On Thursday 7 March 2019, all year groups at HMS are going to celebrate World Book Day. Normal lessons will take place but, as with previous years, our day will include an optional costume competition for pupils (and teachers!) who wish to come to school in fancy dress as a character from a novel. Lessons on World Book Day may also be themed around popular literature and assemblies during the week will focus on literature.
The reading photography competition, details of which were circulated before half term, is ongoing. This is a photography competition for any pupil who wishes to enter a photo of themselves reading or telling a story in an unusual or amusing place (such as under their bed or to their pet!) Pupils in Key Stage 3 will remember we did this competition in 2017 with great success and therefore look forward to receiving entries this year. The photos will be used in school to form a display and the most creative entries will be awarded prizes. The deadline for entries is Monday 4 March 2019 and prize-winners will be announced in assemblies next week. Please remember to be sensible and safe when choosing locations for your photos.
To coincide with our World Book Day celebrations, we will also be hosting the Travelling Book Fair for seven days from 8 to 15 March 2019. Leaflets will soon be distributed giving an idea of some of the books which will be available, but there will be many more to view including some specifically chosen for our KS3 pupils. As well as providing an opportunity for pupils to purchase books, the book sales provide commission which both our school libraries can use to obtain library stock, which is always very welcome.
The English Department plans to allow each class time during the week to visit the fair but it will also be open at break-time and lunch-time for pupils to peruse the books further. If additional copies of individual books are required, these will be ordered and delivered to school on Friday 15 March 2019.
Pupils will be issued with a £1 World Book Day voucher and will be able to use this at the fair, provided the book being purchased costs a minimum of £2.99. If parents wish to pay for books by cheque, these should be made payable to ‘Hexham Middle School’.
World Book Day is a tremendous opportunity for us to celebrate books as part of the school’s commitment to promoting a love of reading and we hope the book fair, and World Book Day, will be a huge success. Thank you as always in anticipation of your support.
Mrs Roff (Head of English) and Mrs Jackson (School Librarian)