by: William T. Fagan

On September 9, 2000, the motel at Plum Point was a beehive of activity as over 80 parents, 17 facilitators, organizers and guests gathered for the wrap-up of a 12 week family literacy program in the area. On the walls and tables were displayed the materials for the many activities in which the parents had engaged. The parents sat with their facilitator at round-tables. A spokesparent from each group stood and talked on behalf of the other parents about their experiences with the program. The parents were very pleased with the opportunity to take part in the PRINTS (Parents Roles Interacting With Teacher Support) Program. Some of the comments for parents taking the program, included : “The program had lots of practical and useful ideas for helping children read and for parents to make it more fun. I was very impressed by the number of activities that can be used to help children learn in a very fun way”, and “I learned a lot myself from this program and I am very glad to have been given the opportunity to take part. I feel very strongly every parent should be given the opportunity to take part in the program in years to come. Thanks so much; my daughter has really learned a lot over the summer months.”

Hope Colbourne and Regina Humby, program organizers, engaged in a major undertaking in mobilizing parents across 26 communities, training facilitators to offer the program, and providing for monitoring and wrap-up. They noted that parents became more involved in all aspects of their children’s lives, volunteered more, and had more confidence in their ability and skills. The organizers collaborated with the School Board and Beverly May, Primary Consultant with the Board was present at the wrap-up ceremonies. Guest speaker was Dr. Bill Fagan, author of the program and Chairperson of the Literacy Development Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The communities and facilitators that took part in the program are: Goose Cove-Denise Alyward, Main Brook-Tracy Alyward and Regina Bromley, Roddicton, Bide Arm- Myrna Canning, St. Anthony-Peggy Clark and Leona Payne, Pigeon Cove, Forrester’s Point, St. Barbe Black Duck Cove - Pamela Applin, Castor River North and South, Bartlett’s Hr.- Annette and Pamela Rumbolt, Green Island Brook, Deadman’s Cove, Green Island Cove and Flower’s Cove- Judy Genge and Caroline Gould, St. Lunaire-Griquet and, Noddy Bay - Regina Humby, Port au Choix and Port Saunders-Sharon Kelly, River of Ponds- Holly Patey, Bird Cove, Blue Cove and Plum Point- Gwen Sheppard.

Parents listen to an address by Ms.Hope Colbourne at a literacy workshop in Point Plum