2024 Marist Reading Night

It has been well researched that reading is linked to a child’s cognitive development, academic success, and employment in later life. Research also shows that reading with your dad and/or father-figures is particularly influential, even after the child has learnt to read. Shared reading experiences has benefits that help facilitate enriched language exposure, development of listening skills as well as the shared social opportunity between parent and child.

This year our annual Marist Reading Night is being held in conjunction with our Middle School fundraising initiative - Books for PNG Kids. Last term our students donated 100s of books that we will use to hold a book drive during our Marist Reading Night. Books left over and monies raised will be donated to Books for PNG kids. Not only does this initiative empower our middle school students to become advocates within our school community by putting social justice into action, but they also develop leadership skills and engage with our local community.

Books for PNG kids is an organization whose mission is to boost literacy for all children through the equitable distribution of books and resources in PNG, so that particularly those children in remote and rural areas who are often disadvantaged, can potentially offer more to PNG’s future.

Our guest speaker for the event is Rupert McCall (OAM).  Rupert is an Australian poet of international renown. His tributes to special events and occasions have become highly sought-after and treasured for the indelible mark they’ve left on audiences everywhere.

During the night we invite our guest speaker, to share their experience with ‘reading’. We then ask our boys, along with the significant male role model in their lives to move off and read quietly, alongside each other for a period of time. We then gather for some light refreshments and Second Hand Book Fair.

Tickets are $5 per family which includes, pizza and drinks with all monies raised being donated to Books for PNG Kids.  Please ensure when registering for your ticket, that you select 1x Adult and 1x child.