Book Week celebrations hit Queenscliff

A QUEENSCLIFF school celebrated Book Week with students greeting business owners and family and community members along Queenscliff’s main street in their finest ocean dress ups.

St Aloysius Catholic Primary School hosted its fourth annual Children’s Book Week on Monday, with pupils strutting their stuff down Hesse Street dressed head to toe in costumes inspired by the school’s parade theme for 2023, “Under The Sea”.

School librarian and the parade’s driving force, Angela Ritchie was overjoyed by the effort made by each of St Aloysius’ 82 pupils.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“The students were super excited for the day, and the turnout at the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre (MFDC), where they started in the morning, was equally amazing.

“It lit my heart up to see so many students embracing Book Week.”

Children’s Book Week, coordinated by The Children’s Book Council of Australia, was held from August 19 to 25 with 2023’s theme being “Read, grow, inspire”.

Students began the day at the MFDC, where they received a special reading by Dr Prue Francis from her own book, The Great Southern Reef.

The cohort then walked back to school and enjoyed recess, before making their way to Queenscliff’s main shopping precinct on Hesse Street. The group greeted local business owners and family members as pupils travelled from the Stokes Street intersection to Hobson Street and back.

Ms Ritchie said the connection to community was the biggest part of the school’s Book Week Parade.

“I didn’t think the turnout would be so large, because people are always busy on a Monda.

“But it was amazing to see so many people come out to see the effort the kids had put into this parade.

“We’re already looking forward to next year.”

Ms Ritchie hinted next year’s Book Week visit will take place at Fort Queenscliff Museum, with the dress theme to be based on “history”.