7/25/2011 3:11:02 PM
The Children’s Literacy Festival, hosted at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Prince Philip Drive campus as part of the Peter Gzowski Invitational (PGI) Literacy Event, saw nearly 600 children take part in a special literacy promotion.
Founded by Canadian broadcaster, writer and literacy champion the late Peter Gzowski , 2011 marked the 20th anniversary of the PGI Literacy Event. The Children’s Literacy Festival took place June 15 in St. John’s.
“I wanted this event organized in a fashion whereby smaller groups could come to a venue and take part in a variety of literacy-based activities for a short period of time,” says Paul Lahey, Provincial Chair of PGI – Newfoundland and Labrador and National Chair of PGI Canada. “Children’s attention spans are short and we needed to organize this event in a way that all children had a variety of activity. We wanted it to resemble the national event which was started in 1986 – a golf game.
According to Lahey, the Children’s Literacy Festival was implemented approximately four years ago as a means of drawing attention that PGI is not about golf, but about using golf as a means of bring people together.
“We wanted to bring in new elements that drew attention to literacy and to send a message that literacy affects all ages in that reading and writing is as important to children as it is to adults. If you catch them early, then together we can help in solving low literacy issues in our province.”
He feels the special literacy festival helps achieve this goal.
“Each hour one or two schools would arrive by busses with approximately 70–125 students from grades 2 to3. These students would be assembled into groups of 10–15 supervised by a teacher, then assigned a golf caddy and a team name – each named after famous golf courses in Canada,” he explains.
“They went directly to the CNA gymnasium, which was transformed into a simulated miniature golf course and each team was lead by the caddy to begin at a different hole. Similar to that of a golf tournament, teams all began at different holes and rotate to the next hole when complete.”
Teams participated in a special activity at each station or “hole”. For example, public libraries offered story time whereby they had a special guest arrive and read to the children, while CNA student volunteers had children create body shapes that spelled words or created letters.
“Once all teams had completed the round of stations, they proceeded to the middle of the gymnasium. At this point they would have had approximately 50 minutes of station activities completed. During this time, there was a magic show performed for all children then sitting on the floor. Then we began all over again.”
This process continued until approximately 550–600 children went through the course.
CNA sponsored the full PGI as the Education Partnership Sponsor, which contributed to three events; the PGI Rhythms and Rhymes concert, the Children’s Literacy Festival and the golf event.
The PGI Charity Golf Tournament in aid of literacy began with a shotgun start. Twenty teams headed off to the starting tee to begin a day of fun, hole activities, literacy challenges and a game of 18-hole golf.
“The weather was good, 14 degrees, overcast and at times a little misty rain. But that did not stop all teams from completing all holes, and all came in with big smiles on their faces, although maybe a few less golf balls, and a thought of supporting a great cause,” recalls Lahey.
Proceeds from this years’ PGI will be used to support on-going and new literacy initiatives in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It will also support bursaries through the various Adult Basic Education (ABE) centres across the province, and provide $5,000 that will be put towards scholarships for ABE students of CNA.
“So far, the PGI’s in Newfoundland and Labrador have contributed approximately $37,500 to CNA to provide direct support to its ABE students,” says Lahey. “PGI’s in Newfoundland and Labrador have raised approximately $400,000 in the past 20 years and 100 per cent of its proceeds go directly to support literacy.”
In Canada, PGI’s have raised over $13 million. PGI’s are one of the largest literacy fundraising initiatives in Canada and Lahey feels it is great to be part of that national campaign that affects so many.
The battle against illiteracy is fought through ABE programs at CNA.
“Scholarships such as those donated through the PGI Newfoundland and Labrador have a tremendous impact on our learners,” says Lisa Shallow, manager of CNA''s Alumni and Advancement. “By receiving scholarships, ABE students have the opportunity to feel recognized for their achievements, which further fuels their desire to improve their futures through achieving greater literacy and academic skills at the college.”
"The college was proud to continue as the Education Partner for the PGI Literacy events taking place in St. John''s,” adds John Oates, senior campus administrator of Prince Philip Drive campus. “Improving reading and literacy skills is one of PGI''s major objectives and we are extremely honoured and privileged to partner with such a distinguished group. The Prince Philip Drive campus hosted a large group of school children and it is always such a pleasure to see the kids come to the campus each year to read books and have fun. Friday''s golf tournament was a tremendous success and we were delighted to once again help PGI raise money for such a worthwhile cause."
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca