When talking about World Book Day, celebrated every first Thursday of March, it is impossible not to recognise the fundamental role that libraries play in the acquisition of knowledge, becoming the intangible and intrinsic value of any society. Books are the gateway to education and learning and, therefore, the more people have access to them, the better the opportunities for economic, social and educational development. Mahatma Gandhi recognised the cultural importance of sharing when he said that “no culture could survive if it tried to be exclusive”; therefore, the main impetus for spreading the joy of reading is to preserve our culture for future generations.

Unfortunately, however, this collective memory, which gives identity to peoples and facilitates critical thinking, has sometimes been the target of totalitarians and fanatics. The destruction of cultural heritage has been used as a tactic in armed conflicts with tragic results for the memory of civilisations. We remember the burning of the Library of Alexandria, destroyed in 48 B.C., to the more recent ones for their belligerence and voracity such as the bombing of the Library of Sarajevo, where dozens of citizens made a human chain to save as much as possible from the flames despite the siege of snipers.

But also, there are books that change lives, like the heartwarming story of William Kamkwamba in Malawi, who shows how libraries can make a difference in people’s lives. We know that Mr Kamkwamba learned how to build a turbine capable of producing energy for his village from a book on windmills that he borrowed from the local library. Moved by this positive experience, he went on to study at one of the best universities in the world.

As we have said, a library is synonymous with education and therefore its role within an educational institution is crucial for students to achieve higher levels of basic knowledge, awareness and sensitisation. In fact, it has been shown that when librarians and teachers cooperate, students achieve higher levels of problem-solving and information and communication skills. At St. Bedes we work to make this happen and, together with Miss Poolton, the library becomes more than a place of study and a place of stimulation and fun, especially on days like these, when we celebrate 25 years of World Book Day. So we know that to commemorate another year of World Book Day at St. Bede’s is to be part of a great tradition. Reading for pleasure is not just fun, it is the greatest indicator of our children’s future success.

World Book Day at St Bede’s

Pupils and staff had great fun celebrating World Book Day this week. The Art Department ran a bookmark competition where pupils were asked to design a book themed bookmark and the English Department asked staff to dress up as their favourite book characters. We were treated to some amazing outfits!

We held our annual team book quiz in a packed-out library where pupils and staff demonstrated their literary knowledge, answering questions on fictional birds, islands and books on film. The Wordle Warriors took the best team name prize and, after a tense tie-break, Ruben’s Friends took the title, closely followed by Read It and Weep who took runners-up spot. Well done to all!

All pupils have received a £1 book voucher which can be swapped for a World Book Day special book in the Library, spent in participating bookshops or used when ordering from our online Teen Book Club magazine at www.scholastic.co.uk/clubs

Mrs K Poolton – kpoolton@sbcm.co.uk

Winners

Our staff dressed up for the ocassion

World Book Day in Prep

The Prep spent an amazing day snuggled up with a book to celebrate World Book Day 2022. The student council had decided that theme would be to come to school in pyjamas so they could get comfy and take part in so many wonderful activities such as; in Early Years the children sorted books into fiction and non-fiction. Key Stage 1 have made and written their own books, read with siblings in school and shared their favourite bedtime stories. In Lower Key Stage they made their own books and watched Matilda Live! In Prep 5 the children took on MC Grammar’s world book day rap challenge by trying to identify all the book references in his songs before having dance together, then they took on students from the college in a World Book Day Quiz. Prep 6 joined in live events with authors, played Kahoot and took part in shared reading with children in Prep 2.

In the build-up the World Book Day Prep 4 pupil Emily was interviewed by Lauren Barclays from Quay News about World Book Day. Her interview can be heard three minutes before the end of the news on the soundcloud below.

Mr J Joyce-Okeeffe