A cast of many characters for World Book Day at Scoil Aonghusa

ONE of the most important gifts that schools and families can give a child is the gift of reading. Reading is strongly encouraged at Scoil Aonghusa CNS and last Wednesday the pupils celebrated World Book Day.

The pupils came to school dressed as a character from their favourite book. There were some fabulous characters in bright and wonderful costumes, such as Dr Seuss’s Thing 1 and Thing 2, Harry Potter, Matilda, Robots and even Snowwhite’s wicked stepmother! Books came to life as a character parade took place in the wonderful school hall.

Reading is a skill that is encouraged in every class at the school. Scoil Aonghusa opened a new school library this year and this library is run by a library parent team led by John Slater from the parents association. Pupils are able to check out books to read at home each week, they also get DEAR time in the library (Drop Everything and Read) which is a set time to go change their book, maybe listen to a story or simply relax and read their favourite book.

As the ethos of a community national school always encourages parent participation in a child’s education both in school and at home, the library team parents were invited to visit the school on World Book Day and to read to small groups of pupils, to share their love of reading. Senior pupils also read to junior pupils in their respective classrooms.

Resource teacher Noreen O’Regan said: “the children in all classes love reading books. Roald Dahl books, for example, bring magic into classrooms, allowing the children to immerse themselves in a world that draws their imagination and inevitably allows their love of reading to blossom. World Book Day at our school encouraged the children to read and it allowed them to express their love of literature in a fun way”.

Roald Dahl once wrote: ‘Please, oh please, we beg, we pray, throw your TV set away and in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall’.