Dear parents/carers,

During the week beginning Monday 4th of May 2020, we are launching Holyhead Reading Week 2020. 

When students log-in to the Google Classrooms they have become accustomed to, they will find recommendations left by their class teachers. I am pleased to announce that we have invested in a platform that makes thousands of E-books, audio books, comics and graphic novels available to our students for FREE! Instructions of how to download the app have been emailed directly to students. There is also information and instructions available on the school website. For those students who have let us know they are struggling with IT access, we have written a letter explaining the option to pick up books from school. They can download the app and read the material on their phone. 

Why is parental support with Reading Week so important? 

According to the International Reading Association (Moore et al., 1999, p. 3): 

           Adolescents entering the adult world in the 21st century will read and write more than at any other time in human history. They will need advanced levels of literacy to perform their jobs, run their households, act as citizens, and conduct their personal lives. They will need literacy to cope with the flood of information they will find everywhere they turn. They will need literacy to feed their imaginations so they can create the world of the future. In a complex and sometimes even dangerous world, their ability to read can be crucial. 

Literacy has benefits for mental wellbeing.  Did you know that reading and writing can be beneficial to your child’s wellbeing, and help them have a happy and healthy outlook on life? 

National Literacy Trust research shows that children who enjoy reading are three times more likely to have good mental wellbeing than children who don’t enjoy reading. 

• If your child is facing a particular problem, reading a book that covers the subject could help. It can help them make sense of what they are going through, and feel that they are not alone. 

• You don’t have to be a great reader yourself. Audio books are a great way to enjoy stories and still gain all the benefits associated. 

• Picture books can be a great way of talking about difficult topics with children. They can even work well for older kids. 

• Getting lost in a good book can be a great way for a child to forget about stress and worry. It’s also a great way for a child to develop empathy skills and understand other points of view. 

• Reading a funny book could make your child laugh and feel happier. Reading books together is a great way to share a positive experience with your child. 

• Reading before bedtime is a great way to switch off from the day. A relaxing read before bedtime could help your child prepare for a good night’s sleep and wake up refreshed. 

There are also enormous benefits on the development of literacy which has a positive impact on a child’s overall academic achievement. 

During this week, students are not required to read a book from every subject. That is not possible. 

They need to try each of the teacher recommendations and get a feel for what they might enjoy or what peaks their interest. We will follow this up with some activities and a competition, the following week.

Please get involved and lend us your support. Never has reading been more important and the horrible circumstances in which we find ourselves, present an opportunity to do something positive and productive. 

Please let us know if you have any questions and please visit the school website. 

Best wishes,

Ross Trafford