Books collected for young readers

Somerset College Preparatory School collected over 2 000 books for pre-primary schools in the Helderberg Basin, and the first two schools to receive books were Wendy’s Day-Care in Firgrove and Step-by-Step in Macassar.

The Grade 6 pupils visited these schools last week, and performed skits for the children to encourage them to read.

Two of the skits included extracts from The Gruffalo and Die Drie Varkies. The children were engrossed by the little performances and they couldn’t wait to listen to the stories read to them by the Grade 6 pupil. Each of the 60 children received a handmade book bag filled with their very own books.

The Somerset College pupils created a book corner at each of these schools, which included a portable book shelf filled with books, blankets, pillows and soft toys that the children can cuddle, while paging through their favourite book.

“We are very grateful to Sandi Theron, one of the Grade R moms for pioneering this project. A parent meeting was held at these schools prior to the visit in order to share with the parents the importance of reading and how to read to their children,” says Taryn Rose-Innes, a Grade 7 teacher at Somerset College, and the head of social responsibility.