Excitement grows as some 5,000 Government primary and high school students anticipate the start of activities for the 15-18 November Literacy Week celebration.
This year’s theme Set Sail: Read encourages students to fill their sails with the imaginary winds of short stories and tall tales.
With activities ranging from celebrity read-alongs to song competitions and character costume parades, students will have many opportunities to both show off and practise their reading skills. Some will even launch into the community to share stories with pre-schoolers, special-needs individuals and the elderly.
As he too prepares for Literacy Week, Education Minister, the Hon. Rolston Anglin notes, “To quote a favourite author of mine, Dr. Suess, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go.” It may seem simplistic, but Dr. Suess sums it up very well. It’s literacy that creates pathways to the future for our children.
“With this in mind, I invite everyone to join the Ministry of Education, Training and Employment and the Department of Education Services in observing Literacy Week. During this week I urge residents to read. Read to a child and if possible, donate children’s books to a local school or library.”
For detailed lists of Literacy Week activities, call each school for copies of their respective schedules. Some events are as follows:
Sir John A Cumber Primary
• 15 Nov. 9:00 am: Meet the Author Day. Featured author will be Valerie Bloom
• 16 Nov.: Community Read & Share Day. Year 5 and 6 students will visit pre-schools, golden-age homes and the Sunrise Adult Training Centre to read with attendees
• 17 Nov: Reading with the Stars: Local celebrities including Education Minister, the Hon. Rolston Anglin, JP, Charles “Killa” Whittaker, Miss Cayman 2011 Lindsay Japal and Cayman27 Anchor Donna Bush will visit to read with students.
• 18 Nov. 8:30 am: Literacy song competition finals and character costume parade
Red Bay Primary School
• 15 Nov. 10:30 am – 2:00 pm: George Town Heritage Day celebration
• 16 Nov. 10:30 am – 12 noon: Literacy & Parents Day. Readings from featured authors Kevin Henkes (infants) and Shel Silverstein (juniors)
• 17 Nov.: Literacy Costume Parade
• 18 Nov.: Hooray for Reading Day (Book Swap Shop open all day)
Prospect Primary School
• 15 Nov. 8:30 am: Literacy Assembly
• 16 Nov. 6:30 pm: Bedtime Story Night
• 17 Nov. Literacy Costume Parade
• 18 Nov.: Book fair all day
North Side Primary School
• 15 Nov. 7:00 pm: Cuddle-Up and Read Night
• 16 Nov.: Door poster display
• 17 Nov. 9:00 am – 12 noon: Students will participate in a variety of activities supporting the theme Sail on a Sea of Books. Guest reader Virginia Foster will read excerpts from Hearts and Sails: The Caymanian Catboat. Outdoor activities begin at 1:00 pm.
