Airdrie Academy pupils displayed their literary prowess by helping the school to become the first secondary school in North Lanarkshire to achieve Silver accredited Reading School status.
The Reading Schools programme is assessed by the Scottish Book Trust and awarded to schools that are "committed to building a culture of reading for their learners and communities".
A talented group of reading leaders from S1-6 worked together with school librarian Anna Agnew and English teacher Mrs Crosbie on a wide range of projects throughout the school year.
Projects included author visits, storytelling workshops, book gifting, staff and community borrow boxes, letters to the elderly, and visits to local primary schools to deliver book fairy boxes and run story stations for younger learners.
The school's reading leadership group also carried on the charity work of the Chrysalis Project in memory of former English teacher Kerowin Frew, who tragically passed away in July 2020.
The group raised £650 for the Kerowin Frew Butterfly Foundation charity through fundraising activities such as Guess the Name of the Bear’s Favourite Book, Blind Date with a Book and Hug in a Mug.
Delighted school librarian Anna Agnew told Lanarkshire Live : "Reading for pleasure is ever more important as we strive to close the literacy attainment gap and look after our health and wellbeing.
"£This initiative has provided us with a unique opportunity to showcase all the good work we already have in place whilst enabling further collaboration within the whole school community, resulting in some ambitious projects.
"The award is testament to the effort and commitment of all involved.”
English teacher Mrs Crosbie added: "The award recognises the amount of hard work and dedication which has gone into building and sustaining a reading culture at Airdrie Academy.
"We are particularly proud of our reading leaders who excelled in their role. They have been a credit to the school.”
To find out more about Airdrie Academy's continuing work to promote and encourage reading for pleasure, head to Twitter.
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