Dave Ogilvie
Family Literacy Day, created in 1999 by the ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada, takes place across Canada every Jan. 27.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Sing for Literacy.”
Thousands of Canadians in schools, libraries, and reading organizations across the country took part in activities that emphasized reading, writing, playing games, following recipes, or even singing songs in order to prepare children for the challenges they will face in the future as well as help sharpen the literary skills of adults.
Donald Young School in Emo enthusiastically joined this year’s celebration, with a wide variety of activities designed to introduce students to the important connection between music and literacy.
The day began with a performance of the opening song from this year’s DYS musical, “Beauty and the Beast,” which was an excellent way to kick off the school’s “Singing for Literacy” celebration.
In connection with this year’s Family Literacy Day, “Royal Readers” then spent more than an hour visiting the classes from JK/SK up to Grade 6.
Retired teachers, members of the community, and an OPP officer read stories with a musical theme to the students.
Wayne Barron, one of the retired teachers, brought along his son, Mark, who is a member of the Borderland Community Orchestra.
Together, they introduced the students to several different styles of music—helping them realize in the process that both music and reading elicit a wide range of emotions from both the listener and the reader.
Agnes and Tim Grover sang and played their guitars while encouraging the students to participate by playing along with their rhythm instruments.
Meanwhile, Diane Maxey and Gemma Lamonato had the students in their classes up and moving to a catchy “rap” version of the “Three Little Pigs.”
“The ‘Royal Readers’ were all excellent,” enthused DYS principal Kerri Tolen.
The morning ended in the gym with a fantastic lunch of wild rice soup and bannock. A large group of students, parents, and other family members joined together to enjoy the delicious meal.
“We held it over the natural lunch hour, hoping more parents would be able to attend,” noted Tolen.
“We were very pleased with the positive response,” she added.
During the day and again on Thursday, a McNally Robinson book fair was set up in the JK room for students and parents to visit. There was a wide selection and everyone was invited to stock up on some excellent reading material.
Part of this year’s Family Literacy Day also was devoted to a school-wide “Book Buddies” session while the Grade 6/7 and 7/8 classes spent a period of time taking part in a “Quiddler Tourney.”
Staff, students, and parents all agreed that Family Literacy Day at Donald Young School was an excellent experience for everyone.
