GREATER VICTORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Macaulay Elementary Awarded $70,000 Thanks to Indigo Love of Reading Foundation

The dual-track English and French Immersion school is one of 30 winners to receive the Literacy Fund Grant.

From left to right: Vice Principal Emmanuelle Henry, Early Literacy Collaboration Teacher Sonja Myhre, Librarian Joanna Mangan, and Principal Joanna Snow are pictured holding a giant check for $70,000 from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.

Thanks to the dedication and teamwork of staff, Macaulay Elementary School has been selected as one of 30 winners of a $70,000 Literacy Grant awarded by the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.

The grant aims to increase access to literature, bolster literacy achievements, and foster engagement amongst students, the school's library, and the wider community, including families.

The grant also seeks to increase student and educator skills within certain curricular areas such as Indigenous Knowledge and Worldviews, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Environmental literacy, and STEM through books and educational resources.

"When we announced the Indigo grant at our end-of-year assembly, the collective intake of breath at the announcement and heartfelt cheer were inspiring," says Sonja Myhre, Early Literacy Collaboration Teacher. "This grant is going to change our school. The idea of it is already facilitating excitement, enthusiasm, and engagement around books and literature! We cannot wait to see what the next three years hold."

Each year, hundreds of schools across Canada apply for this grant to increase access to books for children. The grant is dispersed over a multi-year period to foster partnerships between schools and the Foundation, as well as to ensure the grant funds are making an impact both in the short and long terms.

Macaulay Elementary School will be using the funds to increase the selection of books in both classroom libraries and school library that showcase all cultures and families. Family events to encourage literacy in students' homes are also on the horizon and will be planned closely with the school's Parent Advisory Council to establish community connections.

"Our grant proposal was the result of a considerable amount time, effort, and collaboration between members of our literacy team at Macaulay, and we were thrilled to hear that we were chosen as one of this year's recipients!" says Joanna Mangan, Librarian. "We are grateful to our school community for their support and so excited to start getting new books into the hands of our students. Thank you to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation for investing in our kids!"

Early Literacy Collaboration Teacher Sonja Myhre, Librarian Joanna Mangan, Vice Principal Emmanuelle Henry and Principal Joanna Snow were all instrumental in writing the grant proposal. The District applauds them for their initiative and strong application to enhance literacy in our learning community thank you!