Raise a Reader 2023

Donate online at WWW.RAISEAREADER.CA

ACTIVE BODIES, HEALTHY MINDS

Jodi LeBourdais, LinK Program Coordinator

At PLAYKamloops we understand that learning to move our bodies is just as important as learning our ABC’s and 1-2-3’s! That’s why we’re excited to be working with Literacy in Kamloops to bring this message to more families. Learning to move our bodies confidently in a variety of ways and in different environments gives us the tools and desire to be an active participant in our own lives. This process is called physical literacy – it’s building skills,

creating confidence and fostering motivation. The goal is to provide fun, safe, accessible and inviting opportunities to explore movement. Physical literacy opens the doors to opportunities in sport, fitness and recreation, but more importantly it fosters a desire for creating lifelong habits of active living. And this provides ammunition for our physical health while also improving our mental well-being.

The list of mental health benefits from regularly moving our body is long and affects every age and stage. The Canadian Psychological Association notes that regular

physical activity reduces day-to-day stress, boosts academic performance in children, youth and young adults, lowers the risk of neurodegenerative diseases (dementia) and cognitive decline, boosts self-esteem and helps to prevent depression and anxiety (November 2016).

Promoting physical literacy and active living doesn’t have to be complicated and doesn’t require a lot of material. It can look like adding a walk to your after-dinner routine, dancing while cleaning, or learning a new activity, like disc golf, with a friend. Small changes add up over time.

KINDERGARTEN READY!

Crystal Murgatroyd, Family Outreach Coordinator, YMCA BC

If Charlotte is asked if she’s excited about starting Kindergarten in September, she will tell you a resounding YES! Her eyes light up, her smile brightens, and her confident energy fills the room. This five-year-old is ready for Kindergarten! It didn’t start off this way. Charlotte was initially nervous about

attending Kindergarten. She was nervous about not knowing any friends, not knowing the teachers, and being in the school building.

Kindergarten on the Loose with Mother Goose changed all of that!

Through the Kindergarten on the Loose with Mother Goose Program, Charlotte was introduced to the school environment over a period of six weeks. She met new friends, some

THANK YOU to our Sponsors

admin VIP’s, and toured the school building – all while having fun singing, rhyming and listening to oral stories. Each session of Kindergarten on the Loose with Mother Goose was exciting!

“Kindergarten is not so scary anymore!” For Charlotte, Kindergarten has turned into a safe, familiar and fun place to play, laugh and learn. Registering your child for Kindergarten ensures you have access to all

School District S.P.A.R.K programming. This includes Kindergarten orientations, welcome packages, and participation in the Kindergarten on the Loose with Mother Goose groups at select schools. Registration for Kindergarten opens at the end of January for Schools of Choice, and early February for all Neighborhood Schools, for the following September.

Charlotte Murgatroyd

in 800 packages given out

and 25 years 10 years 13 years

The Book Bus visits schools and parks in the summer to encourage reading for fun 21 schools 32 schools 3,748+ books given away

Promoting early language and literacy development • Parent-Child Mother Goose - 33 programs556 adults and 636 children attended • Teddy Bear Picnic - 459 attended • ABC Family Literacy Day - 342 attended

360 VOLUNTEER HOURS 4500 VOLUNTEER HOURS 500 VOLUNTEER HOURS

KELLI Programs Fostering Literacy Plain Language Workshops

Volunteer tutors work one on one with adult learners on their learning goals BGC Youth tutors help young students build reading confidence Learn how to write so your message is easily understood

WHO

17 years 2 years

locations stocked with free 12 years 12 years 10 years 3 years

34 VOLUNTEER HOURS Kamloops Partner Assisted Learning Digital Literacy for Adults PLAYKamloops

Volunteer tutors offer support with digital devices 3 youth tutors work with 8 students 5 workshops 65 participants 72 HOURS OF READING SUPPORT

U nplu g a nd Family Literacy Week in January

300 VOLUNTEER HOURS

12 matched pairs

25 14 volunteers tutor 140 senior digital learners

1,714+ unique children participants

13 years 13 years 4 years

PHYSICAL LITERACY AND YOU! • Library PLAYKits - 2 lending kits developed to encourage children to move • Physical Literacy days with the book bus - games and activities at 5 locations250 participants

Get “Unplugged today” For more info, contact your local Literacy Outreach Coordinator Move Read Build Explore Learn Reflect

U nplu g a nd Family Literacy Week in January

U nplu g a nd Family Literacy Week in January Read Walk Sing Play Write Bake

GET “UNPLUGGED” TODAY U nplu g a nd Family Literacy Week in January

MAKE A DIFFERENCE Providing the tools to help children & families Donate online CELEBRATE!

U nplu g a nd Family Literacy Week in January

Colour Skip Dance Visit Drum Paint

BY HELPING RAISE A READER

families improve their literacy skills is an investment in our community

online at WWW.RAISEAREADER.CA

Barbara Maher, LOC Chase

Do you remember what it felt like riding your bike - riding for hours and experiencing new adventures? We do! We know there are ways to build literacy skills by incorporating movement with learning. Chase Literacy Program (CLP) partnered with C hase and Area Family Services (CAFS) to create a summer program for youth which combines

movement (physical literacy) and learning about community and environment (Eco literacy).

Following on the heels of the ‘Go by Bike’ week, our Summer Bike Program (8 weeks) was created.

Youth learned bike riding safety and participated in skills games. At the Library and Museum, they visited the Pollinator Gardens and learned about our pollinator friends and why they are so important. Our eager riders rode

to the creek and talked about the human body and water and the ecosystems around us. There are so many ways that water supports life! They toured around town to identify areas that need to be cleaned up. They learned to incorporate nature exploration and the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the ecosystems we share. They talked about bike paths, and how to build and use trails responsibly to avoid erosion. They took

a ride to the farming area to learn about the crops native to the area. On the

last week they invited a parent to join them on a ride, play games and

enjoy an ice cream. A fun way to end weeks of adventure and learning.

ON THE ROAD WITH LITERACY PROVIDING BARRIERE YOUTH WITH INTEGRAL AND UNIQUE LITERACY PROGRAMS

Jill Hayward, LOC Barriere

Have you ever read to a child from a storybook, helped a young person to form the letters of the alphabet with a pencil, or rendered assistance when needed with multiplication tables for a student?

If the answer is “yes”, you have passed along literacy and learning skills that contribute to the foundation for the social and economic wellbeing of the community where you live.  Good literacy skills are a vital part of a child’s education as they grow within our communities. Schools provide the opportunities to gain these skills, as well as community literacy and learning outreach programs.

Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach

programs for families and youth are administered through Yellowhead Community Services, with Raise a Reader Day our major fundraiser for Barriere and area. Every dollar raised during Raise a Reader Day in Barriere stays in the community, and most importantly, every dollar raised contributes to Barriere’s successful and unique literacy programs:  Books for Babies, A New Book For Every Child, Cost Free Youth Tutoring, Christmas With Santa, Christmas Story Contest For Youth, the Annual Indoor Teddy Bear Picnic in January, Summer Theatre Camps and Workshops for youngsters 8 to13, free Family Literacy Packets for families, Barriere Blooms Gardening for youth, and much more.  We also support the Barriere Library Story Walk and

Parent Child Mother Goose sessions. Please lend your support by making a donation for Raise A Reader Day. Your generosity will not only help to provide literacy and learning programs for Barriere and Area youth, but will also be contributing to the social and economic wellbeing of our community.

Free Theatre Workshops and Summer Theatre Camps are a fun and unique way that Barriere Literacy Outreach engages area youth in learning new literacy skills by working together to create and write a script for a short play or skit, learning the scripts, creating costumes, making scenery and backdrops, and then presenting their show to others.

Learn more about literacy programs in your community

(Photo submitted by Barriere Literacy)

FOSTERING EARLY LITERACY

Serena Hazel, LOC Logan Lake

Fostering early literacy skills is of utmost importance as these foundational abilities play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s future success. Logan Lake Literacy (LLL) embraces the significance of nurturing these skills, recognizing their critical role in securing a prosperous future.

In 2022, Logan Lake Literacy became a donor for the newly established Logan Lake Laugh and Learn Daycare. LLL funded and established a dedicated

literacy corner within the daycare, specifically designed to facilitate the development of early literacy skills. The Logan Lake Laugh and Learn Daycare stands as a groundbreaking facility in Canada, featuring antimicrobial copper surfaces to safeguard the health and wellbeing of attending children, families, staff, and visitors.

Logan Lake Literacy is pleased to announce the return of the Parent Child Mother Goose program this coming fall. We are excited to, once again, offer this essential program to the community as it

plays a significant role in nurturing early literacy skills. The Parent Child Mother Goose program not only enriches children’s language and communication abilities through engaging and enjoyable experiences but also equips parents and caregivers with the tools to continue fostering these skills in the home environment.

In our continued commitment to the future of our community’s children, Logan Lake Literacy remains dedicated to fostering early literacy skills, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

BUILDING A MORE LITERATE, FOOD-SECURE COMMUNITY

Kerry Milner-Cairns, LOC Clearwater

During “Unplug and Play Week”, a week that encourages the community to put down their tech devices and spend quality time with friends and family, Clearwater families had fun preparing and cooking a meal together using a Meal Prep Box.

The Meal Prep box included an easy to follow “Berry Brunch Bake” recipe and most of the ingredients needed to prepare the meal. Families provided a few pantry staples. This activity has many benefits besides bringing

families together to build memories. Cooking activities not only help children learn an important and practical life skill, but they also build self-confidence, improve fine motor skills, teach counting, measuring, and how to follow directions.

This food literacy activity was provided through Raise a Reader funding, and in partnership with the Clearwater Food Security Program. This is the second year the activity has been offered in the community.

“Food literacy is a vital skill that serves children and families of all ages and walks of life. The Clearwater Literacy Program

has supported the Food Security Program consistently over the years with funding and support to offer food skills programs such as cooking, canning and gardening. We are excited to continue working together to build a more literate and foodsecure community!” – Joanna Hurst, Food Security Program Coordinator Funds raised through the annual Post Media Raise-a-Reader campaign are critical to providing literacy programs and services in the communities of Clearwater, Vavenby, and Blue River. All funds donated in the Clearwater area are matched in whole or in part by sponsors.

Adeline Owen

Kira and Kaleigh Klassen prepare a Berry Brunch Bake (photo credit: A. Adeh)