Book Week: A Celebration of Reading
“Is it Mr. Little?”
“No, it’s Mr. Coutts.”
“I love the squeaky voice.”
“I got it – it’s Mr. K.”
A highlight each morning this week for elementary students and teachers has been the ‘MASKED READER’. Dressed in balaclavas, wigs, silly hats, gloves and sunglasses, teachers disguised themselves as they read from a favourite book. Special software was used to disguise voices. Everyone had a real giggle when the masked readers finally revealed themselves.
There was no mystery to the intent of Book Week. This was a direct celebration and proud promotion of reading. So many activities were prepared and on Thursday every period in the day was given over to activities to make a statement that reading matters and should be considered one of life’s great pleasures. Students were delighted with all of their activities and ‘wore’ big smiles all day. We hope, as parents, you will continue the message at home by sharing your joy of reading regularly with your children.
The Return of In-Person Assemblies
On March 11 the grade 3 -5 students will perform a music concert for the rest of the elementary school called “We’re Back”. After two years of pandemic restrictions we are all so excited to return to our beautiful theatre and share in-person concerts. Besides music and drama performances, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre will return as THE venue for elementary school assemblies. (I will happily say goodbye to virtual meetings!) Each Monday, from March 7, the Elementary children will begin their week with an assembly in the Theatre. These assemblies are designed to recognise student achievement and encourage a strong community spirit in the school. We also use the time to make important announcements and to identify current events occurring in and out of the classroom. Of course, birthdays are a prominent feature of each assembly. Students and teachers who are celebrating a birthday are often subject to a special quiz. These quizzes are always about current events.
Assemblies usually feature student participation. This can take place with students sharing their writing, performing with drama or music, promoting home languages and with classes putting on a special presentation about their studies or a new project. It’s great to recognise children in a public format. I encourage parents to help keep the teachers and me well informed about student news, particularly student achievement from after-school activities. We want to know about successes that occur in and out of school.
The music and drama teachers did a wonderful job during World Book Day on Thursday highlighting theatre etiquette with the students so they know the high expectations expected in the Theatre. It’s a BIG ambition, but I hope to give our students multiple experiences of being on the stage and being part of an audience in the last months of this school year. It’s also my great wish that we won’t have to wait too long to invite parents back for all of our school assemblies.
Swim Gala
This Friday, our fourth and fifth grade enjoyed their annual Swim Gala. These are impressive contests, where our students show total commitment as they race each other across the pool. Despite the competitive nature of the Gala, it was lovely to see how the students continually applauded and congratulated each other at the end of each race. Congratulations to all the contestants and to Ms Hodder for organising and managing the Swim Gala.
Don Newbury
Elementary Principal
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