Literacy week took place from May 8^th to May 11^th and included activities such as a dress up assembly, a talk by an author and our annual speech competition to name but a few. The motto of the week was the celebration of words and communication. On the Tuesday the students were asked to come into school and present their favourite character /author/lyricist and our stage at assembly was festooned with Avril Lavigne, characters from The Outsiders, Pippy Long stockings, Angelina Ballerina, Tin Tin and Matilda. Each student spoke of how these characters sparked their imagination and inspired them to read. The English department also took part and dressed up as Cherry Valance from The Outsiders, Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby.  Teachers also spoke about books that inspired them and the national roll out and implementation of Literacy.

On the Wednesday our annual Speech Competition took place and as it was the first time to host the whole school together it was a very special event. The students put their hearts and minds into their speeches and the audience enjoyed a wide range of thoughtful material. The winners of the competition were Grace Cunnane, in the Junior Category, who inspired us with her speech on Fitting in and the Senior Winner was Persephone Kianka who gave us all a reason to be confident with her speech on Living Unapologetically. Thanks to our judges, our very own Ms. Hana Hall, who along with working in John Scottus has also worked as a journalist for many magazines; we were delighted to welcome back a past pupil and former winner of the Speech Competition, Ms.Michele Collins who took time out of her busy schedule to come to our event. They listened intently and gave wonderful feedback to all the contestants. A special thank you to them and thanks again to all the students who made this event memorable, the speakers, the interval entertainment and the attentive audience.

We invited an author Mr. Laurence O’Bryan to speak at our Thursday assembly and he reminded the students of the importance of language and of writing and how this skill is not only for the creative few but for all and how it can be honed and developed over time. Thank you to Mr O’Bryan.

Throughout the week we had many other events such as The Shelfie Competition, D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read), our One Book One School book club, Speed dating about a book and various class activities. A big thanks to Ms. McGoldrick who helped with organising these events.

Literacy week is an integral part of our school calendar and reminds the students and whole school community of the creative benefits and importance of language. It is an event that requires a lot of work from the students and staff but when we are sitting back and listening to the inspiring words of our students or puzzling over the various competitions; it’s all worthwhile.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Breen a colleague and member of our English Department, who is now retiring. She has been fundamental to developing the love of this subject in our students and will be sorely missed by the department and the school at large. I would like to thank her for all her professionalism and care throughout the years and wish her well in the next chapters of her engaging life.

That’s it for another literacy week, a week that inspired, rejuvenated and got the creative and reflective fires burning in our hearts and minds. All that’s left to say is that the students were reminded to keep reading, thinking and writing.

The English Department.