SUPERHEROS jumped from the page into the classroom as our community of schools celebrated Book Week.
The annual week-long celebrations pay homage to books that inspire children to read.
Every year, thousands of children pick out a character from their favourite book, and take part in book character parades, read books, visit libraries, all in celebration of Australian children’s literature.
The fantastic initiative by the Children’s Book Council of Australia has encouraged and promoted Australian authors and illustrators.
At Guardian Angels School, Ashmore, books, bedtime and brave staff collided this year as they celebrated Book Week.
As part of the school’s week-long festivities, each evening a different staff member read a bedtime story to the whole school community via the school’s Facebook page.
The students were encouraged to tune in to the school’s Facebook page at 7pm each evening during the week to enjoy a picture book read by one of the well-known staff members.
Great literature has been chosen to appeal to all ages.
Staff members involved enthusiastically threw themselves into the project by dressing in their pyjamas and choosing their favourite picture book to share with the students as the children at home settle in for bed.
Drama teacher Rita Monteith and Primary Learning Leader Jo Makin were the brains behind the idea after being inspired by something similar they had seen on social media from the USA.
“The theme of Book Week this year was “Reading is my Secret Power” and so we thought this would be a great way for the teachers to reveal their secret powers, promote the home school partnership and share our love of quality literature,” Mrs Makin said.
“We know that reading to kids on a daily basis grows independent readers,” Mrs Monteith said.
“I love books and when my children were young, the bedtime story ritual was one of my favourite parts of the day,” she said.
Role models of reading revealed their favourite books to St Columba’s students
At St Columba’s School, Wilston, an impressive group of ‘Real Reading Role Models’ spoke each day about the importance of reading in their personal and professional lives to the whole school community.
Aside from visiting authors, Brisbane Broncos captain Dairus Boyd, local state member Dr Anthony Lynham, Pyjama Foundation founder Bronwyn Sheehan, lawyer Katherine Hayes, Courier Mail deputy editor Melanie Pilling, well known sports commentator John McCoy and Channel 10 newsreader Pippa Sheehan also read from their favourite children’s books.
The Real Reading Role Models Program encourages the imagination, expands speech and language skills through role play.
It also encourages empathy as children explore different characters and different emotions.
Staff at Holy Spirit have the shirts to prove they love Book Week
Holy Spirit School, New Farm, loves Book Week and have the shirts to prove it.
Teachers donned t-shirts printed with “HSS loves Book Week” as the community gathered to celebrate a love of reading in many ways.
Principal, Kim Davis said Book Week was a highlight for students each year.
“In fact, on the first day of school a child asked me, “when is Book Week Mrs Davis?”.
Pastoral groups made up of Prep to Year 6 students moved around the school undertaking 15 activities which included the sharing of a story and literacy focus.
Parents, grandparents and special friends visited classrooms sharing their favourite stories and highlighted the importance of reading in the work they do.
One dad even led the Year 2 students in a Congo line around the school.
Parents gathered for a breakfast to hear from author, blogger and Queensland Teacher Librarian of the Year Megan Daley who encouraged all parents to read aloud to their children and also suggested she was okay with bribery and coercion to get kids reading.
Workshops facilitated by Mel Kroeger and Megan focussed on creations involving natural materials following the reading of the CBCA honour book Heads and Tails: Insects by John Canty.
The week hit a crescendo with hundreds of parents gathering for the annual Book Week Parade with children and teachers dressing in their favourite book characters.
The list of characters was extraordinary and celebrated the many, many books enjoyed by students.
It was also a credit to the parents who showed their creative talents in amazing costumes and accessories which brought the characters to life.
It was all about finding your reading and writing superpower at St Finbarr’s during August
St Finbarr’s School, Ashgrove, combined Book Week with a parent and community education session and a literary festival (#LitFest!) as they focused on reading and writing for the month of August.
To kick off the month and to promote a love of reading both at school and at home, St Finbarr’s hosted Megan Daley from ‘Children’s Books Daily’ for an educators' session and a parent and community session.
Principal Ann Hall said the response from both sessions was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was an absolute privilege to listen to Megan and absorb her wisdom about nurturing a child’s love of books,” Ann said.
During Book Week students dressed as their favourite book character on Tuesday.
It is amazing seeing all of the children come so excited to be their favourite book characters.
Even the teachers got into the day with complete enthusiasm
“It is these sorts of activities which keep the joy of reading alive in our children,” St Finbarr’s parent and teacher Matt Ryan said.
The month-long celebrations ended with the annual #LitFest welcoming local, award-winning authors; Michael Gerard Bauer ( an old boy), Josie Montano, Sheryl Gwyther, Karen Foxlee and Samantha Wheeler who spoke to students about the writing and editing process.
The students were excited to hear where authors get their ideas for their stories and how they can improve their own writing.
Unity College Library turned into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as staff got into the spirit of Book Week
At Unity College, Caloundra, the magical world of Harry Potter took over the library as students took a trip down to Diagon Alley, enjoyed a visit to Hagrid’s Hut and tried on the Hogwarts Sorting Hat to find out which “House” they were destined to be in to celebrate Book Week
Unity College library staff stopped at nothing to create a breath-taking wonderland of witchcraft and wizardry to promote the joy of reading for our students.
Students were encouraged to participate in crafts during the term to contribute to the spectacular display.
Staff at Mother Teresa School, Ormeau, unleashed their inner superhero readers