Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador

Project Name: Book Bag – Trinity Conception Family Resource Centre

Project Start/End Dates: October - June, 2010; continuing program

Initial Project Description: The Book Bag Program is designed to provide the opportunity to increase early learning experiences for the families in the Trinity Conception area. The program focuses on school-readiness as an essential part of early learning. Each family registered receives a book bag containing story books and an art activity including glue, scissors, etc.

While the program has been previously introduced to the centres, this particular project worked to improve and enhance the program, as the needed resources were not available to provide the program to all families interested.

The goal of this program is to help prepare both parents and children for the transition to school.

Project Outcomes: The Centre purchased enough book bags, books and supplies to allow more families to avail of the program. The Book Bags rotated throughout the six Family Resource Centres sites, on a one month basis.

The program took place in all six of the Centre’s satellite sites (Carbonear, Bay Roberts, Greens Harbour, Winterton, Harbour Grace, and Bay de Verde) over a period of four weeks. Each of the six sites doubled their program offering to twice a year.

Feedback from parents indicated that they looked forward to completing the activities with their children, and that they appreciated the increase in program offerings. Parents recognised that their child looked forward to taking home the book bags and contents, and especially enjoyed reading the books at home.

Developed and hosted by NALD in collaboration with Literacy Newfoundland and Labrador.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Office of Literacy and Essential Skills.