Summer Reading Challenge

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

This year's Summer Reading Challenge - developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with public libraries, is about nature and the outdoors.

This week we welcomed into school our local Islington librarian, Raksha Agheda, to talk to our children about the SUMMER READING CHALLENGE and how to join in.

Raksha was helped with her presentation by two of our Junior librarians, Perez and Sorayah (Violet Class). She talked to the children about why and how to join in with the challenge.

Teachers will be sharing the fun video promoting the challenge with their classes before the end of term.

To launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge Islington libraries will be holding a Family Fun Day on 5^th July with free fun activities.

There are two ways you can take part:

You can join the Challenge at your local library. A librarian will give you a special sticker booklet and help you choose from books, ebooks, or audiobooks. You’ll collect stickers and other rewards along the way.

Alternatively, take part in the Challenge online by going to Summer Reading Challenge. Set a reading goal and log your books on your profile. Reach your goal and unlock digital badges and a certificate.

Please note, the in-person and online Challenges are separate.

It's a super easy way to motivate children aged 4-11 to have fun reading during the holidays. Children collect rewards for reading whatever they like and there'll be lots of free activities to enjoy along the way.

Take part for free either at the library or online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk 

Summer Reading Challenge

 

What is the Summer Reading Challenge?

The Summer Reading Challenge, delivered in partnership with public libraries across the UK, is back for 2025! The Challenge invites children to embark on an exciting reading journey, either through their local library or online. This year’s theme, Story Garden, encourages young readers to explore nature and the great outdoors through reading.

In the Library

Visit your local library and sign up. Your child will set a reading goal, choose anything they like to read, and collect special stickers and rewards for their reading. Libraries offer lots of free activities and events throughout the summer.

Islington Libraries Family Fun Day on Saturday 5th July

Online 

Sign up on the official Challenge website to take part online. Children can set a reading goal and get tips for accessing books for free at home. As they read books, they’ll unlock digital rewards, including a printable certificate.  

Children set a reading goal and collect rewards for reading anything they enjoy. Children can sign up at their local library or online, and it’s FREE to take part.

JOIN IN FROM 5th JULY TO KEEP CHILDREN READING OVER THE HOLIDAYS!

Winter Reading Challenge

 WINTER READING CHALLENGES

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There are two challenges; the Winter Reading Challenge run by Islington libraries and the Winter Mini Challenge run by The Reading Agency. The challenges aim to encourage children to continue reading over the winter holidays.

Taking part in the Winter Reading Challenge is simple and free. Children need to read 4 books from their library between 2nd December 2024 and 28^th February 2025.  There are certificates for all those who complete the challenge. For more information on the Winter Reading Challenge, and more activities taking place in Islington Libraries, please visit www.islington.gov.uk/libraries.

If you are not already a member of your local library visit https://www.gov.uk/local-library-services to find the library nearest to you. Join today and start borrowing FREE books, eBooks and eAudiobooks. 

Taking part in the Winter Mini Challenge is free and online. Children need to read 3 books or more between 1^st December 2024 and 20^th February 2025. Visit the dedicated children’s website, www.wintermini.org.uk, and gain rewards for reading and reviewing books! 

Please send into school any reading certificates awarded so we can celebrate the achievement with the children.

Keep reading over the holidays!

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GET ISLINGTON READING

 GET ISLINGTON READING

is now

 FINISHED.

St Joseph's have been participating in  GET ISLINGTON READING, a three-year project to develop a community of happy, confident readers,

It was delivered by the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, working with local Islington libraries to support children aged 9-14. The project aimed to inspire young people to keep reading in the transition between primary and secondary school.

Over the last three years we have benefitted from a range of new books for our school library and participated in many reading activities such as: 

• new books covering wellness and diversity
• new books for languages, graphic novels and manga
• new books on transition to secondary school
• new magazines and comics
• an ebook & eAudiobook online platform
• author and illustrator workshops in school 
• virtual author and illustrator events

THANK YOU

to

GET ISLINGTON READING

The National Literacy Trust

&

The Reading Agency

&

Islington Libraries

Summer Reading Challenge - Islington Librarian Visit

 

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

In order to support literacy in school we wish to encourage all children to join in with the Summer Reading Challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge not only helps maintain and even improve reading levels but promotes reading as a fun activity.

Every year our public libraries team up with the Reading Agency to run the Summer Reading Challenge. This year they have joined with Youth Sport Trust to bring a sports and games themed reading Challenge that will encourage children aged 4-11 to pick up a book and love reading over the summer holidays.

To launch the Summer Reading Challenge we invited into school today an Islington Librarian to talk to the children. They were treated to a fun interactive presentation and the librarian explained the steps to take part:

1.       Join your local library to borrow books, eBooks and audiobooks by either visiting the library or online.

2.                 Sign up to the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library or online at Summer Reading Challenge.

3.                Get rewards for reading either at your library or online.

4.                 Receive a certificate and medal for taking part at your library and we will celebrate achievement in school at the end of the school year.

The Islington Librarian also presented certificates to all the children who participated in last year’s Summer and Winter Reading Challenges.

To join in visit your local library (Library Finder) and sign up or go online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Children set a reading goal, borrow and read books, eBooks and audiobooks and collect rewards for their reading.

It’s FREE and FUN to take part.

Islington Librarians will be at our School Fair on

Friday 14^th July so it will be easy to sign your child up for the

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE.

Summer Reading Challenge

The Summer Reading Challenge 2023

In order to support literacy in school we wish to encourage all children to join in with the Summer Reading Challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge not only helps maintain and even improve reading levels but promotes reading as a fun activity.

Every year our public libraries team up with the Reading Agency to run the Summer Reading Challenge. This year they have joined with Youth Sport Trust to bring a sports and games themed reading Challenge that will encourage children aged 4-11 to pick up a book and love reading over the summer holidays.

We have invited Islington librarians to come into school in July to talk to the children about joining the Summer Reading Challenge and they will also have a stand at our Summer Fair on Friday 14^th July.

To join in visit your local library (Library Finder) and sign up or go online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Children set a reading goal, borrow and read books, eBooks and audiobooks and collect rewards for their reading. It’s FREE and FUN to take part.

If you have any questions, please contact me at office@st-josephs.islington.org.uk. 

Comic Artist Visit

 

COMIC ARTIST

Kev F Sutherland

Thursday 9^th March

Comic Art Masterclasses – Year 5

This event is part of the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency #GET ISLINGTON READING project.

Our Year 5 children had a very entertaining and productive day in the company of Kev F Sutherland, Scottish comedian, caricaturist and comic strip creator who has drawn for a variety of publications, including The Beano.

Kev gave two 2-hour sessions teaching the children all about how to draw a comic strip. Indigo class had the morning session and Tanzanite class had the afternoon one.

For everyone who thinks they cannot draw Kev gave a useful and inspiring demonstration of how drawing is just a series of shapes and lines on a page and he had the children drawing confidently in no time.

With the expert help of Kev the children set about creating their very own comic strip. Firstly, they all had to suggest a title and then they all voted and the favourite one was chosen. 

"Go Crazy" - Indigo Class

"Dingleberry Town" - Tanzanite Class

The time was spent drawing with Kev sharing lots of tips for making a successful comic strip and lots of fun in-between.

 

All along Kev made the lively interactive sessions really entertaining and laughter filled the Art room.

He also made a caricature of each child to include in the final comic.

At the end of the day every child was given a copy of the comic strip they had all contributed to making. 

Title pages of our comic strip finished by Kev.

The children were delighted and agreed that it had been "so much fun and had taught them an easy way to draw". 

Kev had a quick visit to our library and was very impressed with our array of graphic novels.

Thanks Kev! 

& 

Thank you

to the

National Literacy Trust 

GET ISLINGTON READING

a three-year project with 

The Reading Agency & Islington Library Service

Find out more at 

https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/islington/

 #GetIslingtonReading

Our school is working with the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency and Islington Borough Council to make Islington a borough of happy, confident readers.