School Outreach

Principal Connections

• The email sent directly to the principal was the most effective way of communicating with the principals. The response rate from the Catholic School Board e-letter had an 80% return rate with 12 of the 15 schools requesting the Cambridge Libraries partner with them at their JK Orientation events.

• The public school board e-letter was also sent to the

principals with a response rate of 48% with 11 of the 23 public schools requesting the Cambridge Libraries attend their JK Orientation event.

• 66% of Cambridge Schools invited Cambridge Libraries to attend their JK Orientation events.

JK Orientation OutreachJK Outreach 10 Minute Presentation Content:

Showcase Pre-K Reading Materialso Beginner Reading collection - supports emergent readerso Reader Styles: Phonics, phonetic awareness, and whole language approacho Book-CD kits (Active listening skills)o Picture books (First Day of Kindergarten Theme – shared experience) , Board Books,

Parenting collection

Library Membershipso Free for all students of Cambridge schools

Programso Free Drop-in summer programs that include songs, rhymes, finger-plays, crafts, and a

story read aloudo Summer Reading Club – a reading incentive programo Social opportunities to practice listening skills, taking turns, sitting in groups and peer

interactions.

  How the Library helps “stimulate learning”

o Taking neighborhood trips & making your local library a destination o Provides a wide variety of reading materials o Educational Programs that children can attend independentlyo Experiences for parents and children to share together

 

JK Orientation Outcomes • Positive principal feedback with invitations to return next year

• JK outreach provided an evening to connect with families that are were not regular library users. Many were interested in getting library cards for their children and finding out more information regarding the summer programs and reading incentive club.

• The JK Orientation events were an excellent time to establish and strengthen relationships with area principals. Arriving early to set-up allowed valuable time to network with teaching staff and principals regarding what the library offers on an ongoing basis for teaching staff at the elementary level.

• Parents from the JK Orientation nights often visited the library the next day to get a library card for their child and select materials. Many families were seen over the summer period continuing to use their memberships and active members of the Summer Reading Club.

Special Event Outreach•Attend school functions that include parents. •Family Literacy Day events that combine students and their parents for literacy based activities.•Include program, collection and library card promotion.

For more Info:

ssydor@cambridgelibraries.ca