On February 5, John Oliver student volunteers headed out into the community to kindle a passion for reading among Strong Start students and their parents. During the session, the students played and read with the young pre-Kindergarteners, built bookshelves and gave them a pile of new books to read.

The excursion was part of the JO Wonder of Reading campaign, which is the school's response to higher than average vulnerability in literacy and related skills within the student population. The campaign seeks to generate excitement for and engagement with reading for all ages, particularly younger elementary aged students.

During the morning, eight JO students read to roughly 20 Strong Start students and their grandparents. 

Manu Hayre, a Grade 12 JO student whose favourite book is the Invisible Friend, says she got involved with the initiative because she wanted to help spread her own love of reading to the next generation of students.

"The low literacy rates in our community makes this very important," she says. "This is a good way to spread the love of reading."

JO student volunteers have already visited Henderson. Later in February they are planning a larger reading event featuring a well known children's author. 

School staff say particular thanks need to go to Chapters, Discover Books and TD Bank for their support of the program and donations of books.

To view photos from the event, click here .

Click on the image below to check out our Flickr album for more photos.