CLARINGTON -- Students throughout the public school board will be welcoming celebrity readers and authors, dressing up like characters from their favourite books and participating in other special events to honour the 10th annual National Family Literacy Day. Since the day falls on Sunday, Jan. 27, special events will be held on Friday, Jan. 25, and Monday, Jan. 28.
"Literacy is the basis for achievement in all areas of learning," said Sylvia Terpstra, director of education. "We focus on building reading and writing skills from the time students enter Junior Kindergarten to their graduation from secondary school."
Many schools are making the day a community event. Hampton Junior Public School will have parents and grandparents reading to students Friday and Harold Longworth P.S. in Bowmanville will host award-winning author and environmentalist Frank Glew on Monday.
Bowmanville's Dr. Ross Tilley P.S. will follow a sports theme with visits and readings by Bowmanville Eagles hockey players, author Bill Swan, and parents and guardians on Friday.
Courtice North P.S. has declared Jan. 25 Robert Munsch Day, with everyone being encouraged to dress like a character from one of the author's books or wear a bright tie. Each class will also participate in an activity based on a Munsch book.
At Dr. Emily Stowe P.S. in Courtice staff and students will be wearing their pajamas and bringing in stuffed animals on Jan. 28 for their Camp Fire Literacy Day.
Orono P.S. students will be dressing up as their favourite character from a book or poem and holding a book trade on Jan. 25.
Guides to help parents encourage literacy and support learning at home are available from the school board's website at www.kprschools.ca.