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WINTER ------------------------------------------------------

NOVEMBER 9 &10 2009
Carol McDougal Visits Hamilton
Nova Scotia's Read To Me! program
Sponsored by Hamilton Best Start
Carol McDougall, Director of the Nova Scotia Read To Me! program shared her wisdom over two evenings with professionals and parents across the Hamilton community. She discussed the successful Read To Me! program offered in Nova Scotia where every parent of a new born baby is presented with a bag of books before they leave the hospital. She enlightened all on when to read, what to read to very young children and how to build good family reading routines. She drove home the message that it's never too early for books.
JANUARY
Hamilton Family Literacy Week

Family Literacy Day is January 27. In Hamilton, we celebrate for an entire week. During Hamilton Family Literacy week all families - moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and caregivers - are encouraged to get in on the reading fun. Last year Image Honda on Centennial Parkway welcomed parents and children from Early Learning and Care and Parenting and Family Literacy centres, as well as students from St. David Catholic elementary school’s kindergarten class to help kick off Hamilton Family Literacy Week.The event featured author and illustrator Werner Zimmermann, who read from his books Snow Day and Henny Penny.



January 28th 2010
Snuggle Up and Read
Snuggle Up and Read is a city-wide pyjama party with a focus on literacy. It is one of the kick-off events for Hamilton Family Literacy Week. Parents bring their children to participating locations around Hamilton and enjoy a shared story time with their children. This Year Join in the fun on January 28th. A fun filled night of stories and prizes.



JANUARY 2010
Hamilton Families Read
The Hamilton Families Read program promotes Canadian authors and illustrators to young people. Every year, a booklist is created with titles for the board book set to teen readers. Authors and illustrators selecteed for the booklist are invited to Hamilton to visit youth in schools, libraries and daycare centres.
SPRING 2009------------------------------------------


JUNE 4th 2009
Early Literacy Hamilton Forum

Early Literacy Hamilton was pleased to host the 7th annual Early Literacy Forum on June 4th, 2009. The forum took place at Mohawk College from 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and offered early years professionals, who work with children 0-6 and their families, a chance to come together and take part in a variety of workshops and information sessions. The theme of the 2009 Forum was “Literacy Through the Ages”. Our goal was to continue to increase awareness that literacy needs to begin at birth and that as early years professionals we will provide expertise to support family literacy.


Registration for the Forum was FREE!


ELH welcomed Dr. Genese Warr-Leeper as the 2009 Keynote Speaker:

June 11th 2009
Adult Basic Education Association presents

The Annual Leaders in Literacy Breakfast

8:30 am – 10:am
Tickets are $20 and can be ordered by contacting Sara at workplace@abea.on.ca or calling905-527-2222. Keynote Speaker: Chris Robertson – To the Top CanadaThe following awards will be presented at the Leaders in Literacy Breakfast:and the winners are...

The Agency Early Literacy Education Award 2009 Parenting & Family Literacy Centres - HWDSB

The CIBC World Markets Children's Foundation Individual Early Literacy Education Award 2009 Joanne LeBlanc

The ArcelorMittal Dofasco Excellence in Adult Teaching Award 2009 2 winners: Pat Patterson & Laura Prinsthal

The Ken Cross Individual Literacy Award 2009 Doris Oldermanis

The Lynne Livingstone Memorial Award 2009 Ross McIntosh

The Agency/Corporate Award 2009 The Hamilton Spectator

The Hamilton Spectator Adult Literacy Learner Award Brandon Smith







FALL 2009 -----------------------------------------
September
School Readiness Calendar
The 2009-2010 School Readiness Calendars are distributed to all new children registering for Kindergarten around Hamilton.

September 20th 2009
Telling Tales Festival at Westfield Heritage Village
A free festival for you and your family to enjoy. Step through Westfield’s Gates of Time into a storybook village where historical figures mingle with contemporary children’s literary stars on this magical day. Plan to attend the 1st Annual Telling Tales Festival – all ages will find it entertaining and unforgettable. More than a celebration of stories and storytelling, Telling Tales is an important fundraising event, committed to providing financial assistance to much-needed local literacy programs. Thanks to generous community support, festival admission is free! Donations to Literacy are gratefully accepted and encouraged
For more information visit the website at: http://www.tellingtales.org/