There is an intense focus on books planned for the Upper School this week, with a plethora of activities as well as visits from three exciting authors.  On Wednesday 10th March we welcome Slam Poet Steve Connell, which will involve both Drama and English students in poetry writing and performing workshops.


On Thursday 11th March, we welcome Guy Delisle  - graphic novelist - to a critical lunch with the students from years 8, 9 & 12 who took part in the Chinese comic book activity.   He will then spend time with Year 10 in an Art Workshop,
 combining words and pictures.


On Friday 12th March we welcome Benjamin Zephaniah to a whole Upper School assembly and a workshop with the students attending the Hong Kong Literary Festival.


Karen Astill, School Librarian, writes:
" After a very successful and exciting week in the Lower School we are now getting ready for the Upper School Book Week.

Included in this year’s Book Week we have the following:
• What’s My Favourite Book Day (8th March)
• Book Fair: Bejing Star Kids Bookstore will be in School with a selection of fabulous new titles available here in Beijing (8th & 9th March)
• Literary quiz compiled by the Science, English, Maths, Geography and History departments
• Harrow’s Favourite Book (voting all week on Moodle)
• Book Swap Shop day (Thursday 11th March)
• Dress up as a book character day (Thursday 11th March)
• Battle of the Books (Friday 12th March)
• Fabulous cakes from the Friends of Harrow (Friday 12th March)
• Workshops with visiting authors:
o Benjamin Zephaniah – author, poet and performer
o Steve Connell – poet and performer
o Guy Delisle – graphic novelist

As well as the above we will be concluding a whole School writing project ‘Write Path’ which involves students from Years 6 to 13 as well as members of the teaching staff, collaborating together to finish five stories started by five guest authors. Each year group will have a winning paragraph for each of the stories for the next year group to add to.

During Friday’s assembly the winning book will be announced and all the contributing authors will receive a gift. There will also be a competition to design a book cover for the five books!

Even though Book Week is over at the Lower School, we are still very much involved in promoting reading and encouraging our students to read both fiction and non-fiction books with our ‘Around the World in 10 Books’ project. Over 35 students have signed up for this and Tuesday & Thursday lunchtimes you will find a number of students in the Prep Library working on their travels!

 The Primary School lunchtime reading continues for Years 3 & 4 and next Thursday we will start reading the Velveteen Rabbit to Years 1 & 2. Thank you to Friends of Harrow for their continued support with these events."

Karen Astill, School Librarian