Published Tuesday, 13 November, 2007 at 02:54 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Premier's Reading Challenge Approaches The Million Book Mark
Queensland primary school students were honoured today for reading almost one million books as part of the second annual Premier's Reading Challenge.
Premier Anna Bligh presented 18 reading challenge awards to schools from across Queensland that reached 100% participation rate in the challenge.
“I hope this challenge has led many more children to discover the pleasures of reading, the skill of writing, and the wonders of the world we live in – real or imagined,” Ms Bligh said.
“This year 650 schools from throughout Queensland participated in the challenge with 48,000 students from Prep to Year 5 enjoying more than 960,000 books.”
In 2006, the program’s inaugural year, more than 47,000 Queensland students from Prep and preschool to Year 3 enjoyed more than 870,000 books.
The program expanded in 2007 to include year 4 and 5 students and will encompass Years 6 and 7 in 2008.
“We all know that literacy is the key to knowledge, that imagination is the key to creativity and that knowledge and creativity are the keys to success,” Ms Bligh said.
“Next year we hope the Premiers’ Reading Challenge will easily exceed one million books read.”
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the challenge had once again been a huge success.
“Teachers, principals, librarians, family and friends and of course the students themselves should be congratulated for meeting the challenge,” Mr Welford said.
“As we all know, reading expands the mind, engages the imagination and opens the world of learning for our children.
“The Premier’s Reading Challenge complements the significant work being done by schools to ensure our children are among the best in the world when it comes to literacy.”
The Premier’s Reading Challenge awards recognise schools with high levels of student participation in the challenge. Each of the winning schools had every student complete the challenge in the year level in which they won.
Winning schools
Prep
Schools with less than 100 students - St Joseph's School (Childers)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Junction Park State School (Annerley)
Schools with more than 400 students - Patricks Road State School (Ferny Hills)
Year 1
Schools with less than 100 students - Silkwood State School (near Innisfail)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Townsville Grammar School - Annandale
Campus
Schools with more than 400 students - Varsity College (Gold Coast)
Year 2
Schools with less than 100 students - Kin Kin State School (Sunshine Coast)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Queen of Apostles Primary School - Lower Campus (Stafford)
Schools with more than 400 students - Forest Lake State School (Forest Lake)
Year 3
Schools with less than 100 students - Hampden State School (near Mackay)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Oonoonba State School (near Townsville)
Schools with more than 400 students - St Edward the Confessor School (Daisy Hill)
Year 4
Schools with less than 100 students - Bell State School (near the Bunya Mountains)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Gracemere State School (near Rockhampton)
Schools with more than 400 students - Ormiston State School (Redlands)
Year 5
Schools with less than 100 students - Goodwood State School (near Bundaberg)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Cloncurry State School
Schools with more than 400 students - St Edward the Confessor School (Daisy Hill)
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500/ Minister’s office – 3237 1000
Premier Anna Bligh presented 18 reading challenge awards to schools from across Queensland that reached 100% participation rate in the challenge.
“I hope this challenge has led many more children to discover the pleasures of reading, the skill of writing, and the wonders of the world we live in – real or imagined,” Ms Bligh said.
“This year 650 schools from throughout Queensland participated in the challenge with 48,000 students from Prep to Year 5 enjoying more than 960,000 books.”
In 2006, the program’s inaugural year, more than 47,000 Queensland students from Prep and preschool to Year 3 enjoyed more than 870,000 books.
The program expanded in 2007 to include year 4 and 5 students and will encompass Years 6 and 7 in 2008.
“We all know that literacy is the key to knowledge, that imagination is the key to creativity and that knowledge and creativity are the keys to success,” Ms Bligh said.
“Next year we hope the Premiers’ Reading Challenge will easily exceed one million books read.”
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the challenge had once again been a huge success.
“Teachers, principals, librarians, family and friends and of course the students themselves should be congratulated for meeting the challenge,” Mr Welford said.
“As we all know, reading expands the mind, engages the imagination and opens the world of learning for our children.
“The Premier’s Reading Challenge complements the significant work being done by schools to ensure our children are among the best in the world when it comes to literacy.”
The Premier’s Reading Challenge awards recognise schools with high levels of student participation in the challenge. Each of the winning schools had every student complete the challenge in the year level in which they won.
Winning schools
Prep
Schools with less than 100 students - St Joseph's School (Childers)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Junction Park State School (Annerley)
Schools with more than 400 students - Patricks Road State School (Ferny Hills)
Year 1
Schools with less than 100 students - Silkwood State School (near Innisfail)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Townsville Grammar School - Annandale
Campus
Schools with more than 400 students - Varsity College (Gold Coast)
Year 2
Schools with less than 100 students - Kin Kin State School (Sunshine Coast)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Queen of Apostles Primary School - Lower Campus (Stafford)
Schools with more than 400 students - Forest Lake State School (Forest Lake)
Year 3
Schools with less than 100 students - Hampden State School (near Mackay)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Oonoonba State School (near Townsville)
Schools with more than 400 students - St Edward the Confessor School (Daisy Hill)
Year 4
Schools with less than 100 students - Bell State School (near the Bunya Mountains)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Gracemere State School (near Rockhampton)
Schools with more than 400 students - Ormiston State School (Redlands)
Year 5
Schools with less than 100 students - Goodwood State School (near Bundaberg)
Schools with 100 to 400 students - Cloncurry State School
Schools with more than 400 students - St Edward the Confessor School (Daisy Hill)
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500/ Minister’s office – 3237 1000