Meet Susan Shead, our School Librarian. Mrs Shead joined us in May 2022 and is very excited to be part of the team at Sunninghill Prep.
Mrs Shead was delighted to move to Dorchester when Mr Shead relocated due to his new job. She is an experienced, qualified Librarian with extensive experience of providing public library services to children, young people and families in Bedford, Northampton and Essex. As Library Manager at a dual use public and school library, Mrs Shead has worked with pupils and teachers to provide library services to support the curriculum, independent learning and encourage reading.
Mrs Shead is looking forward to working with pupils and staff to improve and develop the library at Sunninghill Prep – we have some new library furniture on order for later this year.
In partnership with the English Department, Mrs Shead will be holding reading conversations with Forms 5 – 8 to encourage children to set reading goals and discover the pleasure of reading. She is also hoping to bring authors and illustrators to Sunninghill Prep to inspire children and generate excitement about reading and writing.
Mrs Shead would like to encourage children to keep reading over the school summer holidays – the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge is coming to Dorset Libraries this summer. The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged 4-11 years and is free to join!
The Reading Agency and Libraries have teamed up with the Science Museum Group to create Gadgeteers, a challenge that is all about science and innovation! Find out more about the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge here.
Children need a Dorset Library Card to join the Summer Reading Challenge – there is no charge to join the library and books can be borrowed for free. Find out more here.
Children are asked to read 6 library books or library audio books for the Summer Reading Challenge. They can read fiction books, picture books, fact books, poetry books, joke books – the choice is theirs and they receive incentives for each book they read. When children have read 6 library books their reward is a Summer Reading Challenge medal and a certificate that is presented in school.
The Summer Reading Challenge is all about the fun of reading and there will be lots of free fun activities for children at their local library. Check out what’s happening at your local library here.
It is really important to keep children reading over the summer so that we help prevent the summer reading ‘dip’ for pupils. Parents – you can help by encouraging your child to join the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge. It is fun, free and local!
