Barr Colony Student Grade 2 student Sophia is one of many who dressed as their favourite book character last Wednesday during literacy week. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Students at Barr Colony School turned into book worms during Literacy Week at Saskatchewan public schools to bore through fun reading and writing activities.
Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 6 classes were stoked to celebrate literacy last week, including a special dress as your favourite book character day.
“We had all sorts of different costumes in and around the building with students celebrating characters from their favourite stories,” said principal, Nicole Lepage.
Sadie, a Grade 4 reader got herself pictured on Facebook as an owl from the book “Owl Diaries.”
Little Sophie in Grade 2 showed up as Pete the cat from the book, “Pete the Cat’s Got Class.”
“Many of them made their own costumes, some used costumes that they had from Halloween. There was lots of creativity around the building,” said Lepage.
Kids were welcome to bring their favourite book or choose a book from the school to read.
“It was just intended to be a fun day to share with their classmates who they came dressed as,” explained Lepage.
Literacy week, held this year from Jan. 24-28, is celebrated throughout the Lloydminster Public School Division with the emphasis on fun at Barr Colony for its young learners.
The mix includes a few “drop everything and read” moments during the week.
“It’s important to make reading fun for kids so that they enjoy it when they come to school. There’s reading in all subject areas; it’s a part of our everyday life,” said Lepage.
She says helping kids make these experiences meaningful, fun and desirable helps them be more successful at school.
Dress-up day was also fun for Lepage, who came to school decked out as Stephanie, a character from the storybook, “Stephanie’s Ponytail” that she read to her class.
Her son, Kipp, dressed as Edmonton Oilers’ star Connor McDavid from his personalized storybook “Kipp’s Hockey Dream” featuring the NHL superstar.
The school also celebrated Family Literacy Day, where students are encouraged to read with their families at home.
The event was in keeping with the Literacy Week theme, “Learning in the Great Outdoors,” to encourage kids to explore and do things outside and write a story about it.
The Lloydminster Learning Council Association treated a pre-k class to an outdoor book reading in Cree and English, live-streamed on YouTube as a family literacy day activity.
It featured Cree author Bernice Johnson-Laxdal and co-author and illustrator, Miriam Korner around a campfire reading their Cree woodlands calendar storybook, “When the Trees Crackle with Cold”.
Barr Colony wrapped up literacy week with a pyjama reading day with the outdoor theme in mind.
“Kids will have a chance to have the lights off and use their flashlights for reading,” explained Lepage.
“PJ day is always popular. You can never go wrong with a pyjama day.”
