Students across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) will return this fall to fuller classroom libraries, thanks to a historic $1.5 million investment in new reading materials. Each school received between $13,000 and $26,000 this spring to purchase a wide range of books aimed at sparking a love of reading and expanding students’ worldviews.
“Through this investment, our goal is to encourage more kids to pick up a book and read for the enjoyment of it – be it a traditional chapter book, a picture book or a graphic novel. Access to high-quality books is an important part of building a love of reading,” explains Executive Superintendent Eric Hardie. “Reading is a critical skill for all students and central to this work is providing students with both the opportunity and motivation to learn through updated book collections.”
The funds were distributed based on school enrollment, allowing staff to buy hundreds of modern, engaging, and culturally relevant titles. Staff have been encouraged to consult with colleagues, students, and parent councils when selecting books.
“As a former principal, being given this much to money to spend on reading books is a dream. Enhancing reading skills is a top priority for our school district and I’m proud we are making this investment to ensure our student have access to a wide range of books and authors,” adds UCDSB Chair Jamie Schoular.