More Than 1,000 Literacy And Activity Kits Will Inspire Reading This Summer

Released on June 16, 2021

Some Saskatchewan students will be able to get wrapped up in reading this summer, thanks to summer literacy kits provided by their schools.

This marks the second summer that eight school divisions will provide literacy kits and programming for students, to help pique their interest and strengthen their skills in literacy over the summer months.  Frontier College is preparing about 1,055 of these kits, which school divisions will distribute to students aged five to 12.

"These literacy kits encourage parents to spend time reading with their children, and support children's interest in reading by providing books for their home," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said.  "This worthwhile investment will help keep reading skills sharp over the summer, allowing students to get a jump-start on the new school year."

A Ministry of Education grant of $500,000 funds summer literacy resources for Creighton, Île-à-la-Crosse, Light of Christ Roman Catholic, Living Sky, Northern Lights, Prairie Valley, Prince Albert Roman Catholic and Saskatchewan Rivers school divisions, as well as the Pahkisimon Nuye?áh Library System.  In 2021, the literacy kits are being offered in place of in-person summer literacy camps, which the Ministry of Education has funded since 2014.  School divisions work with teachers and families to determine which students might benefit from additional support over the summer.

"Last year we provided literacy camp kits and they were a success," Saskatchewan Summer Literacy Camps facilitator through Northern Lights School Division Robert Dolan said.  "We saw record-breaking numbers as we were able to reach whole families, not just students in the camp age range of five to 12.  We are so excited that this year we can provide literacy camp kits in addition to virtual programming, which also provides employment in our communities where there are not usual summer job opportunities."

The kits will contain books and activities to engage families in literacy-building activities.  Some school divisions will customize kits to include additional items to encourage physical activity and reading in French or an Indigenous language, as well as T-shirts and snacks.  To support families with their literacy kits, most school divisions will also offer phone, virtual or outdoor events and programs.

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