Students celebrate

LAST week marked an exciting time for students as Book Week was celebrated across the region.

Mikayla Parsons, Lely McKenzie, Kirra Loving, Ethan Cotton, Darcy McKenzie, Jemma Cameron and Anyia Miller-Morris from Timboon P-12 School dressed up for Book Week. Photo courtesy of Raelene Wicks.

The 2025 theme, Book an Adventure, encouraged students to embrace exploration and curiosity.

Timboon P-12 School assistant principal primary Michelle Norton said students enjoyed buddy reading as a part of their Book Week activities.

“During the week our classes organised some buddy reading which would mean an older classes student has gotten together with a younger classes student and shared some books and some reading together,” she said.

“Our biggest activity was the Book Week dress up day.

“With the theme, Book an Adventure, we’ve given children the option of coming dressed for an adventure or dressed as a favourite book character.

“There was also a dress up day in the secondary part of the school.

“That was a gold coin donation and money raised from that will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.”

Cobden Primary School teacher Kerryn Guthrie said Book Week was organised by Year Six students as a part of their leadership program.

“All our grade sixes are allocated a leadership group which they do for the whole year so that’s just our way of ensuring that all grade sixes gain leadership skills,” she said.

“We had Amelia Dobson, Cheyenne Warren, Ruby Duynhoven and Leah Paton, who are our literacy and library leadership group, organise and run the whole of Book Week.

“It just gives them a chance to practise some public speaking and it’s really good for developing confidence and leadership skills.

“We recognise it’s not just about having a school captain and vice captain – it’s about giving every Year Six student the opportunity to grow and develop those skills.

“The whole school all dressed up and we had a really successful dress-up parade. The kids really enjoyed it, it was lots of fun.”

Simpson Primary School principal Melissa Berry said their Book Week celebrations were a resounding success.

“The school came alive with colour, creativity, and a love of reading as students, staff, 2026 prep students, and younger siblings joined our parade dressed as their favourite book characters,” she said.

“It was a wonderful celebration of imagination and storytelling.

“The 2025 theme, Book an Adventure, encourages children to dream and explore the world through their imaginations.

“This year also marks a milestone for book week, celebrating 80 years of the Children’s Book Council of Australia inspiring young minds to journey through the countless worlds that books offer.

“It is always memorable to see students as princesses, action figures, pre-teen characters, and to watch staff take the opportunity to transform themselves as well.”