Greenbrae School reaps reading challenge rewards
21 August 2018
Budding bookworms at an Aberdeen primary school have earned themselves a windfall of £3000 in additional books for the new term after rising to a sponsored reading challenge.
Every pupil at Greenbrae School, including the nursery classes, were tasked with reading as much as possible between 9 and 21 May in the challenge coordinated by local Usborne Books at Home Organisers, Victoria Ellis and Sara Stewart who run the Wee Book Nook and Wish Upon a Cloud Books respectively.
The Ready Steady Read challenge was part of a whole school event to promote literacy and reading for enjoyment, during which pupils enjoyed an author visit, storytelling visits, outdoor literacy activities, book-themed dressing up, mystery reader visits, designing their own classroom reading corners and a book fair at parents’ evenings.
Pupils and parents embraced the challenge enthusiastically and were soon fully engaged in what is hoped will be a lifelong love of reading.
Councillor John Wheeler, Educational Operational Delivery Convener, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Greenbrae School for their dedication and love of reading. It is really heartening to hear that everyone from the nursery pupils right through to parents were up for the challenge. An early love of reading will stand the children in great stead as they go through life.”
Principal Teacher, Shona du Plessis, was positive about the challenge from the outset, and worked alongside Victoria and Sara to ensure the event had a fantastic result. “The Ready Steady Read challenge was a fantastic opportunity for staff, pupils and parents to work together with members of our community, to promote a love of reading throughout the school.”
The children raised an incredible £1711.59, to which Victoria and Sara were able to add books to the value of £1209.14, as a reward for their outstanding achievement.
On 3 July, 12 boxes of books were delivered to the school along with congratulatory certificates were presented to the very excited children.