Saint Columbkille Partnership School brought books to life during its second annual Celebration of Reading Day on September 18. The special day recognized the students’ summer reading and celebrated the way stories can inspire us to learn, imagine, and expand our worlds.
Students in early childhood through Grade 4 welcomed guest readers into their classrooms, including children's librarians from the Brighton and Faneuil branches of the Boston Public Library, Fr. Fitz and Fr. Steven from St. Columbkille Parish, members of the Boston Fire Department and Boston Police Department, and representatives from the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools Office.
Among the guest readers was Sister Catherine Delaney, SNDdeN, who shared, “My enthusiasm for reading knows no bounds. Asking to be a guest reader was special to me - hopefully my love for reading passed over to the youngster I read to.” We are grateful to Sister Catherine and all of our guest readers for making the day extra special and helping us spread the joy of reading throughout our school community.
Students also shared their summer reading with classmates through a variety of projects. They redesigned book covers, wrote alternate endings to stories, and even created comic book versions of the books they read. Arden, a sixth grade student, created a playlist connecting songs to characters in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. She shard that she loves Celebration of Reading Day because it gives her the opportunity to discover what her classmates read.
Our celebration also connects students to the legacy of our patron saint. St. Columbkille, a monk and a scribe, founded a monastery that became a center of faith and learning where sacred texts were copied and preserved. By nurturing a love of books and bringing our community to share in learning, our Celebration of Reading Day honors that legacy.
We are grateful to our guest readers, teachers, and families who brought our community together to encourage a love of reading.