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Lunch, literacy and fun
Louie Norwegian School holds themed luncheon

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, February 21, 2013

TTHEK'EHDELI/JEAN MARIE RIVER
Literacy was everywhere during a themed lunch hour at Louie Norwegian School on Feb. 15.

NNSL photo/graphic

Esmeralda Antoine, 9, circles the word forever in the Valentine's word search that was part of the literacy luncheon at Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River on Feb. 15. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The school held a literacy luncheon on Friday, inviting community members to join them in celebrating literacy. After eating sandwiches, soup and cupcakes prepared by the five students, the five guests who attended the event had a number of activities to choose from.

Community members had the option of finding words in the Valentine's word search or making a bookmark. Participants were also invited to add on to the story that was written on a large piece of paper attached to the chalkboard. The first sentence was, "it was a cold and windy evening in Jean Marie River when suddenly..."

The luncheon was part of a series of monthly events that the school has been hosting to encourage community members to visit the school, said Kent Bratton, the school's principal. The luncheon also fit into the school's literacy plan, which includes motivating the students to read.

The Read to Succeed contest is one of the motivators this school year. Since September, the students have been keeping track of the books they've read by writing the titles on one of the bricks drawn onto a large sheet of paper taped to a wall in the school. Every time a student reads 25 books, he or she gets a prize.

Between them, the four oldest students have read just over 300 books. The student who reads the most books will get an e-reader at the end of the contest.

Rhonda Grossetete, 14, is in the lead with more than 100 books read.

"I like reading," she said.

Grossetete prefers mystery books. Her favourite books at the moment are part of the Skeleton Creek series by Patrick Carman. It takes Grossetete approximately two weeks to finish a book.

While making a bookmark, Holly Norwegian, 13, said that comedy and horror books are her favourites. By reading both at school and at home she has read approximately 75 books for the contest.

The literacy luncheon was fun, she said. Every participant went home with a book after having their names chosen during a draw. Norwegian picked Ripley's Believe it or Not special edition 2013.

Zaida Sanguez, 11, said winning a book was the best part of the luncheon. She chose The Boy Project by Kami Kinard.

Sanguez reads mostly picture books. Her favourite author is Robert Munsch.

"Because he is a funny writer," she said.

Her favourite Munsch book, titled Purple, Green and Yellow, is about a girl who colours on things she's not supposed to with special markers.

For Esmeralda Antoine, 9, making a bookmark was the best part of the luncheon. Antoine has read approximately 50 books for the contest. She particularly likes poems.

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