The Junior School has had many Library adventures this term; World Read Aloud Day, Library Lovers Week, Book Fair and Premieres Reading Challenge launch. To read all about these, click 'show more' below!
A Pair of Pears for World Read Aloud Day
Although World Read Aloud Day was on February 1st this year our students did not miss out. Once again the Spanish talents of Senora Paula Grados came in handy, allowing us to again do a bilingual reading of one of my favourite books, “A Pear of Pairs” by Anna McGregor.
World Read Aloud Day sees people from all around the world taking the time out from their busy day to just sit and read a book. Our pre-recorded reading was beamed into each classroom during eating time and enjoyed by all.
‘Blind Date’ books much loved
In the second week of February our Junior School Library was full of ‘blind’ love, with each student choosing a ‘blind date’ book to take home, unwrap and read. This initiative celebrates the world wide Library event of Library Lover’s Week, designed to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
Students from Year 1 through to 6 chose a wrapped book to borrow, along with their usual books. With specific instructions to unwrap their ‘date’ book ONLY at home. The anticipation of a book that they did not choose grew throughout the day, with students wondering what they might find.
Many of our students were super excited with the books they received and have now started on different reading journeys.
Students find treasure at Bookaneer Book Fair
Our first Book Fair of the year was hotly anticipated with a preview week beforehand and students posting their wishlist on Seesaw. During this time, they also participated in a guessing competition to guess how many chocolate coins were in the treasure jar. The seven students closest to the correct number of 82 received a $15 Book Fair voucher to spend. Special congratulations to Lucas Hayes who guessed exactly 82.
Our Book Fair is a reading event that brings the books students want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. This year the opening of our Book Fair coincided with Open Day, and we had many new potential families purchasing from our fair on this day.
Thank you to all of the families and students who supported this Book Fair. We sold in excess of an incredible $8000 worth of books, of which our school takes a percentage to purchase resources and texts for the Library and classrooms.
Premier’s Reading Challenge is now open
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) opened on the 27th February this year and closes on the 18th August. It challenges NSW school students in Kindergarten through to Year 2 to read thirty books and students in Years 4-9 to read twenty books during this period. The booklists for each Challenge level can be found at https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html The aim of the Challenge is to encourage students to read widely, especially from Australian authors and illustrators.
This year we aim to have every student in the Junior School complete the Challenge. A letter was sent home to the families of our Kindergarten students and all new students, to ensure that all our Junior School student’s accounts are created or transferred to St Gregory’s College.
Once again, we will be holding a 3-6 class challenge with the first class to have all students complete the Challenge to win an end of year pizza party, plus a surprise. Last year Mrs Borg’s Year 6 class won a Pizza and Movie Party.
Our K-2 classes don’t miss out. The first K-2 class to complete the Challenge will win the much loved Ice Cream party. Mrs Bowen’s Kindergarten Maroon won last year. I wonder who it will be this year?
This year’s PRC poster was created by renowned Australian author and illustrator Elise Hurst. Her beautiful artwork captures the power of stories to spark our imagination and transport us to other worlds.
We hope that you will encourage our students to embrace the Challenge and read stories that expand their knowledge, fuel their imagination and allow them to escape to other places and time.
Mrs Rachael Cosentino
Teacher Librarian/Literacy Specialist