Writer in residence comes to Gibsons
Sunshine Coast School District
Family Literacy
Gibsons Aboriginal Gatherings are Drawing People Together
The storyteller, draped in her beautiful black and white shawl, paused a few seconds for effect – the children, youth, parents and elders in the room were spellbound……
Schools serve as a learning community but they also create a community where students learn to share their identity and learn to belong. The use of a story can allow young ones to reveal their knowledge and have others recognize them for being knowledgeable. It provides an opportunity for their ways of knowing to be honoured and respected. . It can also provide an opportunity for parents and elders to build the knowledge held by a youth. Storytelling in school creates a community of relationships.
Kate Tauber of the Gibsons Elphinstone Community School and Lisa Pugh of the School District's Aboriginal Education Support Program know about the wonderful thing that happens when people come together around stories. Members of the Aboriginal community on the Sunshine Coast know about it. That is why Kate and Lisa collaborated with Brenda Menard, a Métis person who lives in Gibsons, to facilitate a series of monthly gatherings for families. Their hope is that these gatherings will support and promote coming together as a community.
On January 18th, the first Gibsons Aboriginal Gathering was held at Gibsons Elementary, drawing people from as far away as Roberts Creek. Sechelt storyteller Holly-Ann Higgins shared some of her amazing tales and Brenda Menard talked about family regalia and researching family history.
One Tuesday evening each month, from now until June, all parents will be welcome to come to visit, share and learn about Aboriginal culture with their children. They can also borrow Aboriginal books from the lending library. Healthy snacks, coffee and tea are provided.
Upcoming gatherings (5:30pm to 7:30pm at Gibsons Elementary) will include:
February 15 Make A Child's Drum Night: Cowichan presenter, Joyce Jack
March 15 Dreamcatchers: Annishnabe presenter, Theresa Toms
April 19 Carving: Squamish carver, singer and speaker, Wes Nahanee
May 24 Weaving: Squamish Chief and artist, Janice George
June 21 National Aboriginal Day Farewell Feast
School Events and Activities
Elphinstone
1) Dear Day 1 is Elphinstone's Drop Everything and Read Day from October 25th. Every single chair was occupied by engaged and reading students!
2) Dear Day 2 picture shows visiting author of young adult fiction Carrie Mac. She is presenting Grade 10 contest winner Behruze Perey with a signed copy of her novel The Droughtlanders. She gave a riveting talk about what it is like to be an author, and described her inspirations for her novels, like The Beckoners.
3) Dear Day 3 picture is young adult fiction author Carrie Mac chatting with the Elphinstone Book Club. Ms. Mac was looking for some ideas for the new book that she is writing.
4) Dear Day 4 picture shows aboriginal author Richard Van Camp who visited Elphinstone on November 15th. He engaged students with folk tales from his Dogrib tale and his childhood years. He is the author of The Lesser Blessed, A Man Called Raven, and What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?
5) Dear Day Pic 4 is a shot of Ms. Mearns' Geology 12 class, who used the library for researching and presenting their information on earthquakes and tunnels. Students from Grade 8 through 12 came in to look at the displays, and critiqued the students' work. 
Chatelech
On April , 2010 (yes, April Fool's Day) there was a Mad Hatter's Tea in the Library at lunch hour to celebrate the novel Alice in Wonderland and the remake of the classic movie.
This year students would like to have a Heroes Tea on April 1 with students dressing up as their favourite literary heroes such as Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.
Each May, the Book Club students from Chatelech and Elphinstone go on a field trip to the Downtown Vancouver Public Library. Students tour the Young Adult section of this wonderful library first, checking out books they would like to see in the secondary school libraries. They then venture on to explore other sections of the seven-floor Library and all its literary treasures. Last stop of the day is usually the Chapters bookstore on Robson Street where new books are purchased for the reading pleasure of students at the secondary level.
Elementary School Event and Activities
Drop Everything And Read each day
Author session - Fishing with Gubby, author Gary Kent and illustrator Kim Le Fave. Madeira Park Elementary School kicked off Literacy Week with a presentation by this local author and illustrator. This is a joint venture between Madeira Park Elementary and Pender Harbour Secondary Community Schools with funding from the Sunshine Coast Literacy Council.
Book swap throughout the day (photos at Madeira Park Elementary)
Pajama Day and Family Buddy Read
Community readers in the afternoon
A favourite literary character day
Family Breakfast - Families invited to have breakfast with their child and either read or play a literacy games with them
Below are some of the pictures from Madeira Park Elementary School! The school put on a wide variety of activities to support Literacy Week, including presentations by local authors and illustrators, dressing up as storybook characters, creating instruction manuals and an afternoon of interactive literary activities.
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