by Lisa Goudy
Glen Elm Elementary School is turning a new page.
The school is one of 147 across Canada taking part in the third annual Adopt-a-School program from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
The program runs from Sept. 11 to Oct. 1. Schools were adopted by Indigo, Chapters, and Coles stores to help fill up school libraries and enhance student literacy.
"Putting more books into the hands of students only helps to achieve those goals and children develop this love of reading," said Dianne Gulka-Tiechko, the Glen Elm school principal.
"There's a lot of excitement in the school by being involved with an organization like Chapters."
Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm has about 150 students and the goal was to receive one book for every student. So far, she said they have raised enough for approximately 184 books and with more than a week left, that number could easily be higher.
"We're really excited about it," she said. "That really makes a difference to a small school like ours to be able to have more resources added."
Indigo Love of Reading Foundation director Jennifer Jones said the Adopt-a-School program joins with the community to raise funds to improve Canadian literacy.
"Schools do need this level of support, both from Indigo as well as the foundation and the community and we feel we're raising awareness," said Jones.
She said in the last two years, Indigo gave 46,000 books to Canadian schools and she estimated Indigo will put 28,000 books into schools this year.
"We're actually doing really well. We're on trend to raise more money and put more books in the hands of kids than we did last year," she said.
Jones explained the foundation has been in Saskatchewan since its initiation in 2004. It also offers annual literacy grants to public schools across Canada, totalling about $1.5 million per year.
Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm received a $45,000 grant over three years that ended last year.
"Since our involvement with Chapters three years ago, our resources have greatly increased and the students have developed a more positive attitude to reading," said Gulka-Tiechko. "We take them to Chapters every year to choose books for our resource centre."
Jones explained there are three main ways people can support their local school through Adopta-School by going to adoptaschool. indigo.ca or at any Indigo, Chapters or Coles stores.
People can purchase Indigo egift cards and for every $25, Indigo gives one book to the school.
Additionally, people can make a donation and every $12 donates one book.
Also, people can adopt a school online at no charge and are then encouraged to share their involvement with others through Facebook and Twitter. Every 100 adoptions translate into one book donated.
"The more people that share their links and drive people back to the site, the greater the likelihood we'll have more books to give to the children," said Jones.
She also said Indigo has a fundraiser challenge, which means that the top fundraiser of each school will receive a $25 Indigo gift card and the top three fundraisers across Canada will get a Kobo eReader.
Gulka-Tiechko said that she appreciates what the program does for the community as well as the school.
"People donate towards the school to purchase books and so it makes the community feel like they have some responsibility and input into literacy in the school, which is a good thing," she said.
"We really thank Chapters for their involvement in putting resources into the hands of children," said Gulka-Tiechko. "Kids' attitudes improve, their literacy levels improve and they're excited about reading books."
Glen Elm Elementary School is turning a new page.
The school is one of 147 across Canada taking part in the third annual Adopt-a-School program from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
The program runs from Sept. 11 to Oct. 1. Schools were adopted by Indigo, Chapters, and Coles stores to help fill up school libraries and enhance student literacy.
"Putting more books into the hands of students only helps to achieve those goals and children develop this love of reading," said Dianne Gulka-Tiechko, the Glen Elm school principal.
"There's a lot of excitement in the school by being involved with an organization like Chapters."
Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm has about 150 students and the goal was to receive one book for every student. So far, she said they have raised enough for approximately 184 books and with more than a week left, that number could easily be higher.
"We're really excited about it," she said. "That really makes a difference to a small school like ours to be able to have more resources added."
Indigo Love of Reading Foundation director Jennifer Jones said the Adopt-a-School program joins with the community to raise funds to improve Canadian literacy.
"Schools do need this level of support, both from Indigo as well as the foundation and the community and we feel we're raising awareness," said Jones.
She said in the last two years, Indigo gave 46,000 books to Canadian schools and she estimated Indigo will put 28,000 books into schools this year.
"We're actually doing really well. We're on trend to raise more money and put more books in the hands of kids than we did last year," she said.
Jones explained the foundation has been in Saskatchewan since its initiation in 2004. It also offers annual literacy grants to public schools across Canada, totalling about $1.5 million per year.
Gulka-Tiechko said Glen Elm received a $45,000 grant over three years that ended last year.
"Since our involvement with Chapters three years ago, our resources have greatly increased and the students have developed a more positive attitude to reading," said Gulka-Tiechko. "We take them to Chapters every year to choose books for our resource centre."
Jones explained there are three main ways people can support their local school through Adopta-School by going to adoptaschool. indigo.ca or at any Indigo, Chapters or Coles stores.
People can purchase Indigo egift cards and for every $25, Indigo gives one book to the school.
Additionally, people can make a donation and every $12 donates one book.
Also, people can adopt a school online at no charge and are then encouraged to share their involvement with others through Facebook and Twitter. Every 100 adoptions translate into one book donated.
"The more people that share their links and drive people back to the site, the greater the likelihood we'll have more books to give to the children," said Jones.
She also said Indigo has a fundraiser challenge, which means that the top fundraiser of each school will receive a $25 Indigo gift card and the top three fundraisers across Canada will get a Kobo eReader.
Gulka-Tiechko said that she appreciates what the program does for the community as well as the school.
"People donate towards the school to purchase books and so it makes the community feel like they have some responsibility and input into literacy in the school, which is a good thing," she said.
"We really thank Chapters for their involvement in putting resources into the hands of children," said Gulka-Tiechko. "Kids' attitudes improve, their literacy levels improve and they're excited about reading books."
Click here to view the progress or to donate to Glen Elm Elementary School.
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