Promoting Literacy in the Portage Area

The Portage Area Reading Council  includes over 70 individuals committed to the promotion of literacy and to the improvement of reading and writing instruction in the Portage area.

Benefits of Membership

Membership in PARC is a most rewarding investment!  As a PARC member you will have the opportunity to:

• increase your knowledge and awareness in the field of literacy through attending free Professional Development Workshops

• win a professional book, a professional magazine subscription or a professional development in-service at one of our workshops

• receive an activity booklet for "I Love to Read Month" for the month of February

• enjoy networking with others interested in the promotion of literacy.

• support literacy activities/events in our community

• become a member of the Manitoba Reading Association at no additional cost

• support Portage's only reading council

PARC's Community Connections

PARC is involved with the local community as well as the International community.

• Book for Baby - PARC will present a book to a student who has baby born in February that is enrolled in the Portage Collegiate Institute Day Care Program.

• I Love to Read Month Activities in February - Each school will be participating in I Love to Read activities.  The projects made during this month will be on display at the schools during Education week in April. 

• IRA Membership Sponsor - PARC will sponsor an IRA membership for someone in a developing country.  The Portage Area Reading Council is currently sponsoring an educator in Nigeria.

We asked our sponsored educator to provide us with some insight into receiving a sponsored membership: 

            It came to me as a surprise to hear such information from you-it was wonderful; I was enthused. Thank you for writing to inform me about the ‘International Reading Association (IRA) membership, and that you will buy for me; free of charge-many thanks to you for you generosity. I am a teacher in Palmgrove Christian Seminary, Utu-Abak, Abak-   Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

            I was happy to hear the person who gave you my name and email address, she is my sister in Christ; I thank her for doing it.

        I wish to drop my pen here until I hear from you again.

            Merry Christmas in advance.

                                                                                                                        Yours faithfully

                                                                                                                        Ita  J. Udom.

  Ita with his family.                                            Ita's classroom

The following is a quote from a young man who has spent time with Ita.

“Here is a family picture and a picture of him in his classroom. You can't see him to well in the school picture but it does give an accurate picture of how their classrooms are. Ita Jonah is a very dedicated member of Palmgrove and makes a good teacher.”

Lance Waldner

Past Accomplishments

Manitoba Reading Association Crocus Award

 PARC has been presented with a certificate for the Crocus Award Honour Council for three consecutive years, 2004 - 2006.  We are very proud of this achievement as it has been one of our goals for the past several years.

International Reading Association Commendation

In 2003, Portage Area Reading Council was presented with a 20 Years Commendation from the International Reading Association for our contribution toward promotion of reading instruction.  Carol Hryniuk - Adamov attended one of our Professional Development sessions and presented the certificate to acting president Paula Crawford.