Reading program introduced at Lochearn
Engaging the community
‘It’s the community to raise a child concept.’
Kim Wedman
By Jessica Jones
Staff reporter
Lochearn Elementary School is enhancing community relationships through a new reading program that will engage students, volunteers and local businesses.
The reading program called Lochearn: CARES (Community in Action for Reading in Education for Students) is an initiative that brings volunteers from the local community into the school to read with students from kindergarten to Grade 5.
The program is spearheaded by Kim Wedman, Alexis Holstead and Vera McLeod. Wedman says that they saw a need to facilitate the program to promote “deeper learning” and “positive mentorship.”
“It’s part of the school vision and it’s good to have more ways to involve the community in the school; it’s the community to raise a child concept,” Wedman said.
Volunteers are only needed one hour per week and they would be assigned to a classroom. They will focus on reading with each individual student for roughly five to 10 minutes. The program needs approximately 20 more volunteers from the school community or the business community to donate their time.
According to Wedman, Holstead and McLeod, Lochearn Elementary School needs the gift of time.
“The donation of time would allow employees from your business to be released for one hour a week to volunteer to read with students.”
“We have fantastic parent volunteers who represent our school,” Wedman says. “But this is another piece into that.”
The volunteers will also be able to discuss reading with students and get them excited about literacy. Statistics show that nearly half of Canadians over the age of 16 have difficulty reading and functioning effectively with written material. Wedman says increasing literacy rates starts with younger students.
“Literacy is important to build at a young age,” she noted.
Holstead mentions that while she believes the program will be highly valuable for students she says volunteers will also benefit.
“People who participate will also be able to gain understanding about schools today; things have changed a little bit and they will be able to see that,” she said.
The reading program starts November 1 and runs until May. Wedman says the school will also continue the program next year. For more information or to become a volunteer contact Lochearn Elementary School at 403-845-3721.
(DSC_0042, Lochern Reading program, with story)
Lochearn Elementary School is “reading for opportunity” with its new community reading program. The program is seeking volunteers.
Jessica Jones | the mountaineer
