Raise A Reader 2020

WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020

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KEEPING CONNECTIONS ALIVE Mother Goose in a Socially-Distanced World Crystal Murgatroyd, Family Outreach and PCMG Program Coordinator

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n March of 2020, the World Health Organization declared a national pandemic, and from that moment on our lives changed. Our world got turned upside down in a matter of days, and we felt more isolated than ever. We couldn’t visit our friends and family, littles were not able to play in parks or playgrounds, and life looked so different through the eyes of a child.

The Kamloops Parent-Child Mother Goose team was committed to keeping connections alive with our Mother Goose families, and with our community.

We adapted our Mother Goose program for the virtual world, using the Zoom platform. Families

are invited to participate, engage and support each other through these challenging times.

We believe families can join one another while at home and share in the power and pleasure of songs, rhymes and oral stories.

It is a lovely way to show our community that we are all in this together.

We can get through this with some help from singing, rhyming and telling stories.

Since March, we have seen almost 1,000 people come together in our virtual Mother Goose groups. We love hearing that our Mother Goose groups have given families the opportunity to stay connected with one another while still staying safe.

“It’s a great free program my child can participate in, sing songs and see other children, and makes

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this strange time feel a little more normal,” shares one family.

Families and facilitators have embraced this new method of program delivery with open minds and optimism.

“As hard as it is not to be able to see the families in person, it has

been amazing to at least have this chance to continue interacting with them through Mother Goose on Zoom,” Antonietta Mercuri, a long time Mother Goose facilitator, shares. “I feel that this has been so positive for these families during this hard time.

For the past 13 years, between 150 and 200 volunteers have taken part in Raise a Reader, selling special editions of local newspapers ‚ including Kamloops This Week for donations in Kamloops, Barriere, Chase, Clearwater and Logan Lake, as well as the Lower Mainland, where the campaign originated in 1997.

Due to COVID-19, it’s different this year – we’re printing this special Raise a Reader section and distributing it with every copy of Kamloops This

“Seeing their happy faces makes my heart so happy!”

Families, now more than ever, need to be reminded that we are not alone. We need extra smiles, extra happiness, and extra connection with each other. We will get through this!

Week to let you know what amazing local programs and services Raise a Reader supports, and asking you to donate online at www.raiseareader.ca.

The donations collected go toward your local literacy groups that you can read more about in this special section. Funds raised are then leveraged by provincial government funding administered through Decoda Literacy Solutions. The more funds raised locally, the more that comes back to your community!

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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOD

Providing the tools to help skills is an investmen

‘NEVER GIVE UP, KEEP FIGHTING, KEEP SMILING’ Susan McCowan – KPAL Coordinator

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amloops Partner Assisted Learning (KPAL) is a free one-to-one tutoring program for adults 18+. Trained volunteer tutors work with adults to help them with reading, writing and math skills. Our learners have a variety of goals including getting a better job or completing their Adult Dogwood Certificate (Grade 12). Some tutor - learner pairs have been working together for several years and have developed a deep bond. This serves the learner well and proves rewarding for the tutor.

Our tutors are a dedicated group of people who take their role seriously. One tutor whose learner’s goal was to achieve their Dogwood certificate, needed support with Math 11.

The tutor felt a bit rusty on some of the concepts and was concerned she would not be as effective as she could be as a tutor. Her solution? To register in the same course as her student! This enabled her to fully understand the concepts before she helped her learner with them. It was a win-win!

This is just one of the many inspiring stories to come out of KPAL. Here is another:

JENNA’S STORY IN HER OWN WORDS:

My name is Jenna Fowler. I am 39 years old and was born and raised in Kamloops. I was born with RCDP, which is a bone and metabolic disease, and I wasn’t supposed to live past 10 years old. I have had 59 surgeries to date.

Growing up, I wasn’t given much of a chance to learn as I have a learning disability and was put in the resource room at school.

Once labelled with having a learning disability, expectations were lowered, and I wasn’t expected to graduate with my regular Grade 12 diploma. Instead, I left school after 12 years with a school leaving certificate.

School wasn’t a great place for me. I was bullied; I was called names, and physically assaulted by boys in my school. I did have a couple of very good friends though, and they helped me to get through.

I have always wanted to work with children but was told that I didn’t have the required education to get into the Early Childhood Education program. Approximately seven years ago I made the decision to attend Street School to get my Adult Dogwood Diploma. I have been accepted at Street School for who I am. I have made friends there, and am on track to graduate this year!

About 4 years ago I was partnered with Evelyn, a KPAL tutor.

Evelyn has helped me a lot with my schooling, and we have also been through a lot together personally. In the past two years, I lost both of my parents, and Evelyn also experienced some deep losses.

KPAL tutor Evelyn Baziuk and Street School student Jenna Fowler.

Unplug and

Together we have helped each other through some tough times.

Throughout everything my motto has been to never give up, keep fighting, and keep smiling! I am determined to prove wrong those who said that I would not be able to learn or graduate with my Dogwood diploma. The staff at Street SchoolFamily haveLiteracy supported Week January and challenged me to learn all that I need to graduatein in the very near future, and for that I thank them.

The sky is now the limit, and I can do whatever it is I set my mind to!

MAKING HOUSE CALLS FOR LITERACY IN BARRIERE GET Jill Hayward – Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Coordinator

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ood literacy and learning skills become a vital part of a child’s education as they grow within their family and their environment.

Family literacy programs help parents improve both their parenting and literacy skills, while providing young children with early childhood education. Helping children to form the letters of the alphabet, to read from a storybook, understand multiplication, become computer literate, and even to become more self-confident as they grow and embrace the world – all have an immense impact on a child’s academic achievement – and contribute to the

foundation of social and economic wellbeing within our communities.

Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach programs are easily accessible for children and families and are mostly at no charge, thanks to funding provided by the annual Post Media Raise-a-Reader Day fundraiser.

Raise-a-Reader is the major fundraising event for youth literacy programs in the North Thompson Valley, and for Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach which is overseen by Yellowhead Community Services.

“We have had to cut back on some of our programs in the spring and summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Barriere Literacy Outreach Coordinator Jill Hayward. “However, we have become innovative with other ways of connecting

with youth and their families. We have provided online tutoring, driveway visits, books and package handouts, telephone tutoring, and multiple story walks. Now we are looking forward to getting our new fall and winter schedule planned around the COVID-19 health requirements.”

Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach annual programs include: the Parent Child Mother Goose program for families or caregivers with children zero to four, Books For Babies, Blue Bookshelves, Breakfast With Santa, ABC Literacy Fun Day, Literacy and Learning, Summer Theatre Camps, the annual Indoor Teddy Bear Picnic, A New Book For Every Child, Art in The Park and Tutors For Kids.

Donate online at

“UNPLUGGED”

TODAY Read Colour Walk Skip Sing Dance Play Visit Write Drum Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach Volunteers hawking papers on Raise-a-Reader 2019, in BakeDay Sept.

Paint

Barriere. Pictured (l-r) Louis Lodge, Christine Proulx, Michelle Johnson, Audrey Rilcoe, Barriere Literacy Outreach Coordinator Jill Hayward, and seated is District Of Barriere Councilor Donna Kibble.

WWW.RAISEAREADER.CA

WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020

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DAY BY HELPING RAISE A READER

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children & families improve their literacy nt in our community and our future

LEARNING A LOT OF GOOD THINGS Fiona Clare – Kamloops Literacy Outreach Coordinator

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rriving from Japan two years ago, with two young children, no car, and not being able to speak English was challenging for Chizu Kan. She felt alone and sad and struggled with the language barrier. When they finally did get a car, her husband suggested she try the programs at Kamloops Immigrant Services (KIS).

Childmind Coordinator at KIS, Leanne Coombes notes, “Several needs came up with immigrant parents in our Childminding program.

They had questions about how their children could learn more English, and how they and their children could make friends.”

These were Chizu’s concerns. She learned of a family literacy program, Comfort, Play & Teach (0-3 years) and hasn’t missed a session in two years!

“This group show me lots of good things,” says Chizu.

“I feel very comfortable here.”

“The goal of the program is to teach literacy, give parents confidence in knowing they are their children’s best teacher and support opportunities for

child/parent bonding,” says Coombes.

Chizu likes that the staff are knowledgeable and have multi-cultural experience.

She speaks proudly of the fact that her 4-year-old daughter, Eimi, is growing up to be multilingual.

“Sometimes her teacher speaks by French expression, sometimes classmate speaks Korean.

She is watching Korean program on YouTube naturally as well as in English,” says Chizu.

Chizu shared that she had struggled to read a book to her kids because she was not a good English speaker.

“I know that reading has a great effect on children because I was a teacher in Japan. But I didn’t notice that you just do it the same way,” says Chizu.

When Fiona Clare, LOC for Literacy in Kamloops, was invited to read a story to the group, she brought along a favourite book, “Don’t Push the Button” by Bill Cotter, an interactive book that immediately engages children.

“Thanks to Fiona I remembered how to read a book,” says Chizu. The book fast became a firm favourite of both Eimi, 4 and her son, Yusuke, 7.

“It’s a beautiful thing

Fiona Clare reads at Comfort, Play & Teach program

STORYTIME IN LOGAN LAKE Serena Hazel – Logan Lake Literacy Outreach Coordinator

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From left: Yusuke (age 7), Chizu and Eimi (age 4) reading together. to witness when a family becomes excited about reading a book together,

even if it is the same story over and over!” says Coombes.

ogan Lake Literacy is a long-time sponsor of and contributor to the annual Polar Carnival which this year marked its 47th year.

Each year, we host a story writing contest for the school aged children in Logan Lake. We distribute a story starter to each teacher.

One week before Polar Carnival we collect all the stories and select a winner from each grade to receive a gift card. We encourage the teachers to participate by offering a prize (Visa gift

card) if they can get their entire class to participate.

The best part of the process is reading through all the stories, especially those written by children in Kindergarten and Grade 1.

We also host a fundraiser where we raffle off keys for a treasure chest. Inside the treasure chest is a family prize of board games, BC Wildlife Park Family Pass, and gift cards for our local video store and pizza place.

It is a great fundraiser with a great prize for participating families.

This local event is a great way for Logan Lake Literacy to be visible in the community.

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

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WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2020

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INDIGENOUS EARLY YEARS PROGRAM IN CLEARWATER Kerry Milner-Cairns – Clearwater and Area Literacy Outreach Coordinator

“The Post Media Raise-a-Reader annual fundraiser plays an integral part in enhancing the social wellbeing and quality of life in our community,” says Kerry Milner Cairns, Literacy Outreach Coordinator for the Clearwater area, working under Yellowhead Community Services (YCS).

Raise-a-Reader funding goes towards helping several YCS programs in Clearwater and area including the no-cost Indigenous Early Years Program called Community Cultural Connections, facilitated by service provider Cindy Wilgosh.

“The activities focus on children and

their caregivers for Indigenous and nonIndigenous families who want to learn more about different Indigenous cultures,” says Wilgosh. “This includes building awareness of the importance of early childhood development and engaging the community to take action in early childhood development. We enrich community resources for the benefit of young children and provide more opportunities for families to access community resources. We are committed to supporting and promoting the importance of traditional ways of early learning, through play, songs, stories, and drumming for the healthy development and well-being of all Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit families and their communities.”

In the past year, Wilgosh has visited

Eagles Nest, Blue River playgroup, the preschools, held family gatherings, and participated in many community events. She has put together craft bags and information packages for families to take home. These have included dream catchers, medicine bags, colouring sheets, song sheets, Michif coloring pages with traditional language words in English CreeMichif, and traditional food recipe cards for families.

Although COVID-19 has affected several programs this year, including the popular ’Connection Circles’, Wilgosh has adapted and devised new ways to continue to connect with children and families in the area. This includes providing take home activity packs and providing nutrition support to families.

How can we support our children when the world turns upside down?

Barbara Maher – Chase Literacy Outreach Coordinator

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arents everywhere are struggling with the decision to send their children back to school. Some are choosing to Homeschool, while others are exploring a combination of homeschooling and programs designed for smaller groups and a different approach to learning.

Ever Wild Explorers is a nature education program that is run by the Chase and Area Young Learners Society. They are a nonprofit group committed to providing quality learning experiences to children and families in the Chase area. Ever Wild Explorers is a Nature Education Program for children 4-8 years with a focus on the importance of free

play and nature connection. By spending time in the same natural setting week after week, kids learn about the changing seasons and plant and animal life in a much more involved way.

Children learn by using all their senses. Ever Wild Explorers believes that time in nature is extremely valuable for holistic child development - physical, mental, social, and emotional. This is place-based education-making your learning relevant to your life.

Ever Wild Explorers strives to offer a nurturing environment where children can explore their interests at a comfortable pace.

Teaching children real, hands-on skills they will use throughout their life is central to their programming.

Real challenges and skills, such as climbing a tree or mixing cookie dough, are more intrinsically

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motivating for children, as they can see the real-world application of the activity. Children learn self-esteem, persistence, communication with others, and more social, emotional, and physical skills.

Outdoor education in small group settings is a safer option where children are able to learn and grow with their peers. Each session, in addition to plenty of free play outdoors, includes art, literacy and science-based activities in mixed age groups. Activities and opportunities are planned to be child led, meaning adults typically take on mentorship roles to assist children in fulfilling their own learning outcomes.

Programming continues into September 2020, offering more social distancing compliant programming, especially as families make difficult decisions about how to proceed in this complicated time.