Celebrating International Literacy Day and National Book Week
14 September 2022
International Literacy Day is celebrated around the world on 8 September, and we also celebrate National Book Week from 5 to 11 September.
Our schools and districts were buzzing with events. The Overberg Education District’s mobile libraries visited rural schools to ensure that learners have access to books. The district is the only one in the country to boast a mobile library for every circuit. Schools benefit by receiving a visit every two weeks. Learners can then choose books themselves or teachers can take out a block loan.
The district also celebrated with a handover of library books to the value of R20 000 to BF Oosthuizen Primary School in Barrydale – made possible by the generous sponsorship of SANLAM Connect.
The Eden and Central Karoo Education District office had various readings to highlight the importance of reading to staff members, and the District Director vsiited a school to read to learners. Schools in the district held spelling bees, had guests reading to learners, and made bookmarks to recognise the importance of reading.
Schools also invited guests to read, along with a range of activities in the Cape Winelands Education District. Making masks and dressing up proved to be very entertaining, and learners also took advantage of sunny weather to read outdoors.
The two staff competitions which took place in West Coast Education District have yielded some of the best photos we have seen so far from Book Week. The “PRINCIPALS FOR READING” competition challenged our principals to promote reading in a unique way, and the “MAKE READING COME ALIVE!” initiative encouraged teachers to show how they make reading come alive in their class through dressing up, using puppets, or any other creative ways.
Mobile library carts were handed over to Academia Primary School and Parkdene Primary School, in collaboration with MANCOSA. The Metro East Education District also sent a Book Week letter to all schools to encourage them to participate in various literacy activities.
Schools in the Metro South Education District kicked off Book Week early! Sonwabo Primary School started activities off with a literacy day, spelling bee, reading competition, poetry reading and dramatization integrating Music and the Arts. Grade 7 learners will read to Grade 1 learners at primary schools in the district.
Two competitions have taken place in the Metro Central Education District: an Essay Writing Competition for Grades 4 to 7, and a Book Display Challenge. Both competitions were held in English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. The prizegiving will be held on 17 September 2022.
Metro North Education District is holding a book drive with the goal of collecting 600 books to share with schools that want to upgrade their book corners and libraries. The district is also using the slogan of "Drop All and Read". When learners hear the phrase, they stop everything they are doing and read for a few minutes.
In fact, the whole of September is considered Literacy Month, so events will continue throughout the month.
Parents are encouraged to get involved too. The message of Team READ is that we all have a role to play in raising a generation of readers. A love of reading is the best gift you can give your child and will ensure that they succeed in future learning.
Don’t know where to get started? Visit https://wcedeportal.co.za/wced-eportal-online-library for resources to improve your child’s reading.
