Our 2026 Book Week celebration, Symphony of Stories, has brought books, creativity and connection across the College. Through reading, writing, storytelling, music and visual arts, students have explored the joy and wonder of stories. We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who helped students prepare for our annual Book Week Dress-Up Parade and Character Day […]
We are incredibly proud of our Year 9/10 Readers Cup team, who achieved an outstanding second place at the recent Sunshine Coast Readers Cup competition! This wonderful result reflects the students’ dedication, teamwork and passion for reading. Preparing for the Readers Cup takes commitment – from reading widely to remembering countless characters, plots and details,
From Pages to Podium: Year 9/10 Readers Cup Success Read More »
Over the past week, our students have proudly taken part in the Readers Cup competition, with both our Year 5/6 and Year 8 teams representing the College with enthusiasm and commitment. In the Sunshine Coast Regional competitions, 30 teams participated in the Year 5 – 6 division, while 22 teams competed in the Year 8
Readers Cup 2026 – Turning Pages and Testing Knowledge Read More »
Laughter, music, and fun filled the air as best-selling author, musician and performer, Deano Yipadee visited GCC to share his award-winning stories and songs with our Prep – Year 2 students. Deano’s interactive, comedy-filled performance had everyone smiling as he took us on a musical storytelling adventure like no other! The Preps were especially excited,
Few stories strike as deeply as The Photographer; it goes straight to the heart. This groundbreaking picture book, written by Mark Rafidi and illustrated by Paul O’Sullivan, draws readers into the centre of a conflict, capturing a powerful moment in time. As an army moves through a town, a war photographer follows with his camera,
The final competition in this year’s Sunshine Coast Regional Readers Cup calendar was held at Matthew Flinders Anglican College earlier this term. After four exciting and intense rounds, our Year 7 team proudly claimed second place at the end of the night! The Readers Cup is a statewide competition that challenges students’ teamwork, memory, and
The Readers Cup is a prestigious interschool competition organised by the Queensland Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It challenges students to read widely, work collaboratively, and test their comprehension and recall skills. The event provides a wonderful opportunity for young people to engage with literature and compete against other passionate readers from
This year’s Book Week theme, Book an Adventure, inspired us to explore the joy of reading with a focus on homegrown adventures. Across Primary, we highlighted stories from every state and territory to encourage students to read widely and to develop their appreciation of the amazing authors and illustrators that call Australia home. For our
We were excited to welcome back award-winning author (and avid traveller) Dr Sarah Pye – along with her orangutan puppet sidekick Pongo – for another inspiring visit to GCC. This time, Sarah worked with our Year 3 students, bringing her passion for ‘sewing ecological seeds in young minds’ to life. Sarah’s Rainforest in a Jar
As we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, this year’s theme, ‘Book an Adventure,’ encouraged us to consider the incredible journeys that books can take us on. From Story Walks to the Book Fair and Reading Around Australia, we enjoyed unforgettable adventures together. The Island of Biblio artwork by award-winning
As we prepare to celebrate Book Week, we are delighted to recognise the outstanding reading achievements of our Year 3–6 students. These students have shown exceptional dedication, demonstrating that the right books, motivation, and reading stamina can lead to remarkable growth. Scholastic Literacy Pro supports personalised learning and guides every student on their reading journey.
Each year, the Readers Cup challenges students across Queensland to read widely, think deeply, and compete enthusiastically in a fast-paced, literature-based quiz event. It’s a team competition that celebrates reading, comprehension, teamwork, and quick thinking, and our Year 8 team rose brilliantly to the challenge! Our GCC Team – Kirsten, Marley, Penny, Oscar, and Tina
At the end of May, our College had the privilege of hosting accomplished writer Lauren E Daniels, who spent two enriching days working with our students across various year levels (Year 7 – 12) as our inaugural ‘Writer in Residence’. Lauren shared her insights into the writing process – from idea generation and character development
Every year, libraries, schools, childcare centres, bookshops, and homes across Australia come together to celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). This year marked the 25th anniversary of NSS! On Wednesday, 21 May, we joined in the fun by reading The Truck Cat, written by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell. The Truck Cat tells the
Last term, our students joined in Queensland School Library Week (QSLW). This annual event celebrates the important role school libraries play in helping students develop a love of reading and learning for life. It’s a special time to recognise the great work done by Teacher Librarians and library staff across Queensland. The theme for this
Looking for fun and engaging activities these holidays? From storytelling sessions and writing like an author, to craft workshops, interactive games, and STEM activities – there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Sunshine Coast Libraries Holiday Activities Build, explore, and survive with ‘Minecraft-inspired’ activities. Challenge yourself by completing the MineQuest or finding hidden items in the
In a world dominated by screens, social media, and instant entertainment, the simple joy of reading for pleasure is often overlooked. However, research consistently shows that teenagers who regularly read for enjoyment, experience significant benefits – not just academically, but also in their personal and emotional well-being Boosting Learning Success Reading for pleasure is more
Reading for Pleasure: Why Teens (and Adults) Should Pick Up a Book Read More »
Last Friday GCC Readers Cup Teams from Years 5 – 10 met up over breakfast to celebrate their year of ‘Marathon’ reading. Amidst the mouthfuls of marvellous food, there was of course time to chat about life and story plots of course. Students who are keen readers eagerly pass on recommendations for favourite reads and
Readers Cup Breakfast …Excitedly Swallowing Mouthfuls in Between Words! Read More »
Last term, I had the opportunity to be involved in the 2024 Year 9/10 Reader’s Cup team. While we didn’t place, we had a great time and read some awesome books. If you’re unfamiliar with Reader’s Cup, it’s an inter-school competition, where teams selected from each school will be given the same books to read,
The final Sunshine Coast Regional Readers Cup event for 2024 ended on a high note this year with our Year 7 team claiming first place in a night of very close competition. Year 7 teams from schools across the Sunshine Coast Region gathered at Good Samaritan Catholic College in Bli Bli in early October to
Year 7 Regional Readers Cup – First Place Excitement! Read More »
We take great pleasure in showcasing the outstanding efforts of reading at the College and recently acknowledged the Semester 1 Scholastic Literacy Pro Award recipients at the Prep – Year 3 and Year 4-6 Assemblies. Across the College, students have passed an impressive 21,255 Lexile quizzes and collectively read an astounding 72,587,776 words. Notably, 77
We were thrilled to welcome Nikki Rogers to our College on Wednesday 5 June for an exciting Author/Illustrator Visit with our Prep to Year 2 classes. Nikki captivated the students with her enthusiasm for writing, drawing, and painting and spoke of how these skills developed throughout her childhood. She shared the wonders of storytelling through
Inspirational Author/Illustrator Visit with Nikki Rogers Read More »
This week we celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) by reading Bowerbird Blues by Australian Author/Illustrator Aura Parker. What a delight to take part in this shared experience, reading the same book, at the same time, across the nation! There were 2,341,490 participants in 21,000 locations reading the story simultaneously, savouring Parker’s amazing illustrations that beautifully
The challenge of searching for something can be incredibly fun—especially when you succeed! The ‘I Spy’ challenge’ book series, with its engaging illustrations and cryptic rhyming clues, is a fantastic ‘seek-and-find’ activity. It serves as a great introduction to research, where readers look for something specific, check that it matches the given criteria (clues), and
Meeting authors face to face and the excitement of author book signing sessions were just some of the highlights of a great day out at the recent Beyond the Book Literature Festival. The Festival, held at the University Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs Campus was an excellent opportunity for groups of students from Years 5 –
Last week, author Sally Rippin, was announced as the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2024 and 2025. Sally’s theme as Laureate for the next two years is ‘All kids can be readers’. Sally loves to write stories with heart and with characters that resonate with children, parents, and educators. She is Australia’s highest selling female author
Last week the Year 3 classes enjoyed indoor fun with an excursion to the Beerwah Library and Community Hall and outdoor fun at Turner Park. The excursion was part of the Significant 72 Activities and was a fabulous way to connect, explore, read, relax, and play. We are blessed to have a local library so
What a fantastic year of reading we’ve had at GCC! One of the core programs used to promote reading at the College is Scholastic Literacy Pro. The program allows us to evaluate the students’ reading ability and provide them with a Lexile measure to recommend books that are just right for them. Students choose books
The long summer holidays are just around the corner… There’ll be time for some sun, surf, camping and even hunting for Christmas treasures. I know I’m looking forward to more uninterrupted reading time – just for the sheer pleasure! Summer holiday reading – is all about reading for pleasure. Whether you’re a young child, a
Congratulations to the students who took part in the Premier’s Reading Challenge this year and a special thank you to the families that supported this annual initiative. To successfully complete the challenge, students were required to read or experience the following number of books in Term 2 and Term 3: Prep to Year 2 –
We’ve decided that this year’s CBCA Book Week theme ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ has been one of our favourites. As we celebrated the theme across the term, the excitement and enthusiasm grew for our annual Primary Book Week Parade and the Secondary Character Day events. We were once again in awe at the spectacular costumes students, staff
We were privileged to have R A Spratt, author of Nanny Piggins, The Peski Kids, Friday Barnes, and Shockingly Good Stories come to our school on Wednesday 16 August to speak with students in Years 4-6. During her presentation she explained the background of Shockingly Good Stories; while on holiday with her children they requested
Congratulations to our Year 3-6 students for their fantastic reading achievements! We recently celebrated our end of Semester 1 Scholastic Literacy Pro Awards and the Term 2 Millionaires Party. Collectively across the College students have passed 21,203 Lexile quizzes and read 78,159,694 words, which is a testament to their hard work and consistent reading. Our
Readers Cup season has commenced with two different Year Level competitions being held in recent weeks. The Readers Cup, organised annually by the Queensland Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, aims to bring children and books together in a celebration of stories and a shared passion for reading and learning. Readers Cup includes
On Wednesday 24 May we joined over 2 million readers across Australia to celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS). NSS is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously around the country. This year The Speedy Sloth
What Motivates You to Read? For some, it is the curiosity to discover more about a favourite or new topic. Others are compelled to buy the next book in their most favourite series – they just must find out about what’s happening to the main character. They’re so motivated to read on after the cliffhanger
An excited group of students from Years 5 – 12 were thrilled to be selected to attend the Voices on the Coast Literature Festival organised by Immanuel Lutheran College and hosted at the University of the Sunshine Coast. This year’s event, the 28th year of the Festival, was certainly a fantastic opportunity for our students
We recently celebrated Queensland School Library Week (QSLW). This year’s theme, ‘Devoted to You’ aptly reflects the commitment that our library team brings to their role in supporting teaching and learning, encouraging a love of reading, and valuing and enhancing the well-being of our students who spend time in the library. These areas were highlighted
These summer holidays, adventure awaits your child through Sunshine Coast Libraries free Summer Reading Club. Whether going away or staying home, children can win fantastic prizes by embarking on three quests outlined in a Summer Reading Club Adventure Map. Just join up for online or within a branch and either download the map or collect
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved phenomenal results in the Year 3-6 Literacy Pro program. We commend them for their diligence in developing reading habits that have led to such fabulous results. Special thanks to our College Community for your support of the Literacy Pro Program – we couldn’t do it without you!
Each year our college invites students to participate in the Sunshine Coast Regional Readers Cup competition held at various points across the year depending on the year level. The final competition for 2022 was held on Thursday October 20 at Maroochydore State High School. Our keen Year 7 Team – Zara Watson Brown, Sophie Sharma,
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2022 Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC). A round of applause to Mrs. Eskdale and 1M for having the highest number of participants and Mrs. Andrews and 4G who followed closely behind. Thank you to the families and staff that supported the students as they completed the challenge. The PRC
Register online these holidays to participate in the amazing programs on offer below. Registrations open Friday 16 September at 4pm. https://library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Whats-On/Holiday-Activities/Holiday-Program Event When Need to book? Age Botley Robots Tues 20th 2-3:30pm Yes 6-12 yrs Too Short for Netty Storytime Wed 21st 9:45-10:15am Yes 5-12 yrs Magnetic tile drop in build Mon 26th 10-11:30am No
We are privileged to be part of a community that supports a strong reading culture and would like to extend our gratitude to the College community for partnering with us as we celebrated Book Week. The staff dedication and community support of these events contribute to the excitement and engagement of students and provide memorable
Our annual Book Fair was held in the library this week as we commenced the 2022 Book Week celebrations. Book Fair catered for a wide range of reading interests and abilities and gave students a hands-on book buying experience. Choice was the key as students were encouraged to select best-fit books. Primary and secondary students
We have big dreams for this year’s Book Week Celebrations. We can’t wait to celebrate together and are looking forward to the Primary Book Parade and the Middle and Senior School Character Days. Students can take part in these events by dressing up to celebrate the theme ‘Dreaming with eyes open’ or come as a
Book Fair is coming and will be held from Friday 19 August – Thursday 25 August at the Secondary end of the Library. It will cater for students in Prep – Year 9 and include a large range of books to browse and purchase from 8:00am to 3:30pm daily, with cash and EFT sales available.
We recently had two teams compete in the Sunshine Coast Regional Readers Cup Competitions. The Readers Cup is organised annually by the Queensland Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia and aims to bring children and books together. It includes competitions across Year 5/6, Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 where students are challenged to
Inspired by the LEGO Masters Grand Final Week we recently held our very own week-long Primary LEGO Competition. Many students were eager to design and build every day at the Library and impressed us with their fabulous creativity and teamwork skills. Thank you to everyone who took part – your creations were a huge hit
As a teacher librarian, it is no surprise that I love a great story. I’m often asked if I have a favourite genre or author and my answer to students is always the same ‘Must I pick just one?’ Stories take us on a journey where we escape into a different world and where intriguing
