Scholastic, a trusted leader in education, honored its partner schools and educators in the 2021 Scholastic Readers Cup, streamed on Scholastic Asia Teachers Facebook page last September 23.
In Scholastic’s 101 years of partnering with schools and homes worldwide, it is the ardent love of reading and a belief in its power that is at the heart of everything Scholastic has done and continues to do. Scholastic’s mission is to make reading a central part of children’s lives.
In 2012, Scholastic Philippines started the nationwide Readers Cup to excite and motivate its partners in its literacy programs to transform their schools into reading communities. And every year, more and more schools would hit their reading target and take pride in how their libraries have become one of the busiest and most productive places in the school.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the sudden shift to distance learning, Scholastic and its partner schools did not waver in their reading advocacy. They understood how books and reading are fundamental, and how reading is necessary not just for the continuity of learning, but also for the readers’ delight and personal well-being.
Through the PR1ME English Program, Scholastic’s partner schools had access to Literacy Pro Library – a growing digital library of 1,600+ eBooks that enriched learning and that motivated pleasure reading. To aid teachers, PR1ME English also made available instructional resources (both print and digital) and lesson videos for synchronous and asynchronous distance learning.
Mr. Joven Sierra Llabore, PR1ME English Coordinator of Assumption Iloilo has this to say about the Literacy Pro Library – “The LitPro Library is the coolest! Learners can access books whenever and wherever they want to, as long as they have Internet connection. One of our learners read more than 500 books because she just loves to read.”
Some school libraries, like that of Early Christian College of Arts and Technology (1st place winner in the 2021 Readers Cup Diamond Category), also resumed their lending services through curbside pick-up or bookmobiles. The books in their Scholastic Reading Centers found their way to children’s homes to provide children comfort and hope, and to take them to adventures in the wonderful world of books.
With Scholastic’s support, many schools continued with their reading campaigns. Rookie of the Year Awardee, Maria Ferrari School Inc., for example, had regular read aloud sessions with their students, and the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Day to encourage independent reading.
Scholastic’s General Manager, Jane Tiongco-Aguirre, proudly reported that the learners in Scholastic’s partner schools even increased their reading rate in SY 2020-2021 by 36% from their readership in SY 2019-2020. A fantastic achievement during a challenging “pandemic” school year, when many expected that pleasure reading might be put aside.
Steadfast Reading Champions
Scholastic is grateful to find in many Philippine schools dedicated and loyal partners in their reading advocacy. And, with great pride and admiration, they announced that 80 of their partner schools have reached their reading target, with many far exceeding the goal of 30-books-read per child.
The top winners of the 2021 Readers Cup and their average number of books-read per child are:
DIAMOND CATEGORY: Early Christian College of Arts & Technology, Inc. (67 books); Our Lady of Peace School Antipolo (66 books); and Philippine Cultural College, Caloocan(64 books)
RUBY CATEGORY: Iloilo Scholastic Academy (332 books); Stonyhurst Southville International School, Malarayat (103 books); and Saint Mary’s Angels College of Valenzuela (99 books)
EMERALD CATEGORY: Casa Del Niño Montessori School Ciudad de Calamba (326 books); University of Batangas Lipa City (168 books); and Virtudes de la Academia, Inc. (157 books)
SYNERGY AWARDS: Stonyhurst Southville International School, Batangas City and Malarayat (108 books); Casa Del Niño Montessori School System (93 books); and Saint Mary’s Angels College of Pampanga and Valenzuela (84 books)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Maria Ferrari School, Inc. (92 books)
Reading is Transformational. Read On.
The 2021 Readers Cup theme – “Soar into Possibility” – builds on Scholastic’s centennial theme – Reading is Transformational. Read On.
Celebrity readers and authors joyfully shared their personal ‘reading stories’. Kakie Pangilinan shared how she was a voracious reader as a child, and how reading has fueled her passion to write. Martin Del Rosario proudly described himself as a “book lover”, and so did Andrea Torres, who also shared how reading has nurtured her sense of wonder and discovery, imagination, and eloquence.
Filipino authors, Catherine Rose Torres and Joel Donato Ching Jacob, talked about how reading can be our refuge, comfort, and joy during trying times like this pandemic, and proceeded to encourage the youth to write and tell their own stories.
The winning schools shared their journey to becoming a community of readers and the fruits that their learners are reaping from their reading habit.
Mr. Peter Chan, Executive Director of Iloilo Scholastic Academyrevealed that their school was guided by these 5Cs in their effort to become a community of readers – Collective efforts, Convincing skills, Conviction, Collaboration, and Consistency.
Ms. Donnabelle Atienza, Principal of Stonyhurst Southville International School – Malarayat, who shared the top Synergy Award with sister school Stonyhurst Southville International School, Batangas City, expressed her delight in how Scholastic’s Reading Program has excited their young learners to read and equipped them to become skilled and confident readers.
Dr. Farah G. Acierto, School Directress of Casa Del Niño Montessori School Ciudad de Calambaattested that “The Scholastic Reading Program and the Readers Cup Award has made our young CASAns voracious readers, and transformed them to be competitive in ways more than we can imagine. Declared as national champion in this aspect has made our students feel that reading can make them superior and special.”
The 2021 Readers Cup was indeed a great celebration – a celebration of books and reading, of writers and storytellers, and of readers and those who champion reading to open for all children a world of greater possibilities, opportunities, and joy.
For more information on Scholastic’s education initiatives, visit www.scholastic.asia or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ScholasticAsia. Please feel free to send a message, too, to Scholastic Philippines at educteam_ph@scholastic.asia.