General News
31 May, 2024
A shared storytime
LOCAL schools shared in one book as part of the 24th annual National Simultaneous Storytime recently.
This year’s book was Aura Parker’s ‘Bowerbird Blues’, with students engaging in activities alongside experiencing the book.
Camperdown College junior campus librarian Lauren Murphy said the annual National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is run by the Australian Library and Information Association.
“Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country,” she said.
“This year to celebrate NSS, every student in Prep – Year 6 created a bowerbird that was used to make a whole school display.
“Individual classrooms also engaged in some wonderful follow up activities after reading the book.”
Camperdown College’s junior campus also had a special guest to mark the occasion.
“We were lucky to come together as a school and listen to the story Bowerbird Blues being read to us by author and illustrator Aura Parker,” Ms Murphy said.
“It was wonderful to see the joy and excitement on the students faces whilst listening to the author talk and read their story.”
Lismore Primary School support officer Pauline Graham said the event was beneficial for primary school students.
“Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6,” she said.
St Patrick’s Primary School assistant principal Tarryn Delaney said the school had been participating in National Simultaneous Storytime for a number of years, with positive responses from students.
“They love the sense that everyone in Australia is reading the same book at the same time and that they get to experience the same book with other students,” she said.
“We like being part of the wider Australia community as well as the Camperdown community through doing this.
“The kids have dressed up for an out-of-uniform day to wear blue to really get into the spirit of it.”
Students also participated in a variety of craft-based activities.
“We’ve made origami bowerbirds and word searches,” Ms Graham said.
“Next week, the junior class will be doing information reports on bowerbirds.
“The senior classes have made bowerbird nests.”