Local students venture into the Forest of Reading

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD

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Algoma District School Board students will play an important part in choosing winning authors through the Forest of Reading program

Algoma District School Board (ADSB) trustees and senior administration found out about an impressive literary event that many ADSB students are or will be taking part in this winter and spring.

The Forest of Reading is Canada's largest recreational reading program, made up of programs geared towards readers in Kindergarten through to Grade 12.  

Established twenty-two years ago, the intent is to encourage reading for pleasure in school-aged children across the country and to increase awareness for Canadian books and authors.

Every year, the Forest of Reading programs culminate in an event called the Festival of Trees.

The winners of each program, as chosen by young readers, are announced at the Festival of Trees events, and many authors and illustrators are in attendance, delivering hands on workshops and mingling with their young fans.

In 2012, the Festival, always held in Toronto, began touring and this year Sault Ste Marie has been chosen as a Festival of Trees satellite location.

On May 27, the Festival of Trees will be held at the Essar Centre.

Winners will be announced, again chosen by young readers themselves who vote for their favourite books.

Allison Corbett, from Grand View Public School, brought students from her Grade 3 class to share with trustees the books they have read or are reading for the program.

The students shared information about the books and talked about whether they plan to vote for the book or not and why.

Adrienne Edwards, the Instructional Lead for ADSB east schools, videotaped a number of students from Blind River Public School who helped further explain the part they are playing in the Festival of Trees and Forest of Reading.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Festival of Trees will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 27 with a wide range of activities planned for the youth audience.

The Forest of Reading consists of eight reading programs or categories.  

ADSB students are focused on and will be voting within three of those categories which are:

• Blue Spruce Award (the best picture books for children in Kindergarten - Grade 2, ages 4 - 7)
• Silver Birch Awards (the best fiction and non-fiction books for children in Grades 3 - 6, ages 8 - 12)
• Silver Birch Express Award (the best fiction and non-fiction books for children in Grades 3 - 4, ages 8 - 10. Also great for ESL students, reluctant readers and special needs students in Grades 3 - 6)

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