Premier Daniel Andrews and Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage visited Hazel Glen College in Doreen on Wednesday to promote the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.
Grade four students were read a book by Ms Kathage and discussed their progress on the reading challenge with Mr Andrews.
About 100 Hazel Glen College students have completed the challenge, reading more than 6000 books with ‘Pig the Pug’ by Aaron Blabey the most popular, having been read by 240 students.
Mr Andrews said books gave children the opportunity to delve into new topics.
“Books are all about going different places, different worlds experiencing the sort of wonderment across every topic really,” he said.
“It’s great to see those grade four students, and all students across the state, engaged in the Premier’s Reading Challenge, Book Week or some of that ‘I Discovery’ work the students shared today.
“It’s fantastic to really delve into a topic and learn about lots of different things.
“I visit lots of schools and ask what’s the best thing about grade four [or another grade] … and there’s always a smart kid who says the teacher but beyond that, the best in there today was learning about things. That sense of discovery and wonder is terrific.”
Ms Kathage said her daughter participated in Book Week, dressed up as the title character from ‘The Princess in Black’ by Shannon and Dean Hale.
“Book Week is a great opportunity for the whole community to really celebrate learning and to celebrate how students are growing and developing in their schools,” she said.
“It’s also an opportunity to thank the teachers and staff who give so much for our students.”
Mr Andrews said more parents across the state were choosing state schools such as Hazel Glen College.
“There’s no accident more and more parents are choosing state education within the education state,” he said.
“This is a relatively new school with very strong enrolments, fantastic teachers and staff, and a very great engaged parent community.
“I visit a lot of schools and this one has got a great feel about it. It’s a great centre of learning and parents are deeply, deeply involved.”
Ms Kathage said her favourite book to read with her daughter was ‘Magic Beach’ by Alison Lester.
Although his children are too old to have their father read to them, Mr Andrews said his family were big readers growing up.
“We were always encouraged to read a lot, and it’s funny when you have that early on, you carry it with you your whole life,” he said.
“We were always reading at home and my mum drove it mainly. You carry that with you, which is wonderful.”
The Premiers’ Reading Challenge closes on September 8.
Whilst you reading is encouraged premiere, could you find some time to fix the daily pot holes on Yan Yean road, or fix the crumbling infrastructure in this area?
Perhaps if you visited Bridgestone Doreen you would learn first hand how many tyres and wheels are being damaged by your lack of road renewal in the North.