Oliver school gets $20,000 grant to transform library
OLIVER— On May 25, teachers and students from Sen Pok Chin thought they were participating in a general informational conference call with the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation to discuss the state and need within their library.
Little did they know that the Foundation was about to reveal that they were in fact a recipient of a $20,000 Literacy Fund grant to transform their school library.
Sen Pok Chin is one of 30 recipients to receive a 2017 Literacy Fund grant, part of a $1.5 million commitment given by the Foundation each year to high-needs elementary schools across Canada in an effort to bolster literacy and give all children equal access to books.
Over the past 13 years, the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has committed more than $25 million in funding, helping more than 3,000 schools, and transforming the lives of over 900,000 Canadian children.
Sen Pok Chin was thrilled to hear they would have the opportunity to transform their school library over the next three years.
The average age of books in Sen Pok Chin school’s library is approximately 15-years-old, making them one of the many Canadian schools in dire need of new books.
Now, as a result of the Literacy Fund grant, Sen Pok Chin will be able to increase its library collection by 10 new books] per student for each of the three grant years, totalling 2,250 books
“We are honoured to be selected as one of the 30 recipients for this year’s Love of Reading grant and this support could not have come at a better time,” said Sen Pok Chin principal Val Allen.
“We have great kids and a beautiful school. The Sen Pok Chin staff work tirelessly to enrich the lives of our children and provide students with the very best education.
“Building our literacy resources with the variety of genre’s, fiction and non-fiction and high interest topics will motivate and inspire our students to read more. Our students do deserve the very best.”
Schools interested in applying for the 2018 Indigo Love of Reading Foundation Literacy Fund Grant can submit their application at www.loveofreading.org.