Ronald’s Readers are working their way through Whitecourt schools

By Laura Bohnert

On April 14, students from Whitecourt Central School and Percy Baxter Middle School began participating in the Ronald’s Readers program in an effort to boost literacy skills in Whitecourt.

Ronald’s Readers is a literacy-focused mentorship program that was brought to Whitecourt by a partnership between McDonalds and the Team for Success, explains Teagan Arnott, Mental Health Capacity Building Co-ordinator for Team for Success.

Through the program, Whitecourt Central students from grades 3 to 5 (ages 8 to 11) who are chosen by their teachers to participate in the program are partnered with grade 7 tutors (ages 12 to 13) from Percy Baxter Middle School who volunteer as mentors.

“The program is not mandatory, and the grade 7 students actually give up their class time to tutor,” Arnott adds, “so we are very happy to have them help out.”

“The Ronald’s Readers program began in Whitecourt eight years ago, when Linda Magnall, owner of McDonalds, presented the program to the Team for Success,” explains Arnott. “She said that it would be great to partner with the schools to get the program off the ground. The rest is history. We have run at least two separate Ronald’s Readers programs every year for the last eight years now, making this our 15^th group of Ronald’s Readers.”

“There are so many benefits for all who are involved in the Ronald’s Readers program,” states Arnott, “but the main benefit to Whitecourt Central students is that they get to experience positive role modelling from their older partners.”

“The focus of this program is literacy,” Arnott continues, “so the students get to focus on their reading skills and strengthen any downfalls they may have with reading and comprehension.”

“Leadership skills are developed and become apparent with our grade 7 students throughout the program as well,” states Arnott.  “The grade 7 students benefit in that they are able to work one-on-one with a student and build relationships with them. To mentor someone is a learning experience within itself, and I believe that our tutors learn just as much as our Whitecourt Central students.”

“Overall, this program is a win-win for all involved,” adds Arnott.

“Children are the future,” Arnott emphasizes, “and to be able to help them in their learning adventure and make them feel confident in their academic abilities is beneficial to everyone—to their future and present teachers, to the schools in general, and to the community as a whole.”

“The program supports healthy mentorship between children of different ages,” Arnott explains, “and that promotes positive leadership skills. In some sessions, we have even had the Wolverines as mentors which gives students the opportunity to connect with people who are well known in Whitecourt. It also gives Whitecourt Central students the opportunity to work with the people they look up to.”

“This is all done in a safe and supportive environment,” Arnott concludes, “and all to promote the growth of our children’s skills.”