Parkhill School in Steinbach is set to significantly expand its library collection after receiving a $40,000 grant from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
Foundation says goal is to close literacy gaps
The funding, announced June 4 as part of the foundation’s annual Literacy Fund Grant Day, will help the school add new books and literacy resources aimed at supporting students with a wide range of interests and reading levels.
Parkhill School was one of 50 schools across Canada selected to receive funding this year and one of five Manitoba schools awarded grants.
In total, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation committed more than $1.8 million nationwide, supporting nearly 17,000 students.
Founded in 2004, the foundation works to help close literacy gaps by providing books and resources to schools in high-need communities.
“Our goal is to build a love of reading for children across Canada,” says Ian McCann, senior manager of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
According to McCann, Parkhill School stood out because of its need to establish a library collection as a new school and its large population of English language learners.
“Parkhill School jumped out to us because obviously it’s a new school, there’s a real need to build up that foundation of the school library.”
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“According to the school, 48 per cent of their students are learning English as an additional language,” he says, adding that books in multiple languages and accessible reading materials play an important role in helping students and families support literacy development.
“By providing this grant, we understand we’re helping them close the gap for students who may not have texts that are accessible to them, while also helping build the foundation as a new school.”
Parkhill celebrates $40,000 funding boost
“We were super excited,” says Parkhill School principal Kim Koop, noting the library is “like the showcase of the school.”
“We have empty shelves right now, which we knew we would in the beginning, but because of this grant, we're going to be able to fill it with books that meet student needs.”
For library support specialist Katrina Hiebert, the announcement came as a surprise.
“More than anything, we want to have a wide variety of books for our kids. We have so many avid readers in this school,” says Hiebert.
Hiebert said the application process began early in the school year after noticing gaps in the school’s book collection.
“When I saw our book situation, I was like, ‘Well, I know there are grants out there,’” she says.
“There’s got to be one that we will qualify for.”
Koop credits much of the success to Hiebert’s efforts in preparing the application, noting she highlighted the needs of the students and what the funding would mean to the school.
The funding will allow the school to purchase a broader variety of books, including classroom resources, take-home reading materials and books tailored to student needs.
“When they’re doing their literacy lessons in small groups, we can get books that meet where they’re at in their reading and their interests,” says Koop.
“We’re very thankful.”
Koop says students have already given feedback on which books they would like to see added to the collection.
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