This year Paint the Blue Read is celebrating the second Annual Reading Week during National Literacy and Numeracy Week. We invite you to attend one of the many community reading activities that will be happening across the Blue Mountains during this week.
An exciting development is that Deputy Mayor, Councillor Janet Mays who launched Paint the Blue Read in July 2009 and named our mascot, Billy Booksie has agreed to be our Reading Ambassador. Janet will be attending some of the Reading Week activities as will Billy Booksie.
Paint the Blue Read is an initiative of the Stronger Families Alliance and is auspiced by Mountains Outreach Community Service (MOCS). The PTBR program is developed by a collaborative working party comprising local residents and child and family service providers across the Blue Mountains. Its aim is to encourage all levels of the community to support the development of local children’s early literacy skills from birth and to make this lots of fun for everyone!
In 2009 MOCS received a CDSE small grant from Glenbrook Panthers which was used to produce resources for our inaugural Reading Day held on 28th October. Many children participated in special story sessions in shops across the Blue Mountains.
To find out what is happening in your village contact:
1) Blackheath and Mt Victoria - Friday 3rd September
Kylie Clark Blackheath Neighbourhood Centre 4787 7770
2) Katoomba - TBA
Jeanette Crawford Katoomba Hubs 4758 9966
3) Leura - Thursday 2nd September
Diane Moore - Arunta Group - 4784 3631
Enquiries can also be made at Megalong Books - 4784 1302
4) Hazelbrook – Wednesday 1st September
Liz Smith - Mountains Outreach Community Service - 4758 6811
5) Lawson – Tuesday 31st August
Kathi Evans/Phyll Latta - Lawson Community Preschool - 4758 8151
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6) Winmalee – Wednesday 1st September
Jill Carlson-Beardall - Winmalee Hub - 4739 5963
7) Springwood - TBA
Annaleise Bondfield - Carinya Children’s Centre - 4751 4473
8) Blaxland - TBA
Kerri-Anne O’Donnell - Euroka Children’s Centre - 4739 3688
9) Glenbrook – Monday 30th August
Geoff Vallance - Lower Mountains Rotary - 4739 2321
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READING WEEK PROGRAM:
Glenbrook – Monday 30/8 9.15 – 10.15am, meet in park + story reading in shops 4739 2321
Blaxland – Monday 30/8 11.15am – 12 noon meet at Taxi Rank + reading in shops 4739 3688
Blaxland: 30/8, 1/9 + 3/9 12 noon stories in Thomas Park, Boorea St opp preschool 47392086
Springwood – Wed 1/911am Town Square + Friday 3/9 11am Braemar Gallery 4751 4473
Winmalee – Wednesday 1st September 9.45 -10.15am in Village shopping centre 4739 5963
Hazelbrook – Wednesday 1/9 10.30am – 11.30am story reading in 10 shops 4758 6811
Lawson – Tuesday 31/8 10am – 11am stories at chemist, amphitheatre, Roberts Café 47591776
Wentworth Falls – Tuesday 31/8 10am – 12 noon story reading at Century 21 office 47573544
Leura – Thursday 2/9 10.15am – 12.15pm story reading in 18 shops & businesses 4784 3631
Katoomba – Tuesday 31/8 10am – 11am storytelling with Rachel Besser at The Edge 4758 9966
Blackheath – Fri 3/9 11.30am – 12.30pm Rachel Besser storytelling at Blackheath PS 4787 7770
Mt Victoria - Fri 3/9 9.15 – 10.15 am Rachel Besser storytelling at Mt Victoria PS 4787 7770
Children Warm to Winter Magic Story Time
Local group, ‘Paint the Blue Read’ presented a very successful Winter Magic Story Time for children in Katoomba Library on Saturday 19th June. For the second year in a row the library was full of excited but attentive children listening to songs, stories and book readings.
The group’s now famous mascot, Billy Booksie, gave out a free book of rhymes and with his helper, lead the children in a sing-a-long from the book. Billy’s helper, Liz Smith, reminded the parents how important rhymes and songs are to building literacy and language skills.
Following Billy, local story teller Rachel Besser enthralled the children with two wonderful winter magic tales, calling on the young audience to take roles and make plot suggestions. After Rachel, librarian Sue Rein and community reader Llyndell Heuston both read engaging picture books to the children.
Paint the Blue Read is a project of the Blue Mountains Stronger Families Alliance and is auspiced by Mountains Outreach Community Service. Its aim is to encourage all community members to support the development of local children’s early literacy skills from birth, so that they will be ready for reading and writing at school.
The next big community initiative from Paint the Read Blue is annual Reading Week, this year to be held during National Literacy and Numeracy Week from 30th August to 5th September. Paint the Blue Read invites shops and businesses to join in and read stories to local children during Reading Week as building children’s early literacy skills is a whole of community responsibility. Many local businesses who took part last year are lining up again as they said it was lots of fun. Shopkeepers and business owners from Mt Victoria to Glenbrook are invited to participate so watch out for events in your local community.
For more information on Paint the Blue Read and Reading Week phone Mountains Outreach Community Service on 4758 6811.
Nathan Rees’ Support of Paint the Blue Read - click here