Dez Loreen
Northern News Services
Monday, June 25, 2007

INUVIK - A challenge was set by the Inuvik Literacy Circle for Inuvik's pre-school and elementary programs.

Children from various programs either wrote or drew pictures of their favourite literacy activities such as reading or doing crafts.

The winners, the children of the Aboriginal Head Start program, will now have extra reading materials to learn from, thanks to their love for literacy.

The prize of the challenge was $500 worth of children's books and special backpacks for all children in the program, filled with reading materials and learning tools. The backpacks were donated by the NWT Literacy Council.

Suzanne Robinson is an organizer of the literacy circle. She said the funding for the challenge came from a government grant.

"This is one of the activities we're doing in Inuvik to promote literacy," said Robinson.

Robinson added that the theme of the challenge was "Literacy lives here."

She said the Aboriginal Head Start program won the challenge because they had the most submissions.

"Their entries were the most charming," said Robinson.

Robinson said that the literacy circle is looking to host another challenge in the fall school semester.

She added that the circle is always open to new members who want to be involved in promoting literacy in the region.

Co-ordinator for the Aboriginal Head Start program Donna Ann Rogers said the challenge was introduced by a parent.

"One of the parents brought in a poster, we looked it over and made submissions," she said.

Rogers said that one of the submissions came in the form of a drawing.

"We read them a book and some of them drew pictures and wrote about the story," she said.

In May 2007, the head start program also made bookmarks for the children to use at home and while at the centre.

Rogers said that the materials and books will help their program in the new year.

"Reading is an important part of our program," she said.

"We read to the kids, books are really important to our school."

The program serves children aged three to four.