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Page 12 Nipigon-Red Rock Gazette Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 Family Literacy Day Celebrations were held across Canada for Literacy Day and the Family Place and Child Care Centre children and parents all joined in the primary classes at George O'Neill Public School. The highlight of the event was the "human puppet" show that involved Karin Mackenzie as the Ladybug looking for someone to box with until she met her match in the huge dragon - played by 2 adults and 3 children from the Child Care Centre.. The children enjoyed a booknik (reading and picnic on blankets), play dough words, a word hunt, storytelling and then decorating grocery bags for Zechner shoppers. It was a busy day offering the pupils and staff a variety of literacy activates. Literacy Day focuses on visiting the library, checking the Internet for educational sites, doing crosswords, puzzles, children reading with adults, writing letters or keep teens reading with magazines, comics or newspapers. Photo of Teemo Toykkala decorating a grocery bag (close up brush cut) Photo Submitted Family Literacy...Family Fun St. Hilary School celebrated Family Literacy Day on Friday, January 25th. Parents were invited to visit the classrooms in the morning during the regular literacy and numeracy block. The primary students were invited to the Red Rock Public Library where they participated in a variety of literacy based activities planned by the Family Place. This exciting event was enjoyed by everyone! In the afternoon, students were placed in multi-age group teams and they went to various literacy stations. The stations included: book bingo, literacy and numeracy websites in the computer lab, spill and spell, and a read aloud using the LCD projector. In addition to exercising their brains the students also had the opportunity to participate in “literacy fitness” activities in the gymnasium. The day was a huge success! Students and staff welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the importance of literacy at home and at school. For more information regarding family literacy you may visit this website: www.abc-canada.org. Think about the importance of literacy throughout the year. Literacy is a skill that is important and necessary throughout life. Whether you are reading the newspaper, a magazine, information on the internet or instructions on how to put something together...reading, thinking and writing are for life. Try to make literacy a part of your family's day, everyday! Remember, the library is only a few blocks away and welcomes everyone. Photo Submitted Community Families Reading Together The George O’Neill Public School will be working cooperatively with The Family Place to sponsor the Community Families Reading Together Program. This program gives parents of young children a chance to work with Kathy Notwell, the Early Literacy Specialist with the Ontario Early Years Centre. * Kathy will be chatting with us about ways to help our children to learn to read and to love reading! She will provide us with great books to read with our kids and with activities based on these books. We will begin this program on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at the George O’Neill Public School and will try to meet every month (but don’t worry if you can’t make it - even if you come to one!). This first meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m., with refreshments and social time beginning at 3:30 p.m. Bring your questions and Kathy will be happy to answer them. Once the group has been established, we will be trying to find the time that works best for our second gathering. At future meetings we will be asking educators from the schools to also bring us their expertise. The Family Place will be providing child care for these meetings! This is an excellent opportunity to meet with other parents and to explore ways to help our children to become even better readers. Please join us at George O’Neill Public School! Community Calendar Valentine Tea February 9, 2008 downstairs in the Pentecostal Church at 1:00 p.m. Alanon Meetings Tuesday evenings in the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital Rotary Room at 8:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. The Rotary Club of Nipigon is pleased to offer to the local communities loan of a variety of equipment for use on a short-term basis. Some of the items available include bath chairs, grab bars, walkers, adjustable bed and a four-wheeled scooter. This equipment is available to community members on a trial basis or to have available if family members are visiting them and require the equipment. Contact any member of the Rotary Club of Nipigon and they will be pleased to assist you in obtaining the equipment you need. NDMH Board Meeting Meetings of the Board of Directors of the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital are held in the Board Room at the Hospital on the last Monday of the month. The public are welcome to attend Grief and Bereavement Grief and Bereavment Support Group every 3rd Monday of the month, at the Multipurpose Room at the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital. Dorion Public School Celebrates Family Literacy Day Recently, the Dorion Public School, Brass Bell Family Resource Centre, and the Dorion Public Library celebrated Family Literacy Day. Students and parents with their preschoolers took part in a variety of activities. Students enjoyed a picnic style snack in the school gym. Book draws were held for every grade in the school and students visited a variety of centres where they wrote letters and postcards, played puppet theatre and games and enjoyed a scavenger hunt. Many of the children also curled up with their favourite books in small tents. A book swap and bake sale also added to the days fun. Submitted by Betty Chambers Photo by: Ed Chambers Do you know someone who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary, graduation or any other special occasion. If you do, why not place an ad in the Nipigon Red Rock Gazette. Phone: 887-3583 Fax: 887-3720 Email: nipigongazette@shaw.ca