Shiver me timbers, it’s World Book Day Staying safe More Important Things, a play about World Book Day aims to help children explore the pleasure of road safety, has been developed with books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own, and encouraging them to join the library. year 7 classes at Bethnal Green Academy. www.worldbookday.com
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Schools news
The magic of a good book BY MEHREEN HUSSAIN ly key and a love of reading lasts a lifetime: we want all of our
SWANLEA School cele- students to have that.” brated World Book Day with the official opening CANON Barnett Primary School celebrated World Book of its new library. (Above) part of Rashawn’s designs for the London Youth Games; (below) Zarah’s logo
STUDENTS at Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School in Stepney have won a competition to design clothing for this year’s London Youth Games. Rashawn Sarpong-Robinson, aged 14, and Zarah Asmal, 13, will have their designs on T-shirts and hoodies. While Rashawn’s design will go on the main body of the T-shirt, Zarah’s logo will be machine-embroidered on the T-shirt and hoodie. The clothing will also feature both the Youth Games and Tower Hamlets logos.
The school in Whitechapel invited international lawyer Miriam González Durántez to formally open the newly refurbished area. Ms González Durántez – otherwise known as the wife of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg – spent time with students, talking to them about the importance of reading. She listened to students give a presentation, and then spoke to them about what reading means to her. The new facilities include e-readers and computer-based reading competitions. Year 7 student Emad Uddin said: “I love our new library, it’s so open and welcoming. I love to read, it makes me smart. Reading is better than watching TV because books are magical.” Students also took part in other activities to celebrate World Book Day on March 1 – members of staff dressed up as their favourite literary character, and students were given the chance to take part in a quiz to match the staff member with the correct literary character. Head teacher Brenda Landers said: “I am delighted that we have been able to host such a wonderful event on World Book Day. Reading is absolute-
Day with a pirate theme. Staff and students dressed up, with each pupil taking care to create the best pirate costume as part of a competition. The day began with an assembly to which parents were invited. Students held a fashion show, showing off their hard work on the catwalk. Each class chose the best pirate and the winners received a prize. Earlier in the week the school in Whitechapel was visited by Dilly The Dinosaur author Tony Bradman, who spoke about his books at an assembly and signed pupils’ own copies. (Above) ‘Pirates’ at Canon Barnett Primary School playing on new equipment in their Sir John Cass School in Step- playground; (below left) Sir John Cass staff Sheila Smith and Shamimara Uddin dressed up ney celebrated World Book Day as Dickens characters; (below right) international lawyer Miriam González Durántez with through a series of activities that pupils at the opening of Swanlea School’s new library highlighted the joys of reading to students as well as celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Dickens. Staff dressed as characters from literature, inviting students to guess which character they were – they raised £437 for Book Aid International. In addition, the school has been presented with books by the author of the Roman Mysteries series Caroline Lawrence, which are to be shared with a partner school in the Czech Republic.
Young actors raise road safety awareness A CHILDREN’S theatre has been working with the council and Transport for London (TfL) to help tackle road safety.
A scene from the road safety play 12 – 18 MARCH 2012
Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, based in Limehouse, is working with Tower Hamlets’ road safety team and TfL on a project they hope will raise awareness of road safety in a bid to reduce accidents. Year 7 pupils from Bethnal Green Academy helped develNEWS FROM TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY
op the play, entitled More Important Things, which is currently touring primary and secondary schools, exploring road safety issues in an interactive and fun way. “It has been a wonderful experience to work with students from Bethnal Green Academy on this important project,” said Angela Michaels, the theatre’s associate director. “Road accidents can have a devastating effect on the lives
of young people and their families and we are pleased to be working on a project that addresses this important issue.” Cllr Shahed Ali, cabinet member for the environment, said: “With London 2012 fast approaching it is essential that young people are vigilant on the roads – especially during Gamestime when the borough’s roads will be experiencing high levels of traffic and changing priorities for pedestrians.” 15