Library News
Spela Radomir
The 2026 Premier’s Reading Challenge is Underway!
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) officially kicked off on Monday, 23 February 2026, but it is not too late to enter if you haven't already! This wonderful program encourages students to explore new worlds through books and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Celebrating 25 years of the Premier’s Reading Challenge
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge! Since it began in 2001, millions of students across New South Wales have enjoyed taking part in this wonderful reading journey. St Margaret Marys is proud to be celebrating this milestone and joining in the fun again this year!
What is the NSW PRC?
The PRC is a statewide initiative that encourages students to develop a lifelong love of reading for fun and pleasure. It is not a competition, but a challenge to inspire every student to read more books and explore different kinds of stories and information.
All students who complete the Challenge and have their reading logged and validated by our PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.
How to Log In:
Students have received their personal login details in class this week. To start logging books, please follow these steps:
Visit the official Premier’s Reading Challenge Student Portal.
Click the 'Login' button and enter the username and password provided to your child.
Once logged in, you can search for books and add them to your Student Reading Record.
Key Dates & Goals:
Challenge Closes: Friday, 18 September 2026.
Reading Goals: Most students are challenged to read 20 books (at least 10 from the PRC booklists and 10 of their own choice).
If your child happens to lose their login slip, don't worry! Their class teacher has a master list and can quickly provide their details again. For any other questions or help please contact our PRC Coordinator Spela Radomir, she will be happy to help.
Happy reading!
📖 Tips for Finding the Perfect PRC Books
Helping your child find books they'll love is the best way to keep them engaged with the challenge. Here are a few tips to get started:
Use the Online Search Tools: The official PRC Student Experience site features two helpful search functions:
The "Discover" (Yellow) Search: Great for browsing by genre (e.g., animals, fantasy, mystery) if your child isn't sure what to read next.
The Specific (Blue) Search: Best for finding a particular title or author. Pro-tip: When searching for an author, use "Last Name, First Name" (e.g., Fox, Mem) for the best results.
Check for Series: If your child loves a particular series (like The Bad Guys or Rainbow Magic), many are approved for the challenge. You can include up to five books from an approved series as official PRC books, and any others can be logged as "Personal Choice" books.
Visit the Local Library: Public libraries often have dedicated PRC sections with stickers on the spine to identify which challenge level the book belongs to.
Look for "Easy Reads": If your child is looking for something less daunting, you can search the PRC booklist specifically for "easy reads" within their year level.
Read Together: For students in K-2, books can be read to them, with them, or independently. For older students, we encourage independent reading, but sharing a story together is still a great way to build interest!