TISDALE — A family literacy event at Cumberland College’s Tisdale branch was a chance for both the young children attending – and the adult basic education students organizing it – to learn.
“The focus of our day was two-fold,” said Teri Thompson, the manager of adult basic education, about the April 25 event. “We wanted to have a literacy event for kids and families but we also used it as an opportunity for our Adult 10 class to get some experience doing work-related tasks.”
There were around 150 children coming from daycares and pre-kindergarten programs in Tisdale and the Kinistin Saulteaux Nation. They got to do activities like making play dough, eating bannock, listening to books being read aloud and making beaded necklaces. Community services like the North East Early Childhood Intervention Program also had displays there.
“I always think that it’s a great thing to be able to have people come together and have the opportunity to see something a little bit different,” said Lori Constant, an instructor. “Kinistin came and did some pow-wow dancing and drumming for us and I know some of the little kids that were here had never seen that before.”
Giselle Ahpay, a Grade 10 adult basic education student, said her class had been planning the event since September, especially the last three weeks. The event was funded through the provincial education ministry.
“We did a lot of time during class planning what we were going to be doing with the children, what activities would be good,” she said. “It had to be educational.”
The major challenge, Ahpay said, was working with so many children, but they behaved well and her class was prepared.
“There were a few of us that went into the daycares to study the children.”
Ahpay said the event went well.
“I think the children all had fun. Everybody had fun.”
The Grade 10s in the class are also getting a Grade 12 credit for their work.
Constant said her class performed absolutely amazing and they were so interactive with the kids.
They put their best effort forward and I can’t be prouder than I am right now of my class,” she said. “I am so blown away with how great they were today. They were just absolutely amazing. It was a long process to put this day together and they hung in there and did absolutely fantastic.”
Ahpay said she’d like to see the event happen again. Whether it does will depend on funding from the provincial government.
“I think the community should have this at least twice a year. The kids will start knowing each other as they get older.”
