A Wonderful Celebration at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Billingham
National Storytelling Week brought so much joy, imagination, and excitement to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Billingham. Throughout the week, our classrooms, corridors, and shared spaces were filled with the magic of stories - told, shared, and celebrated by our whole school community.
This special week gave our pupils the opportunity to explore new books, revisit old favourites, and develop their love of reading in creative and meaningful ways.
Starbooks Sessions: Welcoming Families Into School
One of the biggest highlights of the week was our much‑loved ‘Starbooks’ sessions. Families were warmly invited into school to enjoy cosy reading time with their children, and it was fantastic to see so many parents, carers, and grandparents joining us.
The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming - hot drinks, comfy spaces, and wonderful conversations about books. These sessions not only supported children’s reading but also strengthened the home–school connection that is so important to us here at St Joseph’s.
Buddy Reading Across the School
Another favourite part of the week was the incredible buddy reading taking place between classes. Older children paired up with younger pupils to share books, read aloud, and talk about their favourite stories.
It was heart‑warming to see these relationships blossom, with older pupils acting as fantastic role models and younger children gaining confidence and enthusiasm for reading. Moments like these truly highlight the strong sense of community we are so proud of in our school.
A Week to Remember
A huge well done to all pupils, staff, and families who took part in our Storytelling Week celebrations. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and love of reading made the entire week a memorable success.
We can’t wait to continue nurturing a passion for books at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Billingham - not just during Storytelling Week, but every day.
