“Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow.”  Lawrence Clark Powell.

Next week is National Book Week. What a wonderful thing to celebrate! Literacy is a crucial foundation for all aspects of education –  even numeracy requires skill in literacy to enable understanding. (Similarly literacy requires numeracy skills and knowledge to complement understanding and growth.)

Middle School at GCC began Book Week celebrations early by having a ‘Page to Screen’ competition in assembly on Tuesday. With Year 8 winning, despite their smaller numbers.

Middle School Book Week Activities:

Riddle Chase – Tuesday – Thursday

Book Character Dress-up Day Tuesday. Judging will occur within the Pastoral Care Class with two students from each class chosen for best ‘in character’ dress by their PC teacher and the final top two chosen from each level in Assembly by our Library judging team. The Book Character dress can be as simple as a hat or wig and one other prop. Students need to be able to explain who their character is and from which book. Fantasy genre and Science-fiction characters are fine; however, we ask that students keep within the College values and ethos. If the dress is not suitable for class activities, students should bring their regular uniform to get changed into after Lesson 1. All students who come dressed up can enjoy pizza for lunch on Tuesday.

A few other reminders:

Computers

• • All College laptops must have covers
  • Students have been reminded that, while at College, laptops are not to be used for games, messaging or watching YouTube clips.

Attendance

• • College attendance. It is a well-known statistic that taking students out of school for several days can significantly impact on a student’s learning. It is strongly advised that students attend College even towards the end of term where reflection occurs or extension programs that consolidate learning. Countries which have the higher academic ratings also have high penalties and even fine parents who take their children out of school. This shows the high priority they put on attendance as an essential part of a good education. Please contact your child’s PC teacher if your child is going to be out of class for a few days as well as notifying our Secondary Admin of the reason for their absence.

Jacqualina Vreeling, Head of Middle School