Reading
At Bellerive, we are very clear about the importance of reading. By encouraging students to read both for pleasure and to improve their subject knowledge, we wish to foster a life-long love of reading. We have recently refurbished our library and a number of reading initiatives are taking place including ‘Drop Everything and Read’ (DEAR) and pupil-led reading groups.
Ms Gillen, our librarian, is working with students and staff across the school to help them develop a shared love of reading. Please see below for her latest update:
Christmas 2019
The Bellerive ‘Booky’ Advent Calendar is back again this year, featuring recommendations of great reads from staff and students behind every door. Here are a few of our favourites:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
Jelly by Jo Cotterill
Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans
Winter Magic edited by Abi Elphinstone
The festivities continued with our resident book clubs and Student Librarians enjoying their Christmas party, which included a classic round of pass the parcel and Christmas inspired ‘Booky Bingo’!
It’s been a great term and we’re already looking forward to another reading-filled year in 2020. Watch out for Harry Potter Night in February, World Book Day and the Liverpool Readathon in March, and the return of Liverpool’s very own Children’s Festival of Reading in the summer!
September 2019
Merry reading everyone!
This year’s reading fun has officially begun! On 13th September 2019 we celebrated Roald Dahl Day with students and staff alike being treated to instalments of one of his short stories, ‘The Sound Machine’, throughout the day. We also held our third annual ‘Golden Ticket Hunt’, in which students were given clues inspired by some of Dahl’s famous works to help them find tickets hidden around school. Where would you most likely find Matilda? And where might the Twits serve you up some worm spaghetti? The Dahl detectives amongst our students soon discovered the hidden tickets to much delight!
At the end of September we also welcomed the Scholastic Book Fair through our doors once again. It was another great event that created a real buzz about books in school, helping to encourage reading for pleasure and with the added bonus of 60% of all sales going towards buying more books for the school library. Thanks to everyone who visited and supported the fair – we’ll have lots of lovely new books joining our library shelves soon.
With lots more to come, including the launch of our own short story competition to help celebrate the FCJ Bicentenary, we’re looking forward to another happy year of reading ahead.
Spring 2019 Reading Round Up
The celebrations continued on World Book Day itself when we saw our Key Stage 3 students and staff donning their favourite book character costumes.
We also set-up a pop-up bookshop in the library where students could use their World Book Day vouchers to choose from a selection of free specially released titles or receive £1.00 off a book of their choice. Other activities included a Book Bonaza Quiz in form time, a book character matching pairs hunt and a whole school reading of the short story‘Button, button’ by Richard Matheson. We already can’t wait for next year!
This term we also celebrated Harry Potter Book Night (in the day) on 7th February. The library was transformed into Hogwarts – entered through Platform 9 3/4, with floating candles, house bunting and our very own Penseive! Students were invited (via Owl Post) to attend a session of wand decorating and house bookmark making at lunch time, followed by an after school sorting ceremony and house quiz – Ravenclaw were victorious! Much fun was had by all on this magical occasion and we hope to make it an annual tradition.
In March we will be welcoming multi-award winning author Sarah Mussi into school as part of our World Book Day celebrations and our resident book group, A New Chapter, will once again be shadowing the CILIP Carnegie Medal (https://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/). Students will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourites from the Excelsior Award for Graphic Novels and Manga (http://www.excelsioraward.co.uk/) shortlists. Watch this space for more details coming soon.
The links below will help parents and students alike with reading outside of the classroom:
100 best books for young people
World Book Day Writes of Passage
The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards
