Principal's Post

Why books are best - and beautiful to behold 

The English Department has been allowed to take over the school this week with their many and varied Book Week celebrations. This year’s theme – Reading is Magic – was well and truly accomplished on so many levels throughout the school with the wonders of reading coming to life for the first 10 minutes of every Year 7–9 lesson. To see students and staff begin each class together by reading their favourite novel was just something joyful and beautiful to behold.  I hope that even our reluctant readers immersed themselves in the adventure and by the end of the week enjoyed the ability to read.

Reading is such a cool activity. I always ask when interviewing students for places at St George’s if they have a favourite author or like to read since it is such an important pass time for both students and staff to find time for, even when life gets busy.

Reading has a known positive effect on a person’s general wellbeing. Being immersed in a novel allows the reader to take a break from the stresses and strains of everyday life, providing a form of wonderful escapism and providing an insight into mindfulness, adventure and joy. 

Reading has been shown to improve brain function, heighten memory skills, increase empathy, develop language, build creativity and assist in establishing good sleep patterns and routines. Reading for thirty minutes before bed each night, away from the blue light and distractions of our screens should be an important component of all our lives, allowing us to disconnect and unwind from the rapid-fire lives we all live and the constant need for connectivity. I for one, thoroughly enjoy the delights and escapism of reading a book before bed each evening. 

Book Week has been a wonderful opportunity to enhance reading and literacy throughout the school – something that Dr Pedersen has been doing through her work in The Laurence Library for many years. I hope that many students and staff might have enjoyed the focus on literacy and reading this week and continue to make the time and space for reading in their daily lives. 

This week the joys of English were celebrated with PCG quizzes, photo competitions, graphic novel challenges, engagement with distinguished authors and the much-anticipated Book Week Parade.  Books were also among the prizes for students who excelled during Science Week (above).

By immersing our students in reading we encourage them to pursue something that will inevitably give them a wide variety of tools to successfully navigate the complexities of modern life as well as be something that they just might learn to love. As Dr Pedersen says in signing off her fortnightly Dragon report . . . ‘Together, let us read’. 

This week we cultivated and celebrated the magic of reading. Thank you English Department, students and staff – what a brilliant week of learning.

Mrs Tina Campbell

Principal