3000 pupils take up reading challenge

Sep 29 2008

Thousands of primary school pupils from across South Lanarkshire have taken part in the National Summer Reading Challenge - Team Read 08.

Junior readers registered at their local library and received a membership card and a fold-out poster to record the books they read between 23 June and 17 August. Everyone received a sticker every time they visited the library for a book and at the end of the programme they got to vote for their favourite book of the summer.

And of the 2999 children who registered to take part in this year's summer reading programme, 408 got their bronze, 297 got their silver and 1039 got gold medals.

And a special certificate went to the school in each area with the highest number of pupils taking part. Clydesdale area - Douglas Primary; East Kilbride - Halfmerke Primary; Hamilton - St Mary's Primary, Larkhall; Rutherglen/Cambuslang - St Cadoc's Primary. The overall winning school was Halfmerke.

The challenge was to read and enjoy as many books as possible with every child receiving a sticker for each book read. Every child who read at least one book received a certificate but everyone who read two books got a bronze award of stationery. Four books merited a silver award of a free swim voucher for any of South Lanarkshire Leisure swimming pool and for children who managed to read six books there was the fantastic gold award of a medal plus being entered into a prize draw to win a year's Junior Fitness Membership at a South Lanarkshire Leisure Centre.

This year's theme was 'Sport' and was organised by the council's Education Resources with support from South Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd.

Councillor Mary Smith, the chair of Education Resources said: "I am delighted that, once again, so many of our young South Lanarkshire pupils took up the Summer Reading Challenge and I sincerely hope that they all enjoyed every minute of their reading and now feel encouraged to continue using the libraries for the rest of the year and beyond.

"Not only does this marvellous summer challenge introduce them to the joys of reading, but also, with this year's theme they will hopefully gain a keen interest in sport as well.

Councillor Gerry Convery, the chair of the Board of South Lanarkshire Leisure, added: "It is our aim to encourage all young people to take up sport as part of a healthy lifestyle and the Team Read Challenge promotes both healthy minds and healthy bodies.

"And the theme for this year's challenge was particularly significant as the Mini Olympics, as the International Children's Games are affectionately called, are to be in Lanarkshire in 2011."