Literature Week: 18 - 20 August

Pre-School and Junior Primary Literature Week – Read, Rhyme and Story Time

Literature Week in the Pre-School and Junior Primary was a joyful celebration of the magic of books, imagination, and storytelling, all woven together under this year’s theme: Read, Rhyme and Story Time.

Our Pre-School children were enchanted by a delightful puppet show by Heather Tomlinson, The Lion Who Loved, while the Junior Primary children were transported into new worlds with Hooked on Books, where “every chapter is a new adventure.” Stories such as The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg, Night of the Living Pasta, Stink: The Worst Fart Ever, and The Dancing Dung Beetle had the children laughing, gasping, and wanting to hear more.

We were privileged to host inspiring author talks by Michelle Linde and Clifton mum, Tarryn Thackwell, who shared their passion for writing and storytelling. Adding to the fun, Mr. Fleischack delighted the children with a dramatic reading of Dr. Seuss’s The Duck with Webbed Feet.

The creative spirit of the week continued in the Art Room, where Mrs Frank guided the children in designing their own story stones – unique painted rocks inspired by favourite characters and tales. Meanwhile, the JP playground came alive with mystery and colour as each tree was decorated to represent a different nursery rhyme for the children to guess. Teachers joined in the fun too, transforming their classroom doors into imaginative tributes to nursery rhymes of their choice.

In between all the excitement, our Grade 1, 2, and 3 children continued rehearsals for the upcoming Junior Primary play, building anticipation for yet another Clifton highlight.

Literature Week was a true celebration of the wonder of stories – reminding us all of the joy, laughter, and inspiration found between the pages of a book.

Senior Primary Literature Week – Books, Creativity and Imagination

Literature Week in the SP was a joyful celebration of books, creativity, and imagination, bringing the whole Senior Primary together in a week that reminded us why stories matter. The excitement began with a colourful costume parade, as children arrived dressed as much-loved characters from their favourite books. The parade created a living storybook filled with colour and energy, setting the tone for a week of discovery.

Children were treated to the ever-popular Hooked on Books performance, which brought stories to life with humour and energy, leaving the audience laughing, listening, and eager to explore new titles. Alongside this, Books2You set up an irresistible display of books for sale, allowing children to browse, choose, and take home stories to treasure. These moments captured the joy of being surrounded by books and the thrill of finding a new favourite.

A rich programme of activities carried the spirit of Literature Week into every corner of the school. Classes enjoyed poetry workshops in English, Afrikaans, and isiZulu, with sessions such as Gedigs Fabriek and iziNkondlo giving children the chance to experiment with words, rhythm, and expression across languages. Storytime was another highlight, with children gathering to listen to Roald Dahl’s The Magic Finger, rediscovering the magic of being read to. The Grade 6 Showcase added performance to the week, with children presenting rehearsed pieces that combined drama, literature, and creativity.

Art and storytelling combined beautifully in activities such as music and art book projects, as well as the creation of story stones—small, painted pebbles decorated with characters and symbols that could spark imaginative storytelling games. Outdoor book activities with the Sports Department added another dimension, showing that books and movement can complement each other in playful ways.

Daily DEAR sessions—Drop Everything and Read—threaded through the week, giving children quiet time to pause, open a book, and immerse themselves in a story. These moments of stillness were balanced with high-energy events, most notably the Interhouse Literature Quiz. Using a digital buzzer system, the Barbarians, Crusaders, and Trojans went head-to-head in a fast-paced contest of literary knowledge. The competition was fierce and great fun, with the Trojans proudly emerging as winners in both the Grade 4 & 5 and Grade 6 & 7 divisions.

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A special highlight of the week was the author visit from Michelle Linde, who captivated her audience with a reading that reminded the children that writing is not only about books on a shelf but also about adventure, creativity, and sharing your own voice with others.

From colourful costumes and energetic performances to the quiet joy of DEAR time, from painting story stones to buzzing in at the quiz, and from poetry in three languages to the excitement of taking home a new book, Literature Week captured the very best of Clifton. It was a true celebration of stories in every form—read, spoken, painted, performed, and shared—reminding us once again of our promise to be champions of childhood.

Gary and Sarah Lovejoy-Mortimer helped some of our children to illustrate and create their own mini books, guiding them through the process and inspiring their creativity. The children thoroughly enjoyed bringing their ideas to life on the page, and it was wonderful to see their imagination and artistic skills flourish.