Students at Elliot Lake's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School will be helping themselves during the school day on Friday, Nov. 15.
That's when they'll be taking part in the all-day Read-A-Thon for Recreation which will see them raising money earmarked for their own school. The cash they generate will be used to buy recreational playground equipment to compliment other apparatus already purchased and on site, including two buddy benches, two soccer nets, a sandbox for JK/SK, a picnic table, two sheds, a volleyball net, and (hopefully) a gaga ball court by next spring (from previous Read-A-Thon for Recreation funding).
Our Lady of Fatima Principal Andrew Chi told ElliotLakeToday that the students will also help support their sports teams with travel and entry costs for various competitive events. Our Lady of Fatima students participate in competitive volleyball, softball, basketball, cross country, and track and field. Chi said they plan to use some of this month's hoped-for proceeds to explore the feasibility of adding badminton and other sports as well.
"This fund has also sent Our Lady of Fatima students to, and helped support students attending, summer camps, and allowed for their participation in sports and other activities in the community (ie: dance, karate, guitar lessons and various other talent builders for which they hope to support students taking part in),” Chi explained.
"The top money raisers get to chose from a personalized basketball jersey, personalized hat and beyblade stadium. There will also be other smaller prizes for other top money raisers,” he continued.
"Students are expected to read for the entire duration of a school day,” Chi said.
He noted that Our Lady of Fatima students will be able to select from among library books, classroom books and e-readers during the Read-A-Thon for Recreation. They will also have guest readers on hand in class to perform ‘read-a-louds’, including Liz Kanski and school librarian Joanne Nelson.