Coimadai primary school completes premiers’ reading challenge

Students across the Macedon electorate have enjoyed hundreds of books over the past few months as part of the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas visited Coimadai Primary School, where every student took part in this year’s Challenge.

They were among the 113,000 students and children who completed the Challenge from 956 local schools, 1,367 early childhood services and homes across the state.

Together, they have read more than 4.3 million books. To complete the Challenge, students in Year’s 3 to 10 had to read at least 15 books in the six months from March to September.

For students in prep, grade one and grade two, the Challenge was to read or experience 30 books.

This year, the Challenge ran its first ever reader’s review competition, inviting secondary students in years 7 to 10 to write a book review of one of a selection of Premiers’ Reading Challenge books for a chance to win free books and a visit to Penguin Random House publishing house in Melbourne.

Parents of young children were also invited to share their child’s love of reading with the world through a new Little Reader Photo Share competition, to motivate other parents to read to their children before they start school.

Since the Challenge began in 2005, more than 3 million students in Victoria have read over 50 million books, which if you stacked the books would stretch past the international space station.

For more information on the Challenge, visit: www.education.vic.gov.au/prc

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
"We know how vital reading is to a child’s development and to help students develop their academic, social and emotional skills."

"Congratulations to the students at Coimadai Primary School who took up this year’s challenge!"

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"It’s fantastic to see so many avid readers at Coimadai Primary. I hope their participation in this year’s challenge leads to a lifelong love of reading."

"It’s no secret that I love to read and I’m glad that I could donate books to schools around my electorate to share the magic of reading with students."