Book Week Highlights from Primary and Secondary School
Book Week was a wonderful success, where students enjoyed an assorted of themed activities across the campus.
Primary School student costumes ranged from Lord Voldemort, dragons, cowboys, Medusa and more, with Michale JG surprising everyone at assembly wearing an entirely green homemade costume inspired by the students top rated book - Dear Broccoli.
An Orana Instagram post even received a special comment on Michael JG’s costume from the book author Jo Dabrowski and illustrator Cate James from Dear Broccoli. (insert screenshot)
There was a buzz in the air as Primary students gathered at the Overture Hall, taking their seats in order of year group as Michael JG hosted. Once everyone was seated, Michael JG called up each class to the stage to take a turn in presenting a piece of poetry or music for their peers.
There was a special announcement for bookmark art winners as there was a student competition, and many clapping hands and congratulations on the competition.
A Surprise Performance for Book Week in Primary Assembly: Sharon, Keep Your Hair On!
Another highlight of the assembly was a surprise performance of Gillian Rubinstein’s much-loved picture book Sharon, Keep Your Hair On!, presented by a cast of Orana staff and students.
Narrated by Michael JG, who took on the entertaining role of the broccoli, the story followed Sharon and Jase as their growing family and household quickly outgrew their home. Rather than moving, Jase simply kept building, with increasingly amusing results as the house expanded to make room for everyone.
Our Principal, James Goodlet, stepped into the role of Jase, while Primary teacher Jane brought Sharon to life. With other staff and students playing their part, popping up throughout to deliver the story’s colourful cast of characters. The performance quickly became a lively ensemble, much to the delight of the audience!
The playful, rhyming story, celebrating family, home and the wonderfully chaotic nature of life together had the audience laughing throughout. The unexpected performance was a wonderful moment of shared humour and connection, providing a memorable and entertaining finale for Primary Book Week assembly.
Library & Book Sales
The celebration of storytelling continued beyond the stage, with our well-resourced school library providing a feast for curious minds. Students explored an extensive collection spanning picture books, fiction, non-fiction and young adult literature, with books thoughtfully displayed by genre to invite discovery and encourage independent reading.
The experience also offered a wonderful reminder of the importance of reading as both an art and an academic foundation. From listening to a story brought to life, to practising the art of reading aloud from a book, students are developing vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, confidence and a deeper connection with language. Regular reading is a powerful contributor to literacy development and supports students across all areas of their learning.
Our book sale added another opportunity for students to browse, discover new authors and genres, and perhaps find a story of their own to take home and enjoy.
Book Week in Secondary School
The following morning, the Orana High School campus came alive with the spirit of Book Week, as students and staff arrived in an imaginative array of thoughtfully curated book characters, from Cheshire Cats and dinosaurs to butterflies and Harry Potter characters. The courtyard became a colourful celebration of books, creativity and storytelling, with students bringing characters and stories they love to life.
Organised by Jeffrey, Coordinator of English, Languages and Humanities, the celebration invited High School and Senior College students to engage with books in creative and unexpected ways. Beyond the costumes, a series of lunchtime activities gave students opportunities to play with language, storytelling and their own creativity.
In the High School garden, students had the option to explore rock poetry, transforming words and ideas into a creative outdoor experience, while book-cover chalk designs brought favourite stories and characters into the landscape. Students could also put their storytelling skills to the test through flash-fiction competitions, challenging them to craft compelling stories in just a few words.
The emphasis was on participation, creativity and a genuine enjoyment of literature, with everyone encouraged to get involved, and prizes adding a little extra excitement along the way.
From stepping into the shoes of a favourite character to experimenting with poetry, visual storytelling and concise creative writing, Book Week provided students with an engaging way to experience literature beyond the classroom and celebrate the many ways stories can inspire imagination, language and connection.
A very special thank you to Michael JG, the cast and wonderful volunteers who brought Sharon, Keep Your Hair On to life in Primary, and to Jeffery for helping organise such a wonderful array of festive Secondary Book Week activities. Your time, creativity and generosity helped make Book Week truly special and memorable for our students.
