PRIMARy NEWS - Kettering Science Academy

20
LIBRARy
Introducing KSA’s
New Librarians
KSA welcomed new librarian Heidi Economou
who will work with all pupils across the Academy
to promote reading and improve literacy.
Mrs Economou, who worked at Latimer Arts
College for the last five years, said the position
appealed to her because it gives her the chance
to work with younger children in primary right
through to Sixth Formers.
Mrs Economou’s love of libraries started as a
teenager when she spent two weeks in her local
library for work experience. She said: “I loved it
because I met people from so many different
walks of life. I loved reading anyway so when
they offered me a job at the end of the two
weeks, it just went on from there.”
Her journey was to take her from an
apprenticeship to library manager, with spells in
mobile and even prison libraries.
She said: “The job at KSA is brilliant for me
because I get to sow the seed of reading with
children at a young age and then develop that
right through to Sixth Form.
“One of the things I’d like to do is invite parents
in to hear the younger children reading.”
Mrs Economou said her favourite book is The
Alchemist by Paulo Coelho because it inspired
Launch of Accelerated Reader
The Accelerated Reader programme is aimed at
getting more children to read fiction and nonfiction
books for pleasure. Through this reading
for pleasure pupils will make significant progress
with reading, spelling and comprehension skills.
The programme has begun with Year 7 who took
a reading star test at the start of the year. This
generated each pupil a colour for their reading
level and books in the library are also marked
by these colours so pupils know which ones to
select. Pupils are encouraged to read their books
as part of their English lessons, CAPS lessons
and in their own time. Once they have read a
book, they complete a simple online quiz about
it through the Accelerated Reader program
which can be accessed from any computer or the
library’s iPads. Quizzes can also be completed on
any book students read, not just those from the
school library, by searching for the books title in
New Librarian Feels Right at Home
This term we welcomed another new member of staff
in the library, assistant librarian Emily Scott, who will
work with Heidi Economou to promote reading.
Miss Scott saw the opportunity for an opening in
the school library and applied to follow her passion
for books.
Emily said: “I’ve wanted to work in a library for quite
a while as I love reading and English was always my
favourite subject at school. I really liked the idea of
Pre-School Readers
The Primary library has welcomed its first
pre-school readers this term. Every Wednesday
we welcome younger siblings of our pupils
with their parents. They are registered on
the library system and borrow a book to take
the Accelerated Reader programme. Prizes are
awarded for the number of quizzes completed
successfully and for progress made. Prizes
awarded include certificates, bookmarks, badges,
Amazon vouchers and even a Kindle Fire. The elite
prize is entry into the Millionaire’s club – a gold
badge and special privileges for pupils who read a
million words. Throughout the year teachers will
be tracking pupil progress and league tables will
be compiled to show each form’s progress so the
houses can see how they are faring against other
in the Accelerated Reader inter-house challenge.
The house with the best results each half term
will win the AR House Cup. In the future it is
hoped the programme will be rolled out to Year
8 and Year 6 pupils as well as any pupil for whom
English is not their first language. A link to the
Accelerated Reader programme can be found on
the Academy’s website.
home and read with their parents. We hope
this will encourage our younger children to
begin to enjoy reading books before they start
school. It also gives parents a chance to sit
with any of their children and share a book in
her to go
travelling.
“As soon as
I finished
reading
it, I booked
my ticket to
Mexico,” she said.
“At the time, the effect
it had on me was profound. My favourite
children’s book is The Hungry Caterpillar – it’s a
classic and I’ll never get bored of it.”
working in a school, helping students to enjoy reading. I
am really enjoying this new role and it feels like I’ve been
here for a while already. The staff and students have both
been very welcoming and friendly.”
When asked who her favourite author was she said:
“That’s a hard one but I would probably say Roald Dahl;
even as an adult all his books are fun to read!”
Article by Charlotte Firman – Sixth Former
Top Readers
The following pupils borrowed the most books
from the library in Term 1:
Tayla
Katebzadeh-Shahidi
Year 8 Sanger 23 books
Mohammad Usama Year 7 Hawking 15 books
Loren Cooper Year 7 Da Vinci 14 books
Ezri Mannion Year 7 Hawking 13 books
Gemma Green Year 8 Franklin 11 books
Jordan Ayre Year 9 Franklin 10 books
Joshua Lane Year 7 Hawking 10 books
Tamsyn Henderson Year 7 Socrates 9 books
We congratulate them for their excellent attitude
towards reading and look forward to seeing
more pupils next term!
a relaxed atmosphere. We would love more
parents to come and join us and use the library
for their younger children.
Issue Thirteen • Under the Microscope