St Aidan’s high school began running a reading ambassadors programme to bring S1 and S6 together and promote reading. Mr McCrory, an English teacher from St Aidan’s, started the programme to encourage kids from a young age to start reading and uses the help of the S6.
S6 and S1 pupils come together and read books to talk about. One of the S1 involved said “We get to talk to S6’s which is good because we don’t really get to talk to them. Their asking you what’s going on and they listen.”
Another girl when asked about if she liked reading more said “They don’t make us read what we don’t like. If I had nothing to do now I would pick up a book and start reading. When I start to read a book I get really interested in it,”
Category: Library
Reading Club ‘Pages’
Mr McCrory and Miss McDowall began a reading club to encourage S1-S2 pupils to read for fun. Books are brought in for the children based on what they want to read. Pierce said “I’ve got a book by the historian James Holland. He’s made a bunch of children’s books about the battle of Britain but using a first person view”
Miss McDowall said “I think it’s just the idea were trying to get of the stigma that reading is something associated with school. It’s that idea it can be fun.”
One of the girls involved, Millie said “Everybody’s really nice. There’s nobody who will pick on you for liking a type of book or not liking a type of book. It’s basically just really cosy and relaxing” Sara said “I like coming and meeting new people and reading,” The club currently has 10-15 pupils at a time but many more are welcome
Reading Aloud
St Aidan’s pupils got back in touch with their roots and visited the primary schools. The younger years got a chance to revisit their old schools to read aloud to the primary 2’s. A handful of pupils were taken to each one of St. Aidan’s feeder schools by the school librarian Miss McGough.
St Aidan’s encourages its pupils to read both fact and fiction and the younger years were excited to visit their old primary and help the new students enjoy reading as well. Both the primary 2’s and St. Aidan’s pupils enjoyed the experience and would do it again.
S1 Book Giveaway
As part of the Read to Succeed initiative, S1 students got the chance to get themselves a free book, funded by PEFT.
On Wednesday, during the afternoon the students were taken out of their classes to pick a book from a wide selection of authors who took part in the Read to Succeed program.
Our school librarian, Mrs McGough commented that “myself along with the English Department want to encourage students to read more in the school, and this was part of our initiative to do so”
All 184 first year students got the chance to order a book of their choice to take home and keep.
Alex Scarrow Authors Visit
Alex Scarrow, known for his series Time Riders and Remade, came to St Aidan’s high school to visit first year pupils and talk about his books. He started as a graphic designer for video games.
Over a year he pitched over 30 games to his bosses and not one of them got made. It got to the point he felt like he was literally wasting his time designing these games. His direct manager told him to make games shooting games because kids only wanted something they could shoot. Alex felt that his direct manager was insulting kids and downgrading they’re abilities. He thought he could do so much more but his bosses told him they’d make so much more money with first person shooters. Alex quit that day.
This prompted him to start writing his books. Alex started writing adult books but thought it was too boring to write for. He began to write for the younger generations because “you guys are more open minded than adults are. Adults get annoyed when you break rules. You guys don’t mind (when I break rules) which makes it more fun to me)”
Time Riders was based on one of these games he had pitched. Time riders is about an agency made up of three kids who cheated death and now travel through time to fix history broken by time travel. The first time rider’s book came out on 4th February 2010 and the series spans 9 books.
Alex visits schools, talking to 11-12 year olds specifically, about his books. Throughout the year he visits schools and libraries, giving talks and running writing workshops.
It’s Funny To Me
As we have an upcoming competition to express your emotions i thought i would have a wee go and expressing some feelings. The emotion I chose in particular was sadness. It is called It’s Funny To Me. Have a wee read and leave a wee comment telling us what you think!
Reading Aloud
First year Students in St Aidan’s High school have been helping out in their local Primary schools by reading aloud to younger children.
Reading aloud is allowed!
Press Report 6th December
The sixth year JMAC students have been busy compiling a wide range of stories and photographs for this week’s press report.
You can click through on any of the headings below to take you to article and photographs.
How about leaving some comments about the pieces? We would love to know what you think!
S1/S2 Bookfare
Recently, St Aidan’s High School’s library held a book fare to allow children to purchase books from a variety of different genres and styles. The event was in aid of book week Scotland. It was mainly targeted at S1 and S2. This not only encourages the improvement of their literacy skills but is also helping to feed a child via Mary’s Meals for a whole school year as the money raised goes to this great cause. Even after the event the books leftover were still sold throughout the week to raise more funds. Miss McGough, the school librarian commented saying “Most of the books were fiction, some were non-fiction and were sold to a lot of the pupils who planned on giving them to younger siblings.” Authors such as Jaqueline Wilson were featured in the sale and the pupils had great fun choosing from the wide selection. On the day of the event, the library was very busy and the children had an exciting time, listening to music which included a soundtrack made by a senior pupil. Staff also supported the book fare and bought books for their classrooms and family members.
