Back to School, Back to a Focus on Literacy
August 31, 2010

The countdown is on, only 7 days left before back to school.  It’s an exciting time for kids’ to see all their friends, catch up on their summer adventures, and maybe give their parents a break. Unfortunately, for some kids it is a time filled with stress and insecurity because of their literacy level.

Thankfully, there are some free programs to help build children’s confidence in reading held at the local library.  
Sign up for Coast Capitals’ Reading Buddy program at the Surrey Public Library.  This great program provides struggling children a chance to build their reading abilities by pairing them up with a youth volunteer who will coach them and join them in a number of fun, literacy-focused activities. If you or someone you know might be interested, sign up to be a buddy at one of the following program locations below:

•    Fleetwood Library: Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00pm from October 12- November 16.
•    Guildford Library: Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30pm from November 2- December 7.
•    Newton Library: Fridays from 3:30-4:30pm from October 22-November 26
•    Strawberry Hill Library: Wednesdays from 3:30 -4:30pm from October 20-November 24
* volunteer positions are only open to fluent English speakers aged 12 -18 who love working with children.

Besides reading buddies, the Surrey public library hosts literacy programs including a variety of book clubs for children ages 6 – 18, weekly story times at all Surrey Libraries and a chance for children to meet their favourite authors in person.  So help make illiteracy a thing of the past and check out one of the amazing programs at your local library today!

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA