Haliburton and District Lions Club members Betty Mills, from left at back, husband David, Gail Stelter presented books, as part of the Blue Spruce Award Reading Program to Stuart Baker Elementary School prinicipal Karyn Linton Marra, who was joined by students Ethan Chong, Gavin Suke, Danika Kerkhof, Keagen King and Chloe Featherstonehough. This program, which is part of the Forest of Reading Program, is a primary reading program developed by the Ontario Library Association. /DARREN LUM Staff
The Haliburton and District Lions Club is bringing the Blue Spruce Award Reading Program to Stuart Baker Elementary School and Cardiff Elementary School. This reading program is part of the Forest of Reading Program, which is organized by the Ontario Library Association and is Canada’s largest recreational reading program with participation by schools and students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Ten books are chosen in each level and the Blue Spruce Award books are specifically designed for readers in kindergarten to Grade 2.
Lions Club members David Mills form left, Betty Mills, Wilberforce Elementary School and Cardiff Elementary School principal Barb Davies, and Lions Club member Gail Stetler pose with books from the Blue Spruce Award Reading Program. The books were donated to Cardiff and Stuart Baker on Dec 16. /Submitted or Nick Bernard STAFF
Children vote to determine the winning book after they have read all the titles. Participation in the program encourages a love of reading, promotes the development of the skill of evaluating a picture book based on the story and the pictures, and provides high quality books, which remain in the schools. The Haliburton Lions have purchased two sets of the nominated books for Stuart Baker and one set for Cardiff and, in addition, have paid the program registration fee for both schools.
The Blue Spruce Award is a new addition to the Haliburton Lions Reading Action Program, which strives to promote and enhance literacy learning by putting new books in the hands of children. The Lions are excited to work with our local schools and to add this component to our existing programs, which includes new books for children at our Stories in the Park Fun Fair, the donation of books to Point in Time Centre for Children, Youth and Parents, books for our Childhood Cancer initiatives, gently used books for our Little Free Libraries in West Guilford and at Abbey Gardens, books for the women’s shelter; and an annual donation to our Haliburton County Public Library’s Dysart branch. We are proud to be able to serve children and our community through our Reading Action Program.
Submitted by Lion Gail Stelter, chairperson Reading Action Program Committee
