The Anglican group of schools wrapped up its first ever literacy week with a literacy fair today in Belize City. It was an end to a week in which the theme "genuine caring and literacy learning for every Belizean child" was emphasized. Keith Swift stopped in for the finale.
With executive moral support from the number 2 man in Cabinet.
Hon. John Briceno,
“The foundation of a good education comes with reading.”
And with a sizeable financial injection from a philanthropic businesswoman.
Haisan Diab,
“My mom was more than happy to help in anyway that she could have so she decided to donate the $50,000.”
The Anglican Schools today held their literacy fair at the Bird’s Isle. General manager Carol Babb says reading needs to return to its rightful place, the classroom.
Carol Babb,
“We realized Keith that a lot of children were not reading at their grade levels and so we realized that it is something that we need to address and that is why we are focusing on literacy cause we know for a fact that many of our children were reading two or three grade levels below their level.”
“We wanted our teachers and students to focus on reading and writing. We realize that reading is the foundation for all other forms of learning and this will not only be a week activity, we expect it to be a daily activity where our teachers will begin with reading and end with reading everyday in our classrooms.”
And while to some reading might fall to wayside because it seems uncool, on the campus of ACC it is cool. Or at least it is to Marleny Zuniga and Ryne Longsworth who topped a school wide short story competition. Both say reading can be fun.
Marleny Zuniga, ACC Student
“I learn more, I increase my vocabulary, and I find reading interesting so I like it and I will not stop.”
Ryne Longsworth, ACC Student
“I rather read than watch TV because I can use my imagination rather than see it on a screen. So I try to use my imagination.”
KS: So would you choose to read an Anansi story over say watching the new Destiny’s Child video? You actually find that more interesting?
Ryne Longsworth,
“Well different people read different things. I wouldn’t enjoy an Anansi story probably as much as someone else. But maybe the kind of books I read suspense, horrors I would prefer to more than a Destiny’s Child video.”
It is a choice and the Anglican Group of schools hopes that, like Ryne, most students will make the right one. Today for them was just the start.
There are 20 schools in the Anglican school system with approximately 5,000 students.