At a prize giving ceremony, held for the winning students, on Tuesday, (31st May, 2011), some of the 19 participants, extolled the virtues of ‘READING’.
“I am much smarter,” said Liberty Woodley who had read 37 books. Others added, “It helps me to spell correctly.”; “It helps me to travel around the world.”; “I have a lot of fun reading.”; “I like reading mysteries.”
The competition was dominated by a student from the Immaculate Conception Catholic School, (ICCS), Abion Stevens, who was declared the Overall Winner and Winner in the Junior Category, having read 60 books during the Read-A-Thon.
Runner-up was Mikhail Powell-Brazier who read 54 books. Nichiel Huggins, winner of the Senior Category, read 36 books.
In eleven (11) days four hundred and fifty three (453) books were read by the nineteen (19) readers, 7 to 12 years old, who participated in the contest, held during the Easter Holidays, 11th-21st April, 2011.
At their prize giving event earlier this week, the students were given great tips and encouragement on how they could continue reading. This was provided by Feature Speaker, Mrs. Eleanor Phillip of the Curriculum Unit of the Ministry of Education.
She also asked parents to “encourage good reading habits, create a really stimulating learning/reading area in the home and give children books as rewards”.
She also asked parents to “encourage good reading habits, create a really stimulating learning/reading area in the home and give children books as rewards”.
Also attending the ceremony and bringing encouraging remarks was the Minister of Education & Information, Mr. Nigel Carty. He expressed special thanks to all the groups which partnered with the Library on this Project and continue to partner with the various Departments of the Ministry of Education to support the work with the children in the Federation. He closed his remarks by reminding students that “reading helps people to become what they want to become”.
In other words, it facilitates self actualization. Minister Carty assisted with the distribution of Certificates of Participation and gifts of books for their personal home libraries to all the children who participated in the Read-A-Thon.
The Librarian, Ms. Carolyn Henry, presented special Library Membership Cards to all participants. This would enable them to borrow a total of three (3) books each time they visited the Library instead of one which is the normal allocation. She expressed the hope that many more students would be encouraged to participate in the Easter Read-A-Thon next year. Of the children she concluded “they deserve our encouragement and support”.
One of the groups that partnered with the library was the Rotary Club of Liamuiga (RCL), which said it was happy to support such a worthwhile Project.
They donated trophies for the winners of both the Junior and Senior Categories. Mr. Eustace Warner, President of RCL, was on hand to present the trophies. He remarked that projects like the Read-A-Thon which helped to advance children and young people, were assured of the support of the Rotary Club of Liamuiga.