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More than just reading and writing

Jason Emiry
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 17, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT Literacy Council will celebrate NWT Literacy Week from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 with six days of activities.

NWT Literacy Week

Sept. 29
An author visit from Maureen Ulrich. She will visit schools and host an author workshop at the Yellowknife Public Library from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sept. 30
Ministerial Literacy Awards and Adult Learners' Luncheon at Northern United Place, noon to 1 p.m.

Literacy Games for Adult Learners at the Native Women's Association of the NWT Training Centre, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Read for 15 Challenge: NWT is challenging Nunavut to see who can get the most people reading for 15 minutes.

Oct. 1
Come to the post office at noon to contribute a line to a story about life in Yellowknife.

Oct. 2
Launch of Northern Edge online resource at the Native Women's Association of the NWT Training Centre at 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 3
Lunch with a Bunch at the Baker Centre at noon.

Oct. 4
Rotary Readers Story Time: Stories for young children at the Yellowknife Book Cellar from 10 to 11 a.m.

Mandie Abrams, executive director of the NWT Literacy Council, said literacy is more than just reading and writing.

"We really believe that literacy is something that happens everywhere you go," said Abrams. "It's not just about in the school or library. It happens when you go to the grocery store, when you go to school, when you visit grandparents and when you go out on the land. Literacy is about being able to use the information around you to your own benefit."

As part of the week's celebrations, author Maureen Ulrich will visit St. Joseph and Weledeh schools.

"I am thrilled to be welcoming Maureen Ulrich to my school," said Weledeh principal Merril Dean. "We were university friends 30 years ago."

Other activities at Weledeh will include classes guessing the number of books in boxes in the library to win them for their classroom. The annual Read a T-shirt contest is back, where students are encouraged to wear T-shirts with words on them. The class with the most words tallied wins a prize.

Dean said the school will also have a Get Caught Reading contest.

"I will be wandering the halls and peeking into classrooms to see who is reading," said Dean.

St. Joseph school will put photos of student readers on the library bulletin board, and will hold a Scholastic book fair from Oct. 1 to 3 and members of the Canadian Forces will read to students from kindergarten to Grade 3.