2 March 2023
Woldingham demonstrated its love of literature on, and in the run up to, World Book Day on Thursday 2 March, with students attending the Southern Schools Book Award presentation ceremony (main photo), taking part in the National Reading Champions Quiz, swapping and having a book ‘blind date’, and some even turning their hand to bookbinding.
Southern Schools Book Award – Mia M, Year 11
Having read all five books shortlisted for this year’s Southern Schools Book Award (SSBA) and voted for our favourite, five students, from Years 8, 10 and 11, and Librarian Ms Owens attended the SSBA presentation ceremony at Hurstpierpoint College on Friday 24 February.
Along with students from 31 other schools, we had the opportunity to hear all five authors talk about their books and what inspires them. This was followed by a fascinating Q and A session, in which students were able to ask the authors their most burning questions about their books, whilst illustrator Chris Riddell captured some snapshots of the evening with live drawings shown on screen.
We also had the amazing opportunity to have our books signed by the authors and it was brilliant to meet and chat with all of them. Congratulations to Caroline O’Donoghue for winning the award with her magical book All Our Hidden Gifts. The evening was a great culmination of our reading over the last term.
We recommend checking out all five shortlisted books:
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
This Can Never Not Be Real by Sera Milano
Afterlove by Tanya Byrne
When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando
Green Rising by Lauren James
National Reading Champions Quiz – Ms Amanda Owens, Librarian
Woldingham School was represented by two teams of book-loving Mardeners in this year’s annual National Reading Champions Quiz. Run by the National Literacy Trust, students aged 10-14 in schools all over the country take part in 23 regional heats, with the winners going on to the national final in London in June.
Woldingham competed in the south west London heat involving 24 teams from 16 different schools. Answering questions in eight different rounds on themes including realistic fiction, fantasy fiction and book brain teasers, our enthusiastic students rose admirably to the occasion with Vivienne, Daisy, Evie and Tisha finishing in 8th place and Lyra, Nithali, Elodie, Lydia 15th. It was a very close heat, with just a few points separating the top 15 teams. Well done, girls - you did Woldingham proud.
World Book Day
The English Department organised a range of book-related activities to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 2 March. Lelia, Upper Sixth, talked about neurodivergent characters in literature at whole school assembly. English corridor windowsills were decorated with donated books so that students could bring in an existing book to swap for something new that whetted their appetite or opt for a ‘blind date’ by picking a wrapped up book appropriate for their age group.
At lunchtime, Dr Klinge, who is a qualified bookbinder, ran a bookbinding workshop. Twelve students enjoyed a hands on experience of a craft that helps treasured literary possessions last a lifetime.
