In 2020, 905 schools and 318 centres who took part in the 2020 Premier’s Reading Challenge, combining more than 161,000 Queensland children and students reading 2.23 million books. What an achievement!

The Premier's Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children (aged up to 5 years) enrolled in an early childhood centre.

The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.

This year, St. Clare’s is excited to join the challenge and is asking students in all classes to participate.

For a student to successfully complete the Premier's Reading Challenge they are required to read or experience the number of books indicated below:

• Prep to Year 2—read or experience 20 books.
• Years 3 to 4—read 20 books.
• Years 5 to 9—read 15 books.

Experiencing a book includes classroom or at home activities such as shared reading, listening and reading along with a book, or being read to.

The requirement for Year 5 through to Year 9 students to read 15 books rather than 20 books acknowledges that older students are likely to select longer, more complex books that may take them longer to read.

Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability. While there is no compulsory reading list for the challenge, book lists are available to help students, teachers, parents and guardians select appropriate reading material.

The reading period begins on Monday 10^th May and concludes on 27^th August.  Students will be given a sheet to record their reading this week.  Completed forms are to be returned to the class teacher.

Successful participants will receive a certificate from the Premier at the end of the challenge.  Any classes with 100% participation will go into a draw for a range of great prizes.