The old schoolyard chant “no more teachers, no more books” doesn’t quite ring true in the Bland Shire.
While the teachers took a well earnt break, the Bland Shire Library’s Summer Reading Club initiative helped keep the magic of books and reading alive for local school students throughout the summer holidays.
The Summer Reading Club continues to grow in popularity and has most recently been recognised in state parliament.
State Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP delivered a Community Recognition Statement in parliament to congratulate all of the participants in the 2021-2022 program.
“l extend a huge congratulations to the 27 children who successfully completed the Summer Reading 40-Day Challenge provided by the Bland Shire Library,” Ms Cooke’s statement read.
“Over 65 children aged 5-14 years signed up to partake in the Summer Reading 40-Day Challenge. Of these 65 children, 27 children successfully completed the challenge reading each day for 40 days.
“The Summer Reading Club program is an annual event hosted by the library encouraging reading to be a lifelong habit for children as well as enticing reluctant readers to participate and be rewarded for their efforts. The program also helps children keep their literacy skills up over the long summer break.
“Being able to read is extremely important for our younger generation as it is scientifically proven to improve your physical and mental wellbeing … I encourage all children from the Bland Shire to partake in next year’s challenge.”
To help them reach their goal, participants in the Summer Reading Club receive a reward for every consecutive 10 days that they read. Incentives include lucky dips, board games, Holland Park Pool vouchers for the water slide and kiosk, What’s Cookin milkshake vouchers, French Hot Bread vouchers, Why Leave Town gift cards and books sponsored by Evolution Mining.
There are also a variety of special activities for Summer Reading Club members to participate in during December and January which most recently included a launch party, a lolly guessing competition, weekly prize draws, a Bingo challenge, macramé, minute-to-win-it games and a virtual game show.
As well as Bland Shire Council, the Summer Reading Club is supported each year by a number of local sponsors including Evolution Mining, What’s Cookin’, French Hot Bread and the Leisure and Recreation Group.
While the next Summer Reading Club will launch at the back end of the year in the meantime the Bland Shire Library has plenty of exciting programs and initiatives planned to promote reading, storytelling, craft and lots more.
