coordinator to meet the literacy needs of everyone.
2018/19
THE REACH OF OUR PROGRAMS
1 TO 1 Children’s Literacy Volunteer tutors help young students build reading confidence
24 schools
5676
VOLUNTEER HOURS
21
years
160 volunteers work with 320 students
8 KRCC Storybook Program years Volunteers record inmates reading children’s books and mail the book and recording to the inmate’s child.
176 books recorded by 51 inmates
HOURS 110 VOLUNTEER
WHAT WE DO
• Provide leadership • Encourage new partnerships and participation • Increase awareness and understanding about the importance of literacy • Support literacy programs • Build community
8
Come Read with Me
38 workshops
60
VOLUNTEER HOURS
•P arent Child Mother Goose: 61 programs - 874 families, over 2000 adults & children • Teddy Bear Picnic - 1313 attended • ABC Day - 641 attended
25 bookshelves in school and community locations stocked with free books
1215 packages given out
Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week
9
years
6 The Bright Red Book Bus years
The Book Bus visits schools and parks in the summer to encourage reading for fun
3000+ books given away
• 3000+people attended 40 free events • 7900 students took the Unplug and Play challenge
Volunteer tutors work one on one with adult learners on their learning goals
9
years
20 matched pairs
624 VOLUNTEER HOURS
13,705 books given out
Families are encouraged to find a healthy balance between screen time and active family time
Kamloops Partner Assisted Learning
KELLI programs
8 The Bright Red Bookshelves years
years
Parents/caregivers of grade 1 students learn how to support reading at home
900 VOLUNTEER HOURS
1,500+ children visit the bus
WE ALSO SUPPORT
Unplug and
• Street School - SD 73 Adult Continuing Education • Books For Babies – Thompson Nicola Regional Library • Comfort, Play Teach – Kamloops Immigrant Services
WHO FUNDS US?
• Decoda Literacy Solutions • RFamily aise aLiteracy ReaderWeek in January • Grants/Sponsorships
MEET CRYSTAL MURGATROYD GET THE NEW FACE OF MOTHER“UNPLUGGED” GOOSE
Fiona Clare
C
rystal Murgatroyd is Kamloops’ new ParentChild Mother Goose (PCMG) Program Coordinator. She loves her new job. “What can be better than hanging out with families, singing songs, learning rhymes and listening to stories?” asks Murgatroyd. When Make Children First funding was cut this year, the Kamloops Early Language & Literacy (KELLI) Program Manager position was lost. Maureen Doll had held this
Unplug and Family Literacy Week in January
position for many years and was involved in fundraising, organizing literacy events and coordinating PCMG programs. Doll has found a new home as the Family Services Director at the Kamloops Community YMCA-YWCA, which also now acts as the host agency for the Parent- Child Mother Goose Program ®. “I am thrilled to still be involved with a program that is so near and dear to my heart and to have the Kamloops Y be the host agency,” says Doll.” With more than 60 PCMG programs being held annually in Kamloops there was still a need for
a part-time Program Coordinator and Murgatroyd got the job. “When I had my own children, I knew Mother Goose would become a major part of our lives. We started attending when my youngest was roughly four months old, and we have been active participants ever since! I have seen my daughter get up and sing, dance and have a great time with her peers, even though she is socially anxious. I have seen her eating a variety of foods during the Mother Goose snack, even though at home she can be quite a picky eater. I have also seen her learn to recite entire songs, rhymes and stories, even though
and and Unplug GetUnplug “Unplugged today” Read Walk
Sing Write Family Literacy Week Play Bake in January
Colour Skip
Dance Family Literacy Week Visit in January
Drum Paint
and For Unplug more info, contact your local Literacy Outreach Family Literacy Week Coordinator in January
she has struggled with her verbal speech. Even some of our closest friendships were made as a result of Mother Goose.” says Murgatroyd. Doll, Murgatroyd, and a team of facilitators and staff, work together to ensure the PCMG program remains active in Kamloops, helping thousands of people each year fall in love with singing, rhyming, stories and early learning.
TODAY Read Colour Walk Skip Sing Dance Play Visit Write To stay up-to-date,Drum follow PCMG on Facebook Kamloops ParentBake GoosePaint Child Mother / Kamloops
Early Years Centre and Child Care Resource & Referral crystal.murgatroyd@kamloopsy.ca
WEDNESDAY, September 25, 2019
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
DAY BY HELPING RAISE A READER
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children & families improve their literacy nt in our community and our future
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ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE TEDDY BEAR PICNIC Crystal Murgatroyd
L
ike all great stories, this one begins with… Once upon a time there was a magical celebration of literacy called the Mother Goose Teddy Bear Picnic. This was a time when everyone in the land of Kamloops was reminded that learning should be fun! It was a celebration of the power and pleasure of singing songs, telling stories, and learning rhymes.
1,300 people attended the 15th annual Mother Goose Teddy Bear Picnic at Riverside Park in which more than 20 community partners were involved. The Teddy Bear Picnic is the wrap-up celebration of the Parent-Child Mother Goose (PCMG) program which reaches more than 2000 people each year. The Teddy Bear Picnic brings people together to celebrate the joy of early years’ literacy and learning. Young
athletes test their agility in physical literacy stations; young minds create and explore toys and materials; budding artists craft their dreams into reality; and little bookworms find cozy corners to snuggle up with a book. Hundreds of people join hands, hearts and minds in the largest Mother Goose circle ever. Smiles and laughter are everywhere! Witches, monsters, princesses and princes - all had enchanting adventures. And they all lived happily ever after.
HELPING CLEARWATER FORESTRY WORKERS
K
erry Milner Cairns is the Literacy Outreach Co-ordinator for Clearwater and area, working under Yellowhead Community Services and based out of the Dutch Lake Community Centre. Kerry notes the importance of supporting the Postmedia Raise a Reader campaign fundraiser, saying this fundraiser is an integral part of helping the social wellbeing and quality of life in her community. Especially so since the recent closure of the Canfor Mill in Vavenby which has directly effected over 170 mill workers and further impacts other forestry workers employed by logging contractors, road builders and consultants. “The majority of our Raise a Reader funds have been earmarked this year to assist unemployed forestry workers,” says Kerry. “The needs of these workers were
identified through a survey of Canfor employees to find out what the workers want to do in the near future and how we can support them.” “Right now we are helping the workers to navigate Social Services and Government assistance programs. I am busy making appointments with the workers and meeting with them.” Kerry says many of the displaced forestry workers have been at the mill for many years and now find themselves having to access high school transcripts from years ago, or upgrade skills to be able to transition into today’s job market. “Some need to upgrade their computer skills, some need to be able to complete required courses so they can graduate,” says Kerry, “This will all help them with finding new employment.” She notes that Clearwater will use some of the Raise a Reader funds to
BUSY IN BARRIERE Jill Hayward BARRIERE & AREA LITERACY OUTREACH COORDINATOR
B hire additional instructors and tutors to support the Community Adult Literacy Program which will help these unemployed forestry workers “to attain a high school diploma or other certifications”. “We want the extra tutors so we do not have a waiting list for tutoring, and in this way we can move these people through as quickly as possible so they can obtain employment,” says Kerry. She notes client referrals are already coming in to her learner program from WorkBC and other service providers.
arriere and Area Literacy Outreach utilizes Raise A Reader funds for numerous free youth literacy programs within our community. This includes weekly Parent Child Mother Goose sessions, One-On-One Youth Tutoring, Books For Babies, Teddy Bear Indoor Picnic, and Theatre Camps and Workshops for Youth. Our Theatre Camps and Workshops are in partnership with Thompson Valley Players and provide a unique opportunity for children to come together over a number of days to socialize and learn new skills. They play theatre games, write and star in their own skits or commercials, and do script readings. Imagination and creative skills run wild as the projects take shape until the last day when the youth perform their skits (in costumes of their own making) for other members of the group. “Thompson Valley Players are always eager to provide this opportunity for area students to have a stage where they can showcase their creative talents,” says TV Players representative Beverly Murphy. “It is not possible to offer these programs at no charge to these students without financial
FREE Tutoring for Adult Learners Want to be a volunteer tutor?
We offer free training - No teaching experience necessary
Pictured are four local youth performing their skit during a TV Players and Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Theatre Camp. help. We are grateful for the continued and dedicated support we are given through Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach and their Raise a Reader funding.”
For more info,
contact Susan at 778-257-9223 kamloopspal@gmail.com
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WEDNESDAY, September 25, 2019
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Learn more about literacy programs in your community BARRIERE
250-319-8023 Jill.h@yellowheadcs.ca
CHASE
250-320-5051 literacyinchase@gmail.com
CLEARWATER
250-674-3530 (ext.102) Kerry.c@yellowheadcs.ca
KAMLOOPS
LOGAN LAKE
250-319-9653 250-318-3561 literacyinkamloops@gmail.com loganlakeliteracy@gmail.com
2019 RAISE A READER COMMITTEE
OPEN THE WORLD OF READING TO A CHILD! Become a ONE TO ONE Volunteer Tutor
D
o you have 2 hours a week during school hours to read one-on-one with young students? The ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy Program needs you. No experience is necessary, but you must have good English language skills. We provide free training and ongoing support. The ONE TO ONE Children’s Literacy Program gives students the opportunity to practice their reading skills with a caring, patient adult. This one-on-one time increases their self-confidence, their reading fluency and comprehension, and their chance of meeting with success at school and in life. Tutors read with 3 students for 30 minutes each at a local elementary school once a week, either morning or afternoon, for 12 weeks. They develop a relationship with their students and see them grow as readers. What a rewarding volunteer experience!
FALL 2019 TRAINING SESSIONS Monday, September 30 Thursday, October 3 OR 9:00 am - 12:00 noon 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm Henry Grube Education Centre 245 Kitchener Crescent
To register for a Training Session or for more information, contact Cami at one2one.kamloops@gmail.com | 250.573.1785
THANK YOU
to our
Sponsors