Crossfield Elementary School`s motto is "Learning to read is our focus, loving to read is our goal!"

For a school with a theme like that, what better reason to hold a celebration than to open a redesigned Learning Commons area and hold Family Literacy Night.

Those dual celebrations will take place starting at 6:00 pm tomorrow (October 10).  Grade four teacher Janice Graham who was instrumental in overseeing the redesign of the school`s Learning Commons says it's been open since the beginning of the school year and already has become the heart of the school.

"It`s a really versatile workspace.  We`ve opened it up so there are windows in from the hallways.  All of the furniture in it is versatile, it`s moveable and interlocks with everything.  We use the space for everything from our library time to small group work to games.  It`s really just a flexible space that everybody can use."

Graham says so far, the students are loving the new space.  "The kids love the variety of spaces so they can have little work areas.  We have different types of seating so it works for different learning styles.  Lots of collaboration going on, lots of sitting and visiting and working together.  Our table tops are whiteboard tops so the kids are really enjoying using that as their writing space and working through problems that way."

Graham explains that the space is a very flexible and is integral to the school`s learning environment. 

Following the grand opening, which will be attended by Ward Four Trustee Norma Laing and School Superintendent Greg Luterbach, the school will hold its Second Annual Family Literacy Night.  Graham also took the time to detail what will take place at that event.

"The parents get to go to sessions to learn about how to help your child with reading at home, how to make it fun, and different ways to read as a family and the kids get to go and do some literacy events.  Every child that attends will get to go home with a free book."

Graham says the first literacy night last year was very well attended with 55 adults and 72 children taking part.  They're hoping to better those numbers this year.  She believes the night goes a long way toward helping families read together. 

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