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Mayfair School
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Mayfair School principal recognized as Scholastic Reading Champion

December 19, 2017

A goal to encourage students and families of Mayfair Community School to read before bedtime has resulted in Principal Todd Berg receiving recognition as a Scholastic Canada Reading Champion.

Each month during 2017 the Reading Champions program recognized individuals and organizations who help children discover the pleasure and power of reading as a way to mark the 60th anniversary of Scholastic Canada. Berg was one of three recipients for the month of November and the school received a $1,000 donation of books.

The Bedtime Book Club launched by Berg and the staff at Mayfair was designed to foster the habit of reading before bed among the school's students and families. The effort included a 15-for-15 challenge, where students had to read 15 minutes for 15 days in a row, which was successfully completed by 76 students

That was followed by a 20-for-20 phase in which 104 students met the challenge and finally the Bedtime Bingo, where students need to read a variety of genres.

At the beginning of the school year, 45 per cent of students were reading at grade level or above. In June, that increased to where 68 per cent of students were reading at or above grade level.

High quality books and student input into selections for classroom libraries were part of the effort, as well as a field trip that saw the entire student body visit McNally Robinson Booksellers during the course of two days, introducing many students to what books and bookstores have to offer.

The Reading Champions award recognizes those who show leadership in promoting a love of reading in the community, creates a literacy-rich environment in the school/classroom and displays a unique and exceptional effort in their commitment to bringing the joy of reading to children.