Rotary Young Writer Competition – Litcham Winners

Members of the Swaffham Rotary Club, David Morris, Barry Briggs and Neville Robinson visited the Secondary phase yesterday, to present certificates and prizes to three of our students who recently entered the Rotary Young Writer Competition.

Felix Platt 7S won first prize in the regional heat of the competition, for his short story called “Reflections of the Accused”. His story then went on win second place in the intermediate group of the district competition as well. Liberty Blackmore 8S and Amelia Platt 9B were runners up. Congratulations and well done to all of you.

 

 

 

The Kid’s Lit National Final 2016

Well done to Georgina 8C, Daisy  7C, Jessica and Felix  7S, who represented Litcham School at the UK National Final of the Kids’ Lit Quiz on Wednesday and achieved twelfth place – we are very proud of you. It is an amazing achievement to have taken part in this national competition for the third year running.

023Since their landslide win at the regional heat in November, the Litcham team have been working hard to prepare for the final, researching authors, illustrators, award winning books, and basically reading anything they can get their hands on. At lunchtimes they have been practising their question answering techniques, with the help of student coach Amelia 9B.

The National final was held at The City of London School for Girls, where Litcham School competed against 17 other regional winners from across the country, including teams from as far afield as Scotland, Ireland and Wales. They answered five rounds of ‘buzzer style’ questions on authors, book titles, opening paragraphs, creatures and types of books. It was a very difficult and tense competition with team positions changing at the end of every set of questions.

The competition was attended by whole a host of authors including Meg Rosoff, Andy Briggs, Lisa Williamson and Helen Moss amongst others. Students were given the opportunity to meet with them and have books signed. It was a brilliant day. Mrs Berry

  “The Kid’s Lit Quiz was an amazing experience and a great opportunity to meet new people and travel to new places. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done and I am so glad that I tried for it. It was great to learn new things about books and meet great authors! I have really enjoyed my time in the Kid’s Lit Quiz.” Georgina 8C
“I had an unforgettable experience of a lifetime at the National Kids Lit Quiz. The quiz was nerve wracking but exciting at the same time. I thought the hardest category was on ‘Types of Books’. Everyone was really friendly and the food, especially the cake, was delicious. Even though we didn’t win ‘we learn from not winning’ as the author Meg Rosoff said in her opening speech.” Jessica 7C

“It was really fun at the quiz. We got to meet lots of authors were who really friendly and nice. The quiz master Wayne Mills was very funny and made it enjoyable for everyone. The school that hosted it was next to the Barbican in London and the students were very polite.  Afterwards we had a celebratory tea – the food was really good, especially the sandwiches! Overall it was a very enjoyable experience.”  Daisy 7C

“I enjoyed the quiz even though we didn’t win. The questions were challenging, but that made it more interesting. It was very different from the regionals. Although I am disappointed that we didn’t come back with the cup, the other team Kingston Grammar were worthy winners.” Felix 7S

“The Quiz was fascinating to watch. It was incredibly hard but thrilling. Our team did so well. To reach the finals was a great achievement for a small state school like ours. The authors were inspiring and great advocates. The whole event showed how reading isn’t boring but an important skill that can take you everywhere – even London! Although they didn’t win, our team have a lot to be proud of. They have championed reading and hopefully inspired new generations of Kid’s Lit Quizzers.” Amelia 9B
 

Hello Bookworms – by Amelia 9C

Welcome back to school!! I hope you are all not to devastated. However don’t despair the school library is ready to welcome you back. Also to celebrate we have created a quiz all about school. Yes this quiz will test your infinite knowledge of school from Harry Potter to Barry Loser. The quiz will be in the library from this week onwards. Also to celebrate here’s a list of my top five books to help you break into a new term.

  1. Verdigris Deep by Frances Hardingeverdigris

This book tells the disturbing story of a group of friends who after stealing money from a well, are forced by a Well Witch to grant wishes. Soon they find themselves caught up in a horrifying adventure where their wishes are increasingly turning darker.

  1. The Wryd Sisters by Terry Pratchettwyrd-sisters

Now is the perfect time to rediscover Terry Pratchett and what better book to it with than The Wryd Sisters. An absolutely hilarious retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. A great showcasing of Pratchett’s talent.

  1. Northen Lights by Philip Pullmannorthern-lights

At number nine in the nation’s favourites the book is a modern classic. It tells the story of Lyra a girl who set off to rescue her friend and embarks on a journey across the dangerous Arctic. As heaven and Earth collide she must discover her real power.

  1. Watership Down by Richard Adamswatership-down

A young rabbit named Fiver is convinced that a great evil is about to befall the warren where he lives but no one will listen to him. At last he manages to persuade his brother Hazel and a few other brave rabbits to leave behind the safety of the warren, before its too late.  Follow them on their moving, terrifying and heart warming tale.

5. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardener  maggot-moon

This is my favourite book on this list. In an alternate 1950s, Standish Treadwell is growing up in a Britain dominated by the dark, ruthlessly oppressive forces of The Motherland. Standish struggles onwards – until his best and only friend Hector is taken away from him. In a desperate effort to protect the people he loves, Standish sets out on a heroic mission to expose the truth. Combining conspiracy theory and dystopia, this incredibly original novel from Sally Gardner will have you thrilled to the very end.

All Hail Summer Reading!

The summer holidays are nearly upon us. However for you bookworms, who are mourning the loss of your school libraries, Norfolk’s book fest is just beginning. This year’s summer reading challenge celebrates the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birthday. The reading challenge this year is aptly named the Big Friendly Read after our favourite giant.

The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual event which sees thousands of children across the country read 6 books from the library. The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps get three quarters of a million children into libraries each year to keep up their reading skills and confidence. The challenge is targeted at all children. Anyone of any ability can join. A wide range of reading material and genres counts towards the challenge such as; fact books, joke books, picture books and audio books.

The challenge is split into three sections. Every time you read two books you receive a reward. Certificates are awarded to children who complete the challenge in an award ceremony. Having done the challenge,  since it first started,  I can definitely vouch for it being a brilliant advocate of children’s literature. Through the challenge you can discover new genres and uncover brilliant books. The summer reading challenge is also a great way to meet new children with similar interests as you. Some libraries also host special events and workshops connected with the summer reading challenge. For example, Fakenham library is hosting author events and a workshop where they will try to create the longest story ever. Some of these events do require booking. For more information visit Norfolk libraries website or visit your local library.

The summer reading challenge is aimed at children aged from 4 to 11. However for older children there is a different challenge focusing on the creativity released by reading. This is the perfect activity for anyone interested in art, drama and creative writing. Anyone from 10-18 can take part in this alternate challenge as well as the summer reading challenge. Imagination is now in its third year. It was designed by young adults. You’ll get a log when you join, with activities to choose from to help you express your ideas about what you have read, or record how a book made you feel. The great thing about the challenge is that you don’t have to worry about not being amazing at a certain skills e.g. art, as there are so many other options: drama, music and photography. You will also get the chance to be part of a collaborative artwork being made in a library near you. You can share your work with other members on the imagination blog. To find out more about the challenges mentioned visit http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/   http://imaginationeast.org.uk/sample-page/ . Alternatively visit your local library to find out more and sign up to challenges.

Please consider taking part in the summer reading challenge and Imagination. The both are great projects which will lead you into the magical and amazing world of reading. If you complete them you will feel a real sense of achievement. This summer head to your local library and delve into an adventure. I like to finish my blog with the inspirational tagline of the Summer Reading Challenge, “Because everything changes when we read.” How right they are!

Happy Holidays Bookworms!!!!

 

 

 

A Carnegie Quiz for Your Craniums!

ficturesThe Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards have been announced ending months of frenzied reading. However, if the demise of this year Carnegie Shadowing event has left you feeling deflated we have the just the thing to perk you up! Mrs Hassan, librarian at Old Buckingham High School has kindly prepared a Carnegie Quiz to test your old grey cells! With 4 questions from every shortlisted book this 32 question quiz will test your knowledge. This quiz would be great to use in any Carnegie Shadowing Group to stretch students’ craniums ! A big thank you to Mrs Hassan for preparing the quiz. So bookworms stop moping and start quizzing!

Click here to test your knowledge: Carnegie quiz page 1   Carnegie quiz page 2

Our first ever Litcham Cluster Book Quiz – impressive knowledge from the primaries

ficturesLast Tuesday (June 14th) we held our first ever Litcham Cluster Book Quiz, at the Secondary phase site and had a brilliant time. Teams of four students from Years 5/6, from each of the cluster primaries, plus a team of teachers, battled it out over nine rounds of book-related questions for the LCBQ Cup. The rounds of questions ranged from myths & legends to pictures books, from villains to dragons and mystery stories to Roald Dahl. The primary students were very impressive in their literary knowledge, and I think we are going to have some very keen readers joining our school in July.

002Congratulations to Harpley School who came first, scoring only 3 points less than the teachers – they really gave them a run for their money! Close behind them in second place were Great Dunham, and in third place were Great Massingham. Well done to all the students for participating really well in a nail-biting and exciting competition. You all represented your primary schools superbly!

Thank you to our ‘Reading Hackers’ Elli Hebden, Amelia Platt and Maddi Ridout who helped to organise and run the event and to Jade Howarth, Scarlett Howarth, Kyra Pugh and Phillippa Dewin for their help on the day, showing students where to go and marking the rounds of questions. The primary school staff were all very impressed with you. A big thank you also goes to the Friends of Litcham School who funded the purchase of the LCBQ cup and the book tokens for the winning team.

025We hope to make this annual event, so Year’s 4 and 5 start reading widely now and let’s see if we can beat the teachers next year!

” The Litcham Cluster Book Quiz was brilliant. It was so inspiring to see all the Primary students showing such an interest in books. They all participated so well. Books and reading are so important and hopefully the quiz will further enjoyment of reading and encourage students to participate in quizzes. Harpley Primary School won and showed outstanding knowledge. The questions ranged in difficulty with ‘Schools’ and ‘Mystery’ being the hardest rounds. Our Head of Year 7, Mr Tucker, gave an inspiring speech which urged us to keep reading. The event was brilliant showcasing the power of reading. It also illustrated the schools’ teamwork. Congratulations to all the schools who participated.” Amelia Year 8

Congratulations to Harpley School who came first, scoring only 3 points less than the teachers – they really gave them a run for their money! Close behind them in second place were Great Dunham, and in third place were Great Massingham. Well done to all the students for participating really well in a nail-biting and exciting competition. You all represented your primary schools superbly!

Thank you to our ‘Reading Hackers’ Elli Hebden, Amelia Platt and Maddi Ridout who helped to organise and run the event and to Jade Howarth, Scarlett Howarth, Kyra Pugh and Phillippa Dewin for their help on the day, showing students where to go and marking the rounds of questions. The primary school staff were all very impressed with you. A big thank you also goes to the Friends of Litcham School who funded the purchase of the LCBQ cup and the book tokens for the winning team.

We hope to make this annual event, so Year’s 4 and 5 start reading widely now and let’s see if we can beat the teachers next year!

Mrs Berry

Bookface selfies – library display and quiz

ficturesThank you to all those students and staff who sent in their “Bookface” selfies, for our library display. Please come and take a look – there are some brilliant photos.

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Can you guess the staff member behind the Bookface selfies below? If so, why not have a go at our Bookface competition click here for quiz sheet or simply pick up a copy from the library. Identity as many staff members as you can and return the completed form to Mrs Berry by Friday 1st July. The winner will receive a £10 book token and 3D bookmark.

 

book face 5book face 4Book face 3

 

 

 

 

 

In the mean time we would love to receive some more photos. Please email to your selfies to Mrs Berry (berry_c@litchamschool.net) or come into the library, select a book and take a photo yourself using the library camera.

 

Litcham School ‘Reading Hackers’ visit our local primary schools

Over the past week our “Reading Hack” representatives Eleanor Hebden, Amelia Platt and Madeleine Ridout, have been visiting some of our local primary schools, to talk to Year 5/6 pupils about reading at the Secondary phase, to recommend books and to promote a cluster primary book quiz that we shall be holding at the high school on the 14th June.

It was really enjoyable visiting all the different classes and we were made to feel very welcome. It was also a brilliant opportunity to meet some of the pupils who will be joining us in July and we were very interested to hear what their favourite books and authors were. Harry Potter has made a definite comeback!

For our students Eleanor, Maddy and Amelia it was very much a trip down memory lane, as we visited two of their old schools Great Dunham and Harpley Primary. Below are some of their comments on the visits.

087“To advertise the ‘Litcham Cluster Book Quiz’, me and my fellow Kid’s Lit Quiz team mates visited the cluster primary schools. It was really brilliant, as it was great to see such avid young readers. We enjoyed talking about our favourite books and helping to inspire them. It really boosted my confidence. During the presentation we discussed why reading is so important, the advantages it can bring, popular children’s books, the Kids’ Lit Quiz and of course the upcoming cluster book quiz. My favourite part of the presentation was learning the pupil’s favourite books. They were all so enthusiastic! A popular book among the students was ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar – a brilliant choice! The trips were really fun and it was great to experience the different cluster schools and to visit my own primary school again.” Amelia 8B

“Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the local primary schools in our catchment area, to talk to them about books and the sport of reading. We are hosting a book quiz in June for all the local primary schools. We decided to go and visit them to talk to them about the quiz and the benefits of reading in the short and long term. The students were all very kind and considerate and answered all our many questions, once the shyness has worn off. They told us their favourite books and in return we offered some books they might like to read. The students were all very interested in what reading materials Litcham School has to offer and we hope we have encouraged more students to be interested in books.

Being a Year 9 I haven’t been in a primary school for a few years. It was wonderful to see all their hand-designed classroom displays and the fun activities they take part in. I had the pleasure of going back to my roots and it was weird entering my old classroom as a guest rather than a pupil.” Eleanor 9W

 “Our trip to the cluster primaries was exciting, although it was quite nerve wracking standing up in front of a whole class. It was nice visiting my old primary school even though my brother was in the audience! We promoted reading and different books and talked about some quizzes they can or will be able to take part in. We also found out about books they like to read and discovered that many Year 5/6s are very well read.” Madeleine Ridout 9W

 

400th Anniversary Shakespeare Quiz

norfolks-great-big-read-2016_cropTo mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on April 23rd, we are running a quiz all about Shakespeare in the school library. The quiz has been created and put together by Amelia Platt in Year 8, who is one of our Norfolk Library Reading Hack representatives. Simply pick up a quiz sheet from the library or click on the following link Shakespeare Quiz and print. Please return completed sheets to Mrs Berry by Tuesday 3rd May. The winning entry will receive a £10 book token and 3D book mark of their choice.