FORT FRANCES—Staff and parents at F.H. Huffman here are reviving the school’s “Folklore” reading program—and are looking for more volunteers to help make it a success.
“Our parents really liked ‘Folklore’ and they wanted it going,” said Huffman teacher Jean Hebert, who sits on the school council as a teacher rep.
Folklore stands for “Folks for the Love of Reading Everywhere,” explained Darlene Adams, a rep for Seven Generations Education Institute who also sits on the school council.
“It’s people from the community who come to read with our JKs and SKs,” she added.
The program first launched in the fall of 2004, and has run every year since, with the exception of this current school year.
“We had a lot of staff changes,” Hebert explained. “We took a little break. But the community really missed it.”
Volunteers are asked to come in from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays to read for 20 minutes to junior kindergarten students and 20 minutes to the ones in SK.
So far, 16 volunteers have confirmed their participation, with another seven available on call, Adams said.
This should allow for each volunteer to read to two students.
“But if we could do one-on-one, that would be wonderful,” Adams added.
In past years, the program was popular among both parents and students. “They develop a bond,” she noted.
The students build friendships with their readers, and look forward to their coming every week, she explained.
An orientation session for volunteers will be held on Monday (April 2), with the first session beginning the following day.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the Folklore program should contact Adams or Hebert at Huffman (274-6433).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
