By Kellah Lavoie

Novel donation brings reading to local school

Dec 17, 2010 | 6:36 AM

Staff at Westview School called the books they received from grant money, a gift.

Thursday, at the school’s Christmas concert, the books the students picked out nearly two months ago were brought into the classrooms and library.

All students got the opportunity to go to Indigo Books in Saskatoon and pick out two books – one for their classroom and one for the school library.

“I think it means that they can look at reading as something that they want to do in their lives. When they see that they can read at home, and they can read at school and they can learn so much from reading, I think that gives them the opportunity – they (otherwise) might not have this opportunity,” said Sandy Fauchoux, Grade 2/3 teacher.

It was also the donation of the Prince Albert Ice Hawks bus that added to the experience.

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Allan Pasloski, general manager of the Ice Hawks, said they were approached for the bus – they jumped on the opportunity.

“A big part of the grant money would go to bussing the kids to Saskatoon, so when we heard that was an area we could help out with them team … we were able to donate that to the kids – use the money for bussing to buy more books for the kids. We thought that was an excellent way to contribute to the community,” he said, adding it saved school $12,000.

Without the extra support only a few grades would have made the trek to Saskatoon.

“It’s a way of, instead of just writing a cheque, it’s nice to give the kids a chance to ride on a big bus, as opposed to a yellow school bus,” he said.

The Ice Hawks covered the costs of the bus, gas and bus driver for each trip to the province’s largest city.
The hockey players were happy to be a part of everything too.

“It feels good to help out the kids, you know to come out with the other guys and read to the kids, it’s fun,” said defenseman Barrett Madsen.

“You know when I was little I wanted something like this, you know it feels good to contribute… I know if I was them I would appreciate it, you know how a role model come in and read to me,” Branson Tomiak said.

Brad Hoffart, defenseman with the Ice Hawks, compares it to when he was in elementary school and the Raiders came to see them. He is excited to be in the other side of it.

“It means a whole lot, getting out to the kids, giving back to society, being a role model to young kids below us,” he said.

The Ice Hawks sat with some of the students and read the books they picked out.

“It was just exactly what we wanted to do. We were looking for somebody in the community to work with and in the community to be a part of, kids in particular that we wanted to be a part of,” Pasloski said.

“It’s good for the boys too, to see the kids and to work with the kids. It’s just something the Ice Hawks will be doing for a long time.”

Fauchoux said she is thankful that the kids can have opportunities like this.

“It shows you can take a book from the book store, from the library and you can read those things too,” she said.

klavoie@panow.com