Yorkton school crafts ice sculpture for family literacy program

An ice sculpture of a well-known book character has been crafted at an elementary school in Yorkton in support of a literacy initiative.

With the goal of encouraging students to read, St. Michael’s School has decorated their building to match the book they are reading this month – Charlotte’s Web.

"With One School One Book, we love to get the kids involved in literacy. Anything that gets them excited about books, we are willing to put in that extra effort,” expressed Lindsey Leik, Grade 1 French immersion teacher.

"Our staff has come together, we’ve got a snow sculpture outside, we’ve got decorations throughout the school, different activities planned, all for the love of reading."

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The ice sculpture made in front of the school was based on the character “Wilbur” from the book. It was carved voluntarily by two parents from the school - Stan Reed and Chad McDowell.

In addition to the decorative figure, students and staff helped design the building with art pieces that reflect themes and other characters from the book.

Tammie Latimer, who teaches fifth grade, explained the entire initiative is in relation to Family Literacy Day which falls on Jan. 27th.

"The families have all received a copy of Charlotte’s Web and each night the families are asked to read a chapter to their children," Latimer said.

"Then in the mornings, we come back to school and there's a trivia question about whatever the reading was the night before. The children can have some fun with that and each day we have winners who will win prizes sponsored for our entire project."

Latimer added that the books were sponsored by local businesses – Harvest Meats and Extravadance – along with the School Community Council (SCC) who helped fund the decorations.

Students from the school expressed their gratitude for the program.

"I love how the school is promoting the book to make us want to read more. It's amazing how they're doing that," said Grade 5 student Presley Krysa.

"It gives us so much motivation to read the book because it’s just so exciting for the entire month," added classmate, Miranda Bone.

A Grade 8 student said the initiative has been an exciting opportunity for students in every grade.

"This is really good for the little kids,” said Meredith Bone. “It gets them motivated in reading and all the decorations can make it more exciting. It's really good to take home a book and have that literacy in your house."

With plans to finish the book by the end of the month, around 600 people from the community will gather on Jan. 28 to celebrate Saskatchewan Family Literacy Day.