Inuglak school students invited residents to take part in the Building a Community of Readers literacy promotion program on Dec. 6.

Grade 4-5 teacher Christy Emard says the worldwide reading program is run through the Scholastic Canada book company.

She says the school invited elders, community business members and families to come and join in reading activities.

"The 2003 in the Read for 2003 represents 2,003 seconds," says Emard.

"So, everyone in the school stopped what they were doing, sat down with a book, and silently read for 2,003 seconds, which works out to about 33 minutes."

Inuglak staff members are always looking for ways to involve the community with the school.

The one-day program also fit well with the school's high emphasis on literacy, both in Inuktitut and English.

"I saw the program on the Internet while ordering books for my class.

"I thought it was a great idea and when I presented it to the school's staff, they loved it."

Emard says Inuglak's 130 students enjoyed having everyone read at the same time, regardless of age or grade.

"They also liked the program because it was a community effort, not just the students themselves reading."

The tiny Whale school received national acclaim for its efforts on the book, the Lonely Inukshuk, three years ago.

Emard says students worked hard on their book-making activities leading up to this year's event.

She says the program was a chance for students to showcase their work and read with their parents.

"My class made wheel books. The back page turns to show pie segments through an open window.

"The book was all about plants and tree growth, such as apples."

A book of I Spy pages were put together by the entire school.

The book uses the art form of collage. Students put different pictures together and write about them.

"You may read I Spy the letter D, three ponytails, or the flag of Nunavut -- and all these things are in the picture.

"Students have to think about what the word is and find it in the picture.

"The book is an excellent resource for learning English as a second language."