National Simultaneous Storytime

Our whole school participated in National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) on Wednesday May 22nd at 12pm. This is an event held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. 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.

At DPW facilitating NSS we aim to:

promote the value of reading and literacy,
promote the value and fun of books,
promote an Australian writer and publisher,
celebrate and promote Storytime activities in public libraries, school libraries, classrooms and communities around the country,
and provide opportunities to involve parents, caregivers, the media, and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion.

This year’s highlighted book was Bowerbird Blues by author & illustrator Aura Parker.

This event had over 2 million Australian participants listening in on Aura Parker reading her book about this ingenious Native Australian bird. As you can see by all of our incredible photos from many of our classrooms on this day, it was a huge success at DPW this year!

I would like to give a special mention to our School Captain, Anna. Anna was amazing collecting artifacts just like the Bowerbird and providing prior knowledge of the bird to all our students via video links. She did an awesome job supporting me by recording a reading of the book for all classes too.

Well done Anna! You are a true leader!

Natalie Gara

English Co-Ordinator