Girls’ School Book Week
Girls’ School Book Week
June 10, 2016 at 4:21 PM
The Girls’ School has been celebrating the joy of reading with a week of book-related fun and activities. Despite the introduction of e-books and other devices that were supposed to threaten the humble book, the fervour and excitement generated among the girls showed that there is no replacement for a good book! Whether it is in bed, on the couch, at the beach or in the classroom, the enjoyment that books bring endures.
The festivities started on Tuesday with the whole school attending a performance of Shine a Light in the hall. Shine a Light is an educational musical that incorporates characters and plots from books that have been shortlisted for children’s book awards. The show encourages students to consider how significant books can be, not only as a means of entertainment and escape, but as a way of informing their understanding of the world around them. The production was thoroughly enjoyed by the students and was the ideal way to open Book Week!
Later that day, Principal, Ms Juliet Small held a story time for the students in the library at lunchtime. Ms Small read two picture stories from her personal collection and shared with the girls why she loves reading and her favourite books.
On Wednesday, we were fortunate to welcome two professional authors to the School to talk to the girls about their publishing careers. Nina Rycroft is a graphic designer who has written and illustrated more than a dozen books and also teaches illustration, character development and storyboarding. She spoke to the Year 0-4 girls about her drawing process while showing them drafts, sketches, original artwork and press sheets. The girls loved how she was able to create fascinating creatures just by combining simple shapes. The Year 5-8 girls were excited to meet Stacy Gregg, who is the author of the popular Pony Club book series. Stacy worked as a magazine writer and editor for many years before becoming a book writer, starting in non-fiction before specialising in children’s and young adult books. Her books are based on her love of horses and horse riding, with many based on historic people and events. She had the students enthralled while telling about the places she goes and people she meets while researching her books. She shared her background in the media and encouraged the girls to write about what they are passionate about.
Thursday saw the finalists of the Poetry Competition perform in the hall in front of the school and judge, Paula Green. The standard of the poems was so high that Paula would have been to write them! Read more about the Poetry Competition here.
Book Week was wrapped up today with a dazzlingly colourful book parade. The students and teachers came to school dressed from head to toe as their favourite book character. There were precocious wizards, poised princesses, wild animals, brave heroines, wicked witches and intrepid explorers. Each of the girls took the stage to reveal who their character was before parading through the hall in front of their fellow students and parents. It was pleasing to see the mix of old and new books that were paid homage to, with classics such as Alice in Wonderland, Dr Seuss, Pippi Longstockings and fairy tale characters mingling with modern day favourites such as Harry Potter and the Hunger Games!
