Preschoolers embrace Book Week fun

For the preschoolers, however, Book Week was about more than dressing up and enjoying stories.

As students already part of the school environment, the celebrations gave them an opportunity to become familiar with the school’s spaces, routines and older students ahead of their transition to formal schooling in 2027.

Preschool students took part in storytelling sessions in the school library, explored books by award-winning authors and participated in creative activities inspired by the stories they encountered.

They were also supported by older student buddies, helping them feel confident and comfortable as they took part in activities alongside the wider school community.

Principal Melita McCartney said being part of a school-based preschool provided children with valuable opportunities to develop connections with the school before beginning kindergarten.

“Celebrating Book Week with the whole school and the wider community plays an important role in helping preschool students become familiar with the school setting and routines,” Ms McCartney said.

“These experiences were enriched by the involvement of their buddies from the older student groups, who supported and encouraged them, helping the little ones to feel confident and comfortable in the school environment.”

When asked about their favourite books, the preschool students nominated stories including We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and The Three Little Bears, while one student said they enjoyed reading because they could do it with their mum.

Another student said pictures were their favourite part of books, and enjoyed reading comic books.

For the children, dressing up proved to be one of the biggest highlights of Book Week.

One student nominated dressing up as Hulk as his favourite part of the celebrations, while another chose dressing up as Wolverine.

The activities also gave the preschoolers an opportunity to see themselves as part of the wider school community, rather than separate from the older students.

Ms McCartney said that familiarity could be particularly valuable as children prepared to transition into formal schooling.

“Through these shared activities, children build friendships, develop a sense of belonging, and grow in confidence, making their move into formal schooling a smoother and more positive experience,” she said.

While Book Week celebrates reading across the entire school, the experience for the preschool students also reinforced one of the benefits of being part of a school-based preschool.

They can become familiar with their future classrooms, teachers, older students and school routines before their first day of kindergarten.

Ms McCartney said the benefits extended beyond the Book Week celebrations.

“It nurtures belonging, eases the transition to school, encourages a lifelong love of stories, and helps children feel at home in their school community from their very first year,” she said.