On Monday May 25th John Peake Park was full of children, laughter and yes, a school bus decked out to look like a cow. What was going on you ask? The Alberta Prairie Classroom On Wheels (C.O.W. Bus) was paying a visit to Chestermere to promote family literacy.
At the Centre for Family Literacy, they believe that literacy development begins at birth. Our homes are our first schools and our families are our first teachers. When children see family members study a map, jot down a shopping list or check the latest sports scores, they are learning about print and reading. When they pull their favourite breakfast cereal out of the cupboard, scribble with their crayons, or help turn the pages of their favourite bedtime story, they are already practicing their reading and writing skills.
The Alberta Prairie Classroom on Wheels (C.O.W.) has been in operation since 2003 and runs year-round. Its mandate is to visit 100 communities very year, sharing ideas and resources while building awareness of family literacy across the province. The unique visual presence of the bus also helps to advertise local literacy programs and resources.
Local organizations work together with the Centre for Family Literacy to coordinate a C.O.W. Bus visit. In Chestermere these organizations included Formative 5, Rocky View Community Learning, Parent Link, City of Chestermere, Barefoot Books, Community Services, Chestermere Public Library and Primary Care Network. Families with young children (0-6 in age) were invited to explore and enjoy the many books and homemade activities that fill the bus. Trained facilitators welcomed visitors to the bus and shared their ideas about early literacy and literacy development with families and local literacy practitioners.
Along with all the activities and excitement happening on the bus, there were plenty of other activities to take part in. The event had a pirate treasure hunt theme to it with children and their parent/guardian asked to start their hunt at Parent Link where they were provided a treasure map. There were a few different stops that the children had to visit, they’d be given a stamp on their map saying they’d completed that activity and then on to the next one. These activities included yoga in the park with Aia, music in the gazebo with Mel, a craft in the Parent Link Centre, a tour of the C.O.W. bus, and a very special story time in the library where new MLA Leela Aheer was on hand reading stories and singing with the children.
Cathy Burness, Community Development Coordinator with the Chestermere Public Library had this to say about the event, “The C.O.W. bus helps to raise awareness of literacy programs. It is geared for children under 6 years old and brings both a visual and a “hands on” reminder of the importance of early literacy. Here at the Chestermere Public Library, we are surrounded by books and people who love them, and we are keenly aware of how important it is to read to our children. We promote literacy every day and it is nice to have so much support from around the community”.
Burness went on to say, “The Chestermere Public Library works closely with Parent Link, Formative 5 and Rocky View Schools and partnering on bringing the C.O.W. bus to Chestermere adds another dimension to those community connections. We know that special events such as these help to create a sense of community and belonging. We also find that the events put on by Community Services, The City of Chestermere, C.R.C.A., Synergy, or Parent Link help to connect us with people that we don’t normally see at the Library”.
The Centre for Family Literacy donates a small library of quality children’s books to each community that it visits. These books are made available to families through libraries and other community agencies. The Alberta Prairie Classroom On Wheels Project is funded by Innovation and Advanced Education. If you’d like more information on the Alberta Prairie Classroom on Wheels Project, check them out at www.famlit.ca
