To finish a good book is an accomplishment as fulfilling as it is enriching.
SPARK Schools Witpoortjie held a grand ceremony to celebrate their learners who have been flipping through the most pages. To celebrate International Literacy Day, staff elevated their best readers with a spectacle of inspiration and praise, September 8. A select few learners in each grade received certificates of achievement for being in the top bracket of eager bookworms.
Driven by English Head of Department, Phumele Sibiya, the school wished to reward those learners who have pushed themselves to excel. “Throughout the year we celebrate scholars who exceed expectations and those who improve. The awards handed out during International Literacy Day honoured two top achievers for each Grade as well as two scholars who have shown the most improvement from term two,” said Principal Andile Shandu.
Reading is the cornerstone of a bright and successful future that can never be understated. “I believe when you read, you increase your ability to think critically, grow your brain, and most importantly increase your vocabulary. Reading sparks a child’s imagination and stimulates curiosity. It opens you up to a world of magic where you can explore places and things you have never experienced,” elaborates Principal Shandu.
“At SPARK we use the Literary Tree curriculum which is a UK-based curriculum that teaches English using a book-based approach. This approach ensures that reading is a part of learning every day by aligning objectives to stories. At SPARK our scholars are encouraged to do work independently and think out of the box. Exposing scholars to a different book every week helps them connect what they learn to the world out there,” she continued.
Embracing the importance of reading, Principal Shandu muses, “’Reading maketh a full man’ it is said, but, what does this phrase mean? Does it mean that no man can be called a man unless he knows how to read? Or maybe it means that with the ability to read, a man is exposed to the wide world and there are no limits. Reading develops a young reader’s mind, setting him up for success later on in his future where the individual would be able to comprehend various subjects.”
