PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS

St Francis Catholic College students read the most books of any North Queensland school participating in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge. Photos supplied

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BURDEKIN SCHOOL TOPS NORTH QUEENSLAND

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St Francis Catholic College students read the most books of any North Queensland school participating in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

The Ayr school's students read nearly 10,000 books between mid-May and August, finishing ahead of 62 other schools and accounting for 12 per cent of all books registered as read in North Queensland during the challenge.

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Principal Tegahn Maitland said the achievement had been a longstanding target for the school, which beat larger counterparts to claim the top prize.

“Historically, this is something St. Francis has wanted for many years, and we've finally achieved it,” she said.

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“We have 234 kids here, and we're the top school in North Queensland. Our students can't believe that they've beaten all the other big schools.”

Students from Prep to Year 6 participated in this year’s challenge, each encouraged to read both at home and at school, where the library hosted regular ‘breakfast club' reading sessions before classes began.

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Each class kept its own individual tally of books read; Prep A student Jeremiah alone contributed 367 books to the school's total, the highest of any St Francis student, while 1/2B topped classes with 2094 books read.

Ms Maitland said a simple incentive was enough to get students over the line this year.

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“They all wanted to win a pizza party, so that was the driving force,” she said.

“We had this really healthy competition between the students and classes wanting to read the most books. Teachers also wanted to be the class that won!”

Ms Maitland said the achievement was a proud moment for the school, acknowledging staff, students and the “incredible support” from families in achieving the honour.

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“I'm just extremely proud at the enthusiasm our kids have to read,” she said.

“I always tell the kids one of the hardest things you'll ever learn to do is read. That lifelong love of reading is just so important.”

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Having secured the title, St Francis students are now turning their attention to their next reward, says Ms Maitland.

“They’re asking me, ‘because we've won, what do we get?’” she said.

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“I got through a heap of persuasive writing pieces from the students yesterday. They’re trying to persuade me to give them a colour run party in the last week of term.”

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