Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 06, 2015 (SKNIS): Avid reader Morel Knight of the Tucker Clarke Primary School was recently named overall winner of the 18th annual Charles A. Halbert Public Library Easter Read-A-Thon.
Morel competed against 34 children who hailed from George Moody Stewart Primary, Sky Academy, Immaculate Conception Catholic School, Tucker Clarke Primary, Beach Allen, Dr. William Connor, Morris Hillier, Seventh Day Adventist, St. Christopher Preparatory and Bronte Welsh Primary Schools.
Assistant Librarian Carmen Blanchard-Browne stated that the objective of the this year’s read-a-ton, held under the theme ‘Making Reading a Habit’, was to encourage children from age seven to 12 develop good reading habits and to build strong readers.
“Reading is an important gateway to personal development and to social, economic and civic life,” said Mrs. Browne. “We cannot be informed citizens unless we can read. This year we celebrate the love for books and literacy and value libraries as the gateway to learning.”
Minister of Education the Hon. Shawn Richards noted that reading plays an integral role in the federation.
“We recognize, not only in the Ministry of Education but I think generally in the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, that reading is fundamental and important. The foundation, therefore, must be laid at a very early stage.”
There was an increase in the number of participants this year and the students’ reading performance. Participants were required to select five books from the junior or senior category and to read as many books as possible during the April 7-10 competition. They then were required to answer questions from each book that they read. Winners were selected from both the junior and senior categories and there was an overall winner.
Requirements for the competition included behaviour and discipline, proper usage of grammar, comprehension and fluency, and questions and answers.
Sponsors of the four day event included TCD Group of Companies, the Rotary Club of Liamigua, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, CIBC, First Caribbean International Bank, Warner’s One Stop and the St. Kitts Corporative Credit Union.
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