May 19 was a day of celebrating literacy at St. Dominic School.
All classes took part in talks from guest speakers that support literacy and learning and even got to show off their own skills and knowledge with plays and presentations.
Literacy organizer, Carolyn Janidlo-MacLean, says the day was something different to get the students excited about reading with puppeteers, comic writers, First Nations dancers, and musicians.
Janidlo-MacLean also says there were plenty of adults there with parents, grandparents, and retired teachers coming in to enjoy the day.
‘It was a great way to show off the St. Dominic spirit and literacy,” says Janidlo-MacLean.
The day started with former principal, Nestor Trach, to speak about the history of St. Dominic School.
Trach started in 1959, a time when a lot of the school was just being built.
Speaking to the students about what was all missing from that time compared to now was a big shock for them.
A lot of the time they just went without, says Trach.
“We didn’t have a gym, music room, library, or staff room, we didn’t know we needed these things.”
As the grade 5 and 6 teacher, Trach looked after the Phys. Ed. program, but there was not a bat or ball to be found, he says.
Speaking on this, Trach wants everyone to appreciate what they have today.
Jeffrey Burton thinks comics are a great form of literacy, especially for those who do not like reading novels.
“Comics are a great doorway for reluctant readers and are a fantastic tool for reading in general.”
Comics are reading, says Burton, and it is great when kids realize that without feeling they need to go for forms of reading they are not interested in.
Burton’s own comic with his Humboldt based superhero, Auroraman, features local sites from around Humboldt, which was a big hit for the students.
One student even brought in his own comic with a solid story line.
Burton says he could see the student’s artistic ability grow as the comic went on.
Part of literacy day was also bringing in different cultures.
Students made presentations on First Nations culture, including oral stories and legends.
Students even got a demonstration of aboriginal jingle dress and fancy dress dancing from Tim Laframboise’s two granddaughters.
Laframboise says this was a way to show off the culture and be a part of the community.
“Everybody’s so open and supportive to different cultures, that’s really important nowadays.”
Kids need to understand there is more out there beyond their own communities, says Laframboise.
The girls dresses were handmade by their grandmother and stitched by hand, says Laframboise.
