Celebrating Literacy and Achievement in East Dunbartonshire

The Reading Schools partnership with East Dunbartonshire Council continues to create inspiring opportunities for pupils, teachers and communities to celebrate reading for pleasure. Since 2024, we've been supporting schools across the authority alongside East Dunbartonshire's fabulous Literacy Development Officer, Lynsday Harvey, with vibrant, engaging reading cultures popping up everywhere. Here’s a look at three recent outings:

A Fantastic Cluster Event with Fidan Meikle

At Wester Cleddens Primary in Bishopbriggs, pupils from four local primary schools came together for a brilliant event with children's author Fidan Meikle(this will open in a new window). This special cluster session introduced My Name is Samim, a moving story exploring a young refugee's journey.

Children from Balmuildy, Meadowburn, St Matthew’s and Wester Cleddens Primary schools took part in thought-provoking discussions, like 'What would you take if you had to leave home?' and listened to three readings from the book, highlighting themes of loss, resilience and hope.

Throughout the event, pupils explored themes of displacement, belonging and empathy, engaging in discussions about why people become refugees and the challenges they face, with a powerful reminder that 'Empathy and kindness are your superpowers.'

Gold Award Celebration at Turnbull High School

Turnbull High School marked a special milestone with a visit from Nadine Aisha Jassat(this will open in a new window), the new Reading Schools ambassador. The school recently earned its prestigious Gold Award, an accomplishment that highlights its commitment to fostering a strong reading culture, led by learners, their fantastic school librarian and the English faculty.

During the visit, learners shared their journey from Core to Silver to Gold accreditation and gave a tour of the school and library. It was a fantastic morning of stories, pride and celebration, setting the tone for even more reading adventures to come and ensuring that Turnbull High School remains a hub of reading enthusiasm and excellence in East Dunbartonshire.

A Grand Celebration at Kirkintilloch High School

Kirkintilloch High hosted an authority-wide celebration, welcoming nearly 40 schools, comprising 120 pupils, teachers and librarians. The event recognised efforts to foster reading for pleasure and brought together primary, secondary and ASN Reading Schools in a fun, engaging atmosphere.

Schools joined in a lively quiz, testing their literary detective skills while enjoying friendly competition. The excitement was palpable as schools shared stories of their reading journeys, highlighting the positive impact of the programme and motivating everyone to continue exploring books and fostering a lifelong love of reading. 

The event created a strong sense of community, reinforcing the collective effort that drives the Reading Schools programme. The outcome has ensured that reading for pleasure remains well and truly on the map in East Dunbartonshire.

With engaging author visits, celebrations of achievement and a growing community of accredited Reading Schools, we can't wait to see what they're going to do next!