It’s been said the true test of character is how one bears up under adversity. If that is as true of institutions as it is of individuals, then Mine Centre School deserves a lot of respect.
Last year, the school—which has a student body of less than 100—was flagged by the Ministry of Education as one that was doing poorly according to the standardized Grade 3 test results.
Consequently, it was one of three schools in Northwestern Ontario selected for the ministry’s “Support for Schools That Need Extra Help” program (the other two are in Dryden and Kenora).
But instead of sulking or playing the blame game, the school’s officials seized the opportunity to turn things around in a big way and dedicated an entire week to raising both the level of, and interest in, reading among its students.
Consequently, March 29-April 2 officially was designated as Literacy Week.
All week, a number of special guests, including Ranier, Mn. author Mary Casanova (“Moose Tracks,” “One-Dog Canoe,” “Spirit Horses,” “Wolf Shadows,” and others) and Andrea Avis from the Fort Frances Public Library, came in and read with the students.
Poet Al Hunter, also chief of Rainy River First Nations, also was invited, but had to decline at the last minute due to other commitments.
Principal Brenda Ferris-Hyatt said later that the children found the experience of talking to, and reading with, a real-life author to be an exciting experience and she hoped the enthusiasm will be sustained.
Then on Friday, band councillors from several district First Nations, Fort Frances OPP Cst. Caroline Spencer, and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton came in to lend a hand as special “celebrity” readers.
As part of the program, each day began at 8:45 a.m. with a 15-minute “silent reading” period before formal activities got underway. As well, each day concluded with a half-hour session in which parents were encouraged to join in and read with their children.
Children’s author Robert Munch was a huge hit with the students and adults alike. On Friday, as the guest readers sat down with different classes, Munch’s works played a prominent role.
In the morning, the Grade 7-8 students acted out the story of “Mortimer” with a little help from Cst. Spencer, who played the role of the annoyed cop. She was, however, less than convincing since she had trouble not laughing.
Later, she sat down with the Grade 1 class and read “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” by Joffe Numeroff. Cst. Spencer, who is the mother of a two-year-old, acknowledged she enjoyed the experience as much as the children did.
In the meantime, Hampton sat down with the Grade 3/4 class and read the book “Zoom” by Robert Munch—a story about a little girl in a wheelchair who had an obsession with speed.
Like Cst. Spencer, Hampton’s genuine enthusiasm was readily apparent and by the time he finished the book, he probably had found a new generation of voters.
Afterwards, everyone returned to the gymnasium, where prizes were awarded for various achievements, including guessing the number of words on a written page.
In addition, all the students received a book that was tailored to their individual interests. The week then concluded with cake and juice in the cafeteria.
But it doesn’t end there. “Support for Schools That Need Extra Help” is a three-year program that includes continuing support in the form of books and resources.
As well, the school is required to submit a report on how it plans to improve its literacy skills, but Ferris-Hyatt doesn’t see any problems on that score. She said the week already has paid dividends.
“I think it was tremendously received by the parents and the kids,” she said yesterday. “We plan to sustain it by using the resources the ministry sends us.”
Although it’s too soon to see if the program will bear any long-term fruit, Ferris-Hyatt said she already has seen a difference in the students’ behaviour.
“We’re still doing the silent reading and it’s so quiet now,” she observed. “Also, the teachers are saying the kids aren’t putting the books down.
“We hope to see significant gains as time unfolds,” she remarked.
The next Grade 3 literacy test is scheduled for May, with the results will be given to the school in November or December.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
