Reading is Fundamental

By Ella andClareko

The first week back in Summer Term was Book Week, brimming with captivating activities that ignited our love for literature From writing mini books to immersing ourselves in scenes from beloved tales, the week was an enchanting journey through the realm of imagination One of the highlights occurred on Thursday when author Stephen Davies graced our senior school students with his presence, sparking their curiosity and igniting their passion for storytelling.

Throughout the week an alarm bell rang at random times, signaling that it was DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) For 10 minutes, each student read a book, recognizing its profound role as a FUNdamental part of learning Not only does reading fuel creativity and expand our knowledge, but it also serves as a remarkable stress-reliever, offering solace in the pages of a book

Friday brought an explosion of fun as senior school students adorned themselves as beloved book characters of their choice. The school transformed into a vibrant story book, ranging from businessmen and enchanting witches to even the inhabitants of Pandora from the movie Avatar

During lunch breaks, teachers enthralled us with readings from different books Each day, we eagerly gathered in the theatre, immersing ourselves in different works of literacy

Additionally, a book fair near the café provided an opportunity for students to purchase their favorite books during breaks, lunchtime, or after school.

In our English classes, every student had the chance to write their own mini books. However, there was a twist: each book had to be confined to a mere 100 words, adding a challenge to the creative process Ms Norwell picked a few winners who were selected from each year group and they were awarded a book voucher for the book fair

Congratulations to all the winners and

It develops your writing, polishes it until no blemish remains It is this that will save you when you must write but have nothing to say

Yet these points are not entirely honest It is not some philosophical notion of deepened empathy that drives me to read, and it certainly is not vague concepts of lowering blood pressure, reducing cortisol, or enhancement of literary skill. I do not care for those, neither do you, not deeply enough to sacrifice your time willingly - so why should you read?

Reading is impulsive It can only be sustained regularly when you think back to it in your spare moments, when you begin to see it as a blessing and not as a responsibility Many of you hate books, you are incredulous at the concept of spending time staring at empty words on a page, the monotony, the horror Yet you have reached this conclusion from reading the wrong books. Countless “books you must read before you die” lists tell you to read acclaimed classics, War and Peace, The Grapes of Wrath, One Hundred Years of Solitude They are wrong Instead, find a book that seems like it was written for you, one by a person who did not die 100 years ago, one that covers a topic you are genuinely interested in

Find a novel that immerses you in the narrative, one that pulls you to think about its world when you look away from the page, one with characters that you see yourself in. Find a book that makes you laugh or cry. When you do, you will understand how fundamental reading is.