Fairview Elementary School students booked a date at Chapters bookstore Thursday for a shopping spree.
The Nanaimo school was selected for Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s grant in May 2016 and has $60,000 to spend over three years to replenish its library collection.
Sofia La Bounty, Fairview teacher-librarian, said field trip was unique for some, who had never been in a bookstore. The infusion of books has stimulated interest in reading, she said.
“This is my second year at Fairview and I make big efforts to have the library accessible during lunch hours for the kids, or before or after school,” said La Bounty. “So we’re promoting the use of the library all the time, hosting events, clubs, games clubs, Lego, Makerspace and so I have more kids coming in and saying, ‘Can I sit and read?’ So I think the traffic has increased significantly with our kids because they come and they get excited. I’m able to showcase a large collection of new books.”
La Bounty said graphic novels are among the popular items continually loaned out.
“There’s a lot of neat series that the kids are into,” said La Bounty. “The movies or shows, any of those connections that the kids make, Minecraft is super popular, Lego … mostly graphic novels.”
Joanne Kossey, Nanaimo Chapters’ assistant manager, said the money is granted to high-need schools and Fairview is one of 25 recipients. The foundation also chose Rock City Elementary for its Adopt a School program fundraiser, which will run until Oct. 8.
.@sd68bc's Rock City Elementary @IndigoLOR #AdoptASchool. Funds raised until #Oct8 go to school for #books via @chaptersindigo.
— Karl Yu (@KarlYuBulletin) September 29, 2017
“Once a year, we get three weeks each year to do one local elementary school … everything we raise during that three-week period goes directly to Rock City, so they end up with [those] funds to come in, they get a 30 per cent discount on top of that to come in and purchase what they need for their school,” said Kossey.
Kossey said it was a pleasure to host the students.
“It’s crazy insanity, but it’s the best kind of crazy insanity. We really enjoy having them come in,” Kossey said.
For more information or to donate to Adopt a School, see www.loveofreading.org.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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