Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 29/02) - A new program at Sir Alexander Mackenzie elementary school has brought parents into the school to read with their children.

Books and Bannock is now a regular part of the school's monthly assembly that's usually held the last Friday of each month.

The assembly started as a salute those students with perfect attendance and to give parents a chance to visit their little ones at school.

Vice-Principal Nancy Binette says the idea to bring in the book and bannock program came from something a Grade 4 teacher had heard about from another school.

"Jennifer (MacDonald) and some others on a committee came up with the idea that we should have a book and bannock day with the assembly," Binette said. "The parents attend the awards and then stay to read with their child, while the have a cup of coffee and a piece of bannock."

With supervision the children get a chance to learn the ancient art of bannock making in the home economics room.

"The kids make it sometimes and sometimes the Inuvialuktin class makes it or we just ask teachers to bring in cookies or muffins for a change," she said.

Last week the kids made the bannock and they also had caribou soup brought in for a lunch.

After the assembly, the parents go back to class with their children and visit with the teacher and student.

"They get a snack and sit down in the classroom or in the hall and they read to their child," she said.

SAM school holds two assemblies each month. The first is held for the kindergarten to Grade 3 classes at 1 p.m. and then Grades 4 to 6 at 1:30 p.m.

The new addition to the program has been very well-received, Binette said.

"The reaction from the parents has been really good. Being able to stay and have coffee after the assembly is really working well," she said. "And, of course, the kids like to have their parents come to their school."

The monthly assembly has snowballed into adding different elements to the event, like a salute to the Citizen of the Month and the homework allstars.

"If they've done their homework everyday, they get a certificate and a chance to win a backpack," Binette said.

Each month, the gym seems to be getting more and more parents visiting.

"We've had as many as 60 parents at the assemblies and they are usually the K to 3 classes," she said.