National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 

On Wednesday 22 May, our Primary students participated in National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). National Simultaneous Storytime is 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, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. This year the book selected was "Bowerbird Blues" by author Aura Parker. A beautiful picture book starring a bowerbird finding friendship and connection in his quest to find blue treasures. 

At 12.00pm our Primary students and teachers, dressed in blue, gathered in the auditorium for the livestream reading of “Bowerbird Blues”, by the author herself, Aura Parker. Over two million primary students participated in this event across the world. After the official reading of the book, students had a wonderful afternoon connecting with each other by participating in planned activities across grades. The Preps and Grade 6s decorated cupcakes together, the Grade 2s, 5s and 4s made friendship bracelets and the Grade 1s and 3s iced and decorated biscuits in blue. At lunchtime, the entire Primary school sat in the sunshine and had a shared lunch together. It was a fantastic ‘blue’ day of connection and friendship and most certainly a day to be remembered by both students and teachers in our primary school.

Kim Nel

Grade 1A Teacher