Education Minister announces results in the For the Love of Reading Challenge

In September, 2002, the Department of Education launched its annual For the Love of Reading Challenge, and today Education Minister Gerry Reid had the pleasure of announcing the results of this year�s challenge. The minister traveled to St. Mark�s School in King�s Cove to make the announcement.

"The challenge was a great success again this year, and students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have demonstrated that they really do love to read," said Minister Reid. "We had 119 schools and thousands of students participate in the challenge. I am pleased to announce that St. Michael�s School in Stephenville Crossing was the top achieving primary school, while St. Mark�s School in King�s Cove had the highest number of reading minutes at the elementary level. Additionally, the Grade 5 class at St. Mark�s School has the distinction of being the top achieving class province-wide. The six book-loving students in Ms. Alice Collins� class read for an astonishing 38,671 minutes. This averages out to each child spending approximately 6,445 minutes reading."

The six students were: Justin Byrne; Nikita Fitzgerald; Harlee Furlong; Michael Monks; Tyler Philpott; and Lucas Ricketts. The minister presented each child with a novel and a Read and Succeed t-shirt.

Five schools were among the top 10 for average number of minutes spent reading at both the primary and elementary levels: St. Mark�s School, King�s Cove; St. Gerard�s Elementary, Corner Brook; Helen Tulk Elementary, Bishop�s Falls; Riverwood Academy, Wing�s Point; and St. Joseph�s Elementary, Harbour Breton.

The five other top achieving primary schools were: St. Michael�s School, Stephenville Crossing; St. Francis of Assisi, St. John�s; St. Peter�s All Grade, McCallum; John Watkins Academy, Hermitage; and A.R. Scammell Academy, Change Islands. The five other top achieving elementary schools included: St. Mary�s All Grade, Mary�s Harbour; St. Gabriel�s All Grade, St. Brendan�s; Dunne Memorial Academy, St. Mary�s; Victoria Academy, Gaultois; and Northern Lights Academy, Rigolet. Each winning school was presented with a cheque for $2,500, which is to be used for literacy activities or resources.

This year�s challenge focused on time spent reading rather than the total number of books read. This approach ensured every student, regardless of their reading level, could participate in the challenge and contribute to their school�s success.

"I would like to say a big congratulations to the primary and elementary students of Newfoundland and Labrador, whose love of reading is a source of pride for all of us involved in educating our youth," added Minister Reid. "As well, I offer my sincere thanks to all the teachers and parents throughout the province who supported our students during this reading challenge. Without their assistance, encouragement and example, I am sure our students would not have spent such a remarkable amount of time reading."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0048, or (709) 727-3438.

2003 03 07                                       11:00 a.m.