Tracy Beaudry, a secretary and registrar at Brentwood Elementary, reads aloud to students at the school during Read In Week 2024.

Sherwood Park, AB. — Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) staff and students have been celebrating Read In Week 2024 through various activities from October 7-11. Read In Week is a divisionwide initiative that takes place annually to promote a lifelong love of reading in students and enhance literacy awareness among students, staff, families and community members. This year’s theme: Reading is for everyone.

Students are spending the week exploring the world through stories, connecting through text and discovering what reading means to them. This year, Brentwood Elementary is welcoming many community members to read to students, including Matt DeBeurs, a radio host at CISN Country 103.9; Confetti Sweets; Edmonton Riverhawks; Bev Facey Community High students; school staff; and, parent and caregiver volunteers.

Once again, teachers have access to an interactive poster filled with activities, including many resources that diversify what it means to read. “This year’s theme focuses on making reading accessible for all,” says Kristen Rosato, the Literacy and Social Studies Consultant at EIPS. “This week of reading all ways is designed to spark curiosity by exploring reading in unexpected places, engaging in unique activities and discovering the joy of books beyond traditional settings.”

Read In Week activities within the Division include guest readers, classroom book talks, bookmark creation, buddy reading, reading minutes competitions, colouring contests, guessing games, favourite book character dress-up days, outdoor reading activities, teacher exchanges for read-alouds and more. For school-specific activities, see the EIPS website.

In addition to these activities, staff, students, families and community members are invited to participate in Read In Week by reading themselves, to a child or to someone in the community. EIPS also encourages everyone to share what they learn during Read In Week 2024 by posting their own stories on social media using the hashtag #EIPSreads.

Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,750 students in 42 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.

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For more information, media can contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902