Reading Week 2024!
2 December 2024 - All
At the end of November, we celebrated Reading Week: an annual whole-school initiative to inspire pupils to make more time to read, take ownership of their academic development, enhance their literacy skills and take pleasure in discussing books with their peers and staff alike. It was wonderful to see the School community getting involved in the various activities and events that took place.
To promote reading across the School, the Libraries Department planned a range of activities for pupils to enjoy. There were craft activities in Junior Library, reading recommendation stations, the shredded book competition and the new audiobook challenge. Joseph Elliott, the author of the Shadow Skye series, spoke to UIII, and this was followed by an opportunity for pupils to purchase his books and have them signed. We also had the launch of our Lower School Book Club by our School Librarians and a special UIV Literary Quiz. To end the week, we held the beloved Cosy Day in Fisher Library, where everyone was encouraged to pop by during their free periods to read and drink some hot chocolate in a relaxing setting.
Departments across the School also participated by providing reading lists, hosting subject-related reading groups, creating calligrams, holding literary competitions and offering book giveaways. Pupils were not given prep during the week and were instead encouraged to read in their spare time and enjoy discussing books with their peers.
Reading Week expanded beyond the School day with the boarding houses and House Librarians creating cosy reading zones, organising book discussions, holding bookmark-making sessions, baking literary-themed treats and playing book-related board games.
The English Department is a real champion of Reading Week and our Head of English, Mr Sam Lenton, said, ‘The English Department believes that every day is a good day to read a book and so we were thrilled to throw our support behind the annual Reading Week, encouraging pupils to complete the sentence: “I love to read…” as we built a new display celebrating our community’s love of reading. Following a special lunchtime poetry event with visiting speaker Professor Tim Kendall, organised by our Poet Laureate Polly (UVI), I eulogised about the wonders of Paradise Lost on the Tuesday evening. The grand final of the UIII-UIV Poetry Declamations competition was eagerly anticipated, showcasing passionate and perceptive performances of many dearly-loved poems.’
The fundamental focus of Reading Week is, of course, to read and so we hope that our pupils took the time to read and enrich their appreciation of literature: a habit we hope they will continue for life!
Mrs Susannah Morrisby
Head of Libraries