Book Week (or Fortnight): How Books Build Worlds
By Ashleigh Leung and Yannis Ng
Every year, RCHK hosts its annual Book Week, and this year was no exception. The event took place over two weeks, from Monday, September 22, to Friday, October 3, with the theme "Worlds Beyond the Pages." The theme celebrated the fictional worlds writers create for their characters, strengthening the connection between reality and fiction and immersing readers in new places to explore.
Unfortunately, the school was closed for three days due to a typhoon and subsequent flooding, but that didn't stop the book lovers! Despite these setbacks, the librarians, Ms. Mel and Ms. Kim, organized numerous activities for students to enjoy. Activities included the ever-popular Quidditch and new additions, such as workshops hosted by local illustrators Maf Cheung and NaLok Lok. Additionally, there was "Buddy Building" time during library sessions between primary and secondary students, and a fun game where students helped Mad Scientist Bob escape the library. The library committee also created a quiz about fictional worlds in books.
The iconic annual Book Week dress-up day and catwalk were hosted in the PAC on Friday, September 26. For the special occasion, break time started ten minutes earlier, and students were encouraged to vote for the best-dressed participants. It was interesting to see students and teachers dressed up as characters from a wide range of stories, and everyone had something to share about their experience walking down the runway.
We interviewed people about their feelings before and after the event.
“Myself,” Stephen Donahue, a Year 10 student, stated when asked who he was dressed as.
“Proud of myself for being brave,” said Cephas, a Year 8 student dressed as Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.
“It's all about teamwork,” said Ms. Nicholson, who was dressed as a Gangsta Granny alongside the Performing Arts department.
Book Week also brought new activities, including a VR experience hosted by the Tech Ninjas. Students engaged with the VR games Moss and Down the Rabbit Hole. Moss is about a small mouse healing a curse affecting its land. The player completes puzzles and tasks to allow the mouse to move throughout the game. Meanwhile, Down the Rabbit Hole is inspired by the classic story of Alice in Wonderland and is set before the events of the original. It follows a girl searching for her lost pet, which has fallen down the rabbit hole. Stranded in this unknown new world, she must find a way to escape by solving puzzles and completing tasks. When asked about the games, Mr. Sandford, supervisor of the Tech Ninjas, stated, “We chose VR because it was fully immersive. Not everyone has a VR headset, so by giving students a chance to use one, we can allow a wider audience to experience something new.”
Overall, everyone who participated in Book Week was very engaged. With the wrap-up of the event comes the mid-term break. The two-week event was an overall success, and we can’t wait to see what the librarians have planned for next year!
