Wellington Celebrates World Book Day 2022

Thursday 3 March was World Book Day. This is a globally observed event that falls on the first Thursday of every month, and its mission is to get young people around the world excited about recreational reading. But Wellington pupils are already so excited about reading that we celebrated for several days with a number of fun and enriching activities both in an out of the classroom.

As always, the centrepiece of this annual observance was our book swap. Pupils from all year groups were encouraged to donate books they have read. For each donation, they received a token. The donations were arranged in our reception area, making the space look like a bookstore. Here, pupils could redeem their tokens and leave with something new to read.

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Our younger pupils at the Early Years Centre and in Pre- and Lower Prep showed up to school in the full regalia of their favourite book characters as they enjoyed a packed schedule of book-related activities. In Nursery and Reception, for instance, they paraded around campus in their costumes. Our Pre-Prep children were treated to a chocolate milk and story time session on the playground as well.

Dressing up presented our children the opportunity to share what they like to read and encourage others to discover new books. And on the main campus, it also brought some much needed levity to pupils and nurses alike when children and staff underwent regulatory NAT tests mid-week.

In our Upper Prep and Senior Schools, pupils became 'Book Ninjas'. This is an activity that is best described as what happens when 'book sharing meets an Easter egg hunt'. They chose a favourite book, wrapped it in a bright pink cover and wrote a brief review on it. They left these books at random points all around campus in the hopes that another pupil may find and enjoy them.

 

 

There were even multimedia activities. For instance, some pupils took part in a 'Rare Reading' photography challenge. Inspired by the 'Extreme Reading' challenges you have may have seen on your social media feed, children got creative, taking snapshots of themselves reading in peculiar situations. And through a video 'Book Chain', pupils shared their love of reading on camera with a bit of crafty editing and some green screen magic.

All told, it was a great success, with many a story shared. World Book Day is an important event because it reminds us all to place value on the written word. Books reveal our past, explain our present and shape our future. So whether you are thumbing through a picture book or diving deep into a philosophical tome, just remember that time with a good book is time well spent.