By Tory Gillis
The Brandon Sun
BRANDON, Canada — There were no sirens wailing or lights flashing when Brandon’s firefighters and paramedics pulled into the Capitol Theatre parking lot Tuesday afternoon. Buses were in short supply for the event, tied up with transporting students displaced by flood precautions.
There were no sirens wailing or lights flashing when Brandon’s firefighters and paramedics pulled into the Capitol Theatre parking lot Tuesday afternoon.
They came to make popcorn and drinks, in uniform, for students who reached their reading goals.
The Read to Succeed program lasts throughout the year for Grade 2 classes in the Brandon School Division. Local firefighters check in with participating classes to motivate readers and make sure they keep working toward their goals.
This year’s program involved around 900 local readers. They were invited yesterday to watch “Yogi Bear” on the big screen as a payoff for their efforts.
Organizer and parent Terry Parlow says the idea for Read to Succeed came years ago, after the end of a different reading incentive. He remembered the enthusiasm his oldest son had when he was reaching for a reading quota. “I saw a big drop off from my first son to my second son, so that’s what kind of led me to want to do it.”
As a firefighter, Parlow knew he and his colleagues could drive the kids to hit the books.
Carolyn Forster, who teaches Grades 1 and 2 at Riverheights School, said her students are really excited when the firefighters come to their classroom. “It gives them a real world purpose. Sometimes when they come in, I’ve heard the firefighters speak about how important reading is in their jobs.”
She says the reward is important for all of the kids, especially when some have never had a chance to go to the theatre.
Each classroom sets individual goals, so each child can read enough to suit their skills. Some teachers said their students had read between 300-500 minutes each, and some schools said their students had gone through hundreds of books.
Riverheights student Kolby Adair couldn’t remember how many books he had read, but he had a favourite novel.
“I like ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’,” Adair said. “It’s about a boy named Gregory and there are five of them.”
He said he wants to keep reading more of the series in the summer.
Buses were in short supply for the event, tied up with transporting students displaced by flood precautions. But parents and volunteers brought nearly 250 kids to the celebration.
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