June 17 was a big day at a number of schools in North Battleford.
Regina United Way, Discovery Co-op and Innovation Credit Union delivered 200 Summer Literacy Kits to 200 students in Grades 1 and 2 in the Living Sky and Light of Christ Catholic school divisions.
Fifty backpacks were delivered by volunteers to Notre Dame School, 47 to St. Marys, 50 to Connaught and 53 to McKitrick. The deliveries were enthusiastically greeted by staff and students at those venues.
The students will be provided with each of the Summer Literacy Kits between June 28 and Aug. 20. The backpacks contain 10 new books, along with eight week’s worth of literacy activities, craft and school supplies and nutritional snacks.
As well, each participating student will have a weekly chance to win a $50 gift card to Eduserv Learning Toys & Games, with draws every Friday during the eight weeks.
“We know that the effects of the ‘summer slide’ over the summer break causes a loss of reading progress and can have cumulative, and long-term effects,” said Stacey Schwartz, Community Advancement, United Way Regina, in a statement.
“We believe that readers today are leaders tomorrow, and through our various literacy initiatives, we are pleased to help equip our children with purposeful reading habits that can bring them into the school year with not only enhanced literacy skills, but also with confidence.
“Thank you to our sponsors and schools divisions for making this opportunity possible in North Battleford.”
