Students at Turner Valley School dressed in their best western gear late last month for a special kind of rodeo.
The Reading Rodeo, an annual event at the school for more than 15 years, celebrates Family Literacy Day and featured some special guests this year who spoke to students about the importance of reading and creativity.
A morning concert/workshop with Brettyn Rose got the day going as the Foothills singer-songwriter performed some original songs and answered a broad range of student questions.
“She was the perfect, most inspiring mentor to kick off our Reading Rodeo,” said librarian Carol Webb, who continues to organize the event. “Brettyn’s concert was a delightful and upbeat way to get us all in the mood to celebrate Family Literacy Day.”
In the afternoon, The Travelling Mabels, an award-winning, Alberta-based folk/country group, performed several of its songs, including Alberta Blue, which has taken on a life of its own. There is now a children’s book based on the song lyrics that won Alberta 2022 Children’s Book of the Year.
The students were excited that a book that Webb had read to them in the library was being performed live at their school.
Families were invited to the concert and stayed afterwards to join their kids throughout the school for flashlight reading and board games.
“It was an uplifting community experience for students, staff and the entire school community,” said Webb.
Family Literacy Day was created in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy Canada to celebrate parents and children reading and learning together to become lifelong learners. This day is held annually in January to encourage Canadian families to spend at least 15 minutes a day enjoying a learning activity together.
