Reading Passport Challenge 2025

We’re excited to announce the students who have earned their Reading Passport Challenge badges this year. This secondary school voluntary reading program is designed to spark a genuine love of reading and boost lifelong learning.

Badges were earned by the following students in 2025:

Dara Adebayo

Isidore Anthony

Tricia Cao

Zayn Chuo

Oscar Clark

Matthew Demetri

Summer Duker

Lottie Fisher

Catherine Fonseka

Jemimah Goode

Joshua Grabert

Isabella He

Solomon Isham

Thien-Nhi Le

Joey Liu

Georgia Nel

Favour Pakwan

Shiloh Rasmussen

Serah Silva

David Phat Tran

Chloe Changsan

Sam Chu

Zach Corera

Priscilla Gonsalves

Blessing Kihara

Megan McCormick

Aiden Mohamudally

Isabelle Ng

Angela Rajesh

Maddison Raymond

Gabrielle Thomson

Levi Utley

Belen Aguilera

Heidi Burford

Zachary Chuo

Zoie Chuo

Evie Isham

Elizabeth Kaing

Charles Tan

Amelie Vilar

Jacob Yeap

Jannet Sundjaja

Hannah Thomson

Megan Jansen        

Sarah Simko

Jacinta Cheeseman

Olivia Fallon

Adriana Kovtunova

Olivia Pinkster

Sarah Simko (Platinum)

Recent research from Deakin University – the Discovering a Good Read report (based on a survey of around 12,000 Australian teens from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia between March 2022 and June 2023) – highlights just how powerful reading for pleasure can be. Some key findings:

The report states that reading for pleasure “makes us happier, healthier and more empathetic” and “helps us to make sense of ourselves”.
International research also shows that teens who read regularly tend to achieve higher academically and have better employment opportunities later in life.
A surprising insight: 73% of teen readers preferred printed books (hard-copy novels) over audiobooks or reading on a phone or tablet.
Yet almost three in 10 students in Years 7-12 said they do not read in their spare time, highlighting an urgent need to foster a reading habit.
Importantly, the study found that parents, carers and peers influence teenagers’ reading choices more than schools or geographic location.

The Reading Passport Challenge – how it works

We invite all secondary students to start or continue in the Reading Passport Challenge by:

Choosing books (or other reading texts) aligned with their interests and the passport categories – fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, audio books: whatever engages them.
Recording their reads in their passport: title, author, date finished.
Earning stamps from their English teacher for each completed read.
Sharing their reading with peers: book chats, recommendations, starting/joining a book club.
Parents/carers joining in: encouraging discussion, showing their own reading habit and acknowledging student efforts.

We emphasise that the programme is optional, not assessed – the aim is to foster joy in reading rather than add another obligation.

Parents and carers

Your involvement makes a difference. The research emphasises that modelling reading behaviour matters: when young people see adults reading, it reinforces that reading has value. Here are ways you can help:

Let your child see you reading (books, magazines, newspapers).
Ask them about their current read: What do they like? What surprised them?
Visit your local library together.
Make reading time visible: quiet reading after dinner, “book time” before bed.
Encourage discussion: “If you liked that, you might also try…”

Free library access in our local area

Good news: Parents and students in our region have fantastic access to public libraries at no cost: Kingston Libraries, Greater Dandenong Libraries, Bayside Library Service.

These library services provide not only physical books but digital resources (eBooks, audiobooks), comfortable study spaces and programs for young readers. We encourage families to take advantage of them.

Visit our dedicated group for this program via Schoolbox: Reading Passport Challenge group. Here you can find updates, book recommendation lists and reading resources.

Sarah Simko earned her Platinum Badge this year (700 points; 60+ books!). Congratulations, Sarah!

Sarah has this to say about her reading journey:

Over the past two years I’ve had the opportunity of participating in the College’s reading passport program. It’s a unique system that encourages broader reading, with book categories such as historical fiction, poetry, science-fiction, and fantasy. Some of my favourite books this year have been the Chronicles of Narnia series, The Alchemist, Little Women, and Pilgrim’s Progress. Reading has helped me to learn about the people around me and gain deeper insights into how the world works. I believe education is a powerful asset and that books are valuable forms of knowledge, and that they help us find ways to express our own ideas. To anyone looking to gain their Platinum badge, you should definitely go for it. Gaining deeper language skills and awareness of the world around us is absolutely worth it.

By participating in the Reading Passport Challenge, you’re helping to build a culture of reading at Christway College – a culture that supports academic success and lifelong learning. Families and carers are key partners in this journey. Together, let’s support our young people to become curious and compassionate readers.

We look forward to seeing the passports fill up and the joy of reading continue to spread through our community.

References:

Deakin University “Surprising facts about Aussie teens’ reading habits revealed”.
Library membership information: Kingston Libraries, Greater Dandenong Libraries, Bayside Library Service.

Dayna Chu

English Teacher/Year 7&8 Pastoral Care Coordinator