INNISFAIL - The bell rang at 9:52 a.m. More than 1,000 students from all across the Innisfail Schools Campus are not just switching classes on Feb. 3.
On this day there is a special mission.
Older students from the middle and high schools are buddying up with the young ones from …cole John Wilson Elementary School. They will find a special spot for reading and listening. The older students mentor the young ones, who are excited to have this special moment with someone who will not only read to them but also make them feel special.
Created last year as the Campus Reading Buddies program, the goal is to help all students fine-tune the skill of reading and just as importantly, interact and socialize.
"It is to get that campus feeling of all togetherness and not be afraid of anyone, said Janette Charlton, a librarian at the campus library, who with fellow librarian Karina Lucas organized the event. "We see older and younger (students) interacting, knowing they can see their buddy in any part of the campus."
The Campus Reading Buddies session was created last year. The idea was to have three or four a year. The Feb. 3 session was the second this school year. Ideally there is a theme, and the Feb. 3 one was simply "all togetherness." In March, they will have the next one under a Dr. Seuss theme, as it is close to the birthday of writer Theodor Seuss Geisel on March 2.
Janice Savage, one of two kindergarten teachers at the school along with Terri Schaitel, praised the program, noting her students look up to the older ones and everyone gets an opportunity to not only practise reading skills but also learn a bit more about each other.
"I think it is really nice for the Grade 12s to come and remember what it was like to be five and have a story read to them," said Savage, adding the huge skill of socialization is equally important. "It is huge and for someone else to read to them and just hearing another story from someone is great. They also have great conversations between their readings. The bigger ones get to learn a little bit about our little ones."
Janice Savage, kindergarten teacher
"I think it is really nice for the Grade 12s to come and remember what it was like to be five and have a story read to them. They also have great conversations between their reading. The bigger ones get to learn a little bit about our little ones."
