Principal of Rocky Mountain Elementary School, Lois Ehman has been presented with the annual Community Literacy Award from Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL).
Ehman was presented with the award in a special Zoom meeting on Nov. 25.
Community literacy coordinator for the Elk Valley, Chrisy Hill said the award celebrates those passionate about literacy who go above and beyond to support the Elk Valley’s learning needs. Selecting Ehman as this year’s recipient was according to Hill, ‘a no-brainer’.
“She just stood out, it was very obvious that she deserved this award… She has shown to be a true champion for literacy,” said Hill.
Among her most recent contributions is setting up and expanding CBAL’s Come Read With Me program for Rocky Mountain’s grade one and two students.
“She’s probably the first school in the province to have Come Read With Me at the school this year…She’s amazing, she totally deserved this award and we’re so fortunate to have her in the valley,” added Hill.
“She just knows what kids need and instinctively does it.”
In addition to recognizing Ehman on Wednesday, Hill also hosted a virtual Come Read With Me Program for Rocky Mountain’s students and parents. Though the program typically involves a workshop for parents to learn how to better support their children’s reading, the program has been virtually altered to accommodate new regulations.
“It went way better than I expected, the kids were very responsive,” Hill said about Wednesday’s online program.
“We just have to get creative…our kids are too important, so we just have to do whatever it is we have to do to make it work,” said Hill.
Continuing to adapt to aid both families and students, CBAL is finding a number of other ways to compensate for lack of in-person programming by going virtual with all other programs including the Parents as Literacy program, the Baby Goose Program, their English language lessons, the Parent Partners and Education drop-ins, and more.
For more information on CBAL and their free programming, visit their Facebook, Instagram, or website at CBAL.org or call them at 250-946-7257.
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