(Fort McMurray, AB - March 12th, 2024) When Dr. Clark Public School became the proud recipient of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation's 2023 Literacy Fund Grant, excitement buzzed through the hallways and classrooms. This prestigious grant, valued at $75,000, promised a sea change in how literacy would be approached and nurtured within the school's walls.
From the onset, the implementation of the grant was strategic, focusing on enriching our literacy programs and touching the lives of each student with the magic of reading.
The classrooms have undergone a literary transformation, thanks to the thoughtful selection of books during a Chapters shopping spree. School educators embraced this opportunity, selecting titles that resonate with our students while aligning with our educational goals, focusing on social-emotional learning, indigenous ways of knowing, diversity, and inclusion.
This carefully tailored approach has revitalized classroom libraries, making them vibrant centres for exploration and discovery.
One of the grant's most remarkable uses has been creating and binding specialized adaptive books for students utilizing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. These personalized materials support individual program goals by integrating specialized vocabulary and fostering an inclusive learning environment. By breaking down literacy barriers, the school ensures that every student can find and enjoy literature that speaks to them.
The grant has allowed Dr. Clark Public School to significantly bolster their Daily 5 and literacy programming, improving classroom and school-wide resources. Additionally, it has played a pivotal role in enhancing their community engagement efforts, such as offering door prizes for well-attended Literacy Nights. These enhancements have sparked a renewed enthusiasm for literacy among staff, parents, and students.
LAC Teacher Hilary Banks reflects on the impact of new resources on students.
"The joy and excitement on our students' faces as they engage with these new resources are palpable, affirming the profound impact of high-quality literature on young minds. The community's response to these improvements has been overwhelmingly positive. Seeing high-quality literature in the hands of our children, watching their engagement levels soar, and hearing their excited chatter about the new books they've discovered truly underscores the value of the Indigo Literacy Fund Grant."
The impact of the Indigo Literacy Fund Grant on Dr. Clark Public School is undeniable. Beyond the immediate enhancements to literacy resources and programming, this grant has sown seeds of love for reading that will continue to grow and flourish in Dr. Clark Public School's students' lives. Dr. Clark Public School is deeply grateful to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation for its generous support, which has enabled the school to enrich every student's educational experience and nurture a lifelong passion for reading.
Dr. Clark Public School looks forward to its continued growth and evolution in literacy initiatives, fueled by the incredible opportunities this grant has afforded the school community. The future of literacy at Dr. Clark Public School is bright, and we are excited to see where this wonderful literary adventure will take our students next.
For additional information, contact:
Momin Syed
Communications Coordinator
Fort McMurray Public School Division
780-788-8009
communications@fmpsd.ab.ca