newy.com.au – Plattsburg Public School has secured a $10,000 grant for more than 500 new library books, adding resources to its buddy reading partnership with Callaghan College Wallsend Campus.
The Library Regeneration Grant from Dymocks Children’s Charities will help refresh the primary school’s fiction and non-fiction collections. The new titles will support classroom learning and cater to students’ different reading interests and abilities.
Wallsend Campus teacher librarian Adele Lenskyj submitted the application to build on the reading program she developed jointly with Plattsburg assistant principal David Hopson.
The program brings Year 9 and 10 student leaders from Wallsend Campus together with Plattsburg students from Kindergarten to Year 4 for shared reading sessions. It aims to help younger children gain confidence and enjoy reading while building connections between the two school communities.
“Many of these children will eventually join us at Wallsend Campus, so I see their reading journey as something we already share,” Ms Lenskyj said.
Plattsburg principal Shahn Radcliffe said the broader collection would give students more opportunities to develop their literacy skills and strengthen the partnership.
“Access to a wider range of quality books will strengthen our buddy reading program with Callaghan College Wallsend Campus, creating richer reading experiences, building confidence and developing literacy skills.”
The initiative is part of the Callaghan partner primary school network, which aims to strengthen links between the campus and local primary schools and support students as they move to high school.
The arrival of the books will be celebrated at a library launch at Plattsburg Public School on Thursday 22 October at 11.45 am. Ms Lenskyj and Wallsend Campus students are due to attend.
