The Reading Bus team wishes everyone a very happy festive season.
2008 has been a fantastic year for The Reading Bus with over 12,000 youngsters enjoying a wide variety of sessions onboard the bus. Highlights have included the launch of “Fit Like, Yer Majesty?”, the Film Premiere at Woodside School, school and family sessions at Word 08, seven publications of children’s work, the animated film project “Three Wishes”, weekly radio broadcasts on SHMU 99.8 FM and regular presentations at the University of Aberdeen by groups of pupils from schools in the St Machar community.
The Reading Bus is looking forward to an even more exciting year in 2009. In January The Reading Bus will be showcasing the innovative practice at the Scottish Parliament.
In February classes will be researching different aspects of Old Aberdeen that will be translated in a variety of different art forms and displayed at exhibitions and at Word 09.
Two more books will be published. A second anthology of Doric Poetry for younger children will be launched at Word 09 in May and a collection of recipes aimed at empowering youngsters to have a go at cooking simple, healthy recipes will be launched at The Royal Highland Show in June.
Watch this space for more details!
December 27th, 2008
Jenny
Primary 7 from Kittybrewster School broadcast a fantastic radio show on Thursday 4th December at Station House Media Unit.
Their live show included poems, stories, music and reports about the recent launch of their book corner. The youngsters also had three guests on their show. Moira MacIver, Primary 6 teacher, told listeners about the exciting launch of the book corner in partnership with John Lewis. Ian Macindoe, Head Teacher shared one of his favourite books called Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. Charlie James, author of Fish and Dino Eggs was a special guest and told the youngsters about her life as an author as well as reading an extract from her novel Fish.
Well done Kittybrewster School for an excellent radio show. The show can now be heard on shmu.org.uk and will be uploaded onto The Reading Bus website very soon.
December 7th, 2008
Jenny
The Reading Bus had a very successful day at the Young Enterprise Christmas Fayre at the Music Hall on Sunday 30th November.
Youngsters from Hanover Street School and Kittybrewster School read poems from Fit Like, Yer Majesty? and sold lots of copies.
The book is still the Number One paper back at the Langstane branch of Waterstone’s and is now the Number Three bestseller in WH Smith in the Trinity Centre.
Copies can be bought online on this website.
There was a great story about the Reading Bus in today’s Sunday Post.
A perfect story for St Andrew’s Day!
Click the thumbnail to see the story at fullsize:
November 30th, 2008
Jenny
The Reading Bus unveiled an exciting range of resources to complement the fantastic poems in Fit Like, Yer Majesty?
These resources were launched at Woodside School on Friday 14th November. Maureen Watt, MSP for Schools and Skills officially opened the event after being welcomed by Lord Provost Councillor Peter Stephens.
The resources can be found in the Fit Like section of this website and include virtual books, animated films, broadcasts as well as activities for using the poems in classrooms. All the learning resources fully meet the aspiration of A Curriculum for Excellence.
A similar event was held in Aberdeenshire on Monday 17th November. Feedback and evaluations from both days were excellent. Click on the Fit Like, Yer Majesty button at the bottom of this page to find out more!
November 27th, 2008
Jenny
The Reading Bus has had lots to celebrate this week! On Friday 11th November, Woodside School hosted the first Reading Bus Film Premiere. The red carpet was rolled out for a glittering film festival that celebrated the fantastic film making skills of the 11 schools in the St Machar Community. Pupils from Primary 6 at Woodside School presented their own presentation on the making of their stunning animation called “Three Wishes” before their film was shown. STV filmed the event - follow this link to watch their special feature:
North Tonight (North) - Friday, November 7
(fast forward to 3.25)
“Fit Like, Yer Majesty?” is the number one best selling paper back at the Langstane branch of Waterstones in Aberdeen this week. The book has been so popular that a second print run has been ordered.
Finally partners at the John Lewis store in Aberdeen welcomed pupils from Kittybrewster School and Moira MacIver to their staff canteen. The pupils enthralled the parnters with their dramatised readings from “Fit Like, Yer Majesty?” and sold over 50 copies!
It has been an action packed week for The Reading Bus. The bus has also had full programmes at Seaton School, Cornhill School and Sunnybank School.
More bus stop stories to follow.
November 8th, 2008
Jenny
The Reading Bus was delighted to accept a cheque for £1,500 from Grampian PR Group. The money was raised from their Media Ball on September 19th and this year the proceeds were split between The Reading Bus and NUJ Extra Charity. Jenny Watson collected the cheque from Kathryn McGee from Big Partnership.
Many thanks to Grampian PR Group for this fantastic donation which will allow The Reading Bus team to develop several new exciting projects as well as buying new resources for the bus.
November 4th, 2008
Jenny
A great event builds on the growing success of the book…
A CLASS in Doric for beginners was held in Aberdeen yesterday.
Members of the public were invited to hear poems in Doric and learn more about the complexities of the north-east dialect.
Hosted by poet, author and storyteller Sheena Blackhall, the one-off session was inspired by the success of Fit Like, Yer Majesty?
…
Reading Bus co-ordinator Jenny Watson said yesterday’s session had been a success. She said: “It was a lovely event that brought people of all ages together. The children were very intrigued by the poems and it was a great way of sharing culture and heritage.”
Fit Like, Yer Majesty? has sold around 1,500 copies and was named one of the Scottish Book Trust’s books of the month for October.
Yesterday’s event took place at Hammerston Store, Forest Avenue, where the book has proved extremely popular….
Read the full story here:
Inspired move to develop an ear for Doric: Press & Journal (17/10/08)
October 18th, 2008
Russell
Fit Like, Yer Majesty? is book of the month in Scottish Book Trust website with a great review ……
This delichtfu beuk his been pit thegither bi Moira McIver, Jenny Watson and a the Readin Bus quines and loons, wi help fae freens and cohorts in Aiberdeen and aroun the county. The twinty-five poems screived bi north-easters o a ages fi fourteen tae ninety-twa are made even mair real wi the drawings bi airtist and a roon genius Bob Dewar. Ye can tell that Bob his read ivry single word bi the detail he’s managed tae draw in his picters.
The poems are aboot life fae the beginnin o time richt up tae the verra present day and inti the future…
Read the full story here:
Fit Like, Yer Majesty? A book of Doric Poems compiled by The Reading Bus, Aberdeen (Scottish Book Trust October 2008)
October 6th, 2008
Russell
Fit Like, Yer Majesty? is set to become an international wonder thanks to enterprising pupils from Hanover Street School and Kittybrewster School.
The youngsters launched their own bookcrossing enterprise on Friday 26th September at Hanover Street School. They welcomed over 50 guests to a fantastic presentation that included dramatised readings and a very detailed explanation about bookcrossing.com
Guests were all given a special bookcrossing bag that contained a copy of Fit Like, Yer Majesty? Each copy had a special label, designed and created by the youngsters, inserted in the front cover. Guests were invited to “plant” their copy anywhere in the world from Big Ben to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is hoped that the “finders” will log onto bookcrossing.com and register their find before releasing the book again.
The pupils hope that the 50 copies they released will reach every continent in the world! Watch this space to hear more!
Well done to all the youngsters and their teacher Gill Graham and Moira MacIver for a very professional presentation and an excellent fly cup!
UPDATE: The Press & Journal are onto the story…
Children at two Aberdeen schools have teamed up in an attempt to send a book of Doric poems around the world.
Pupils at Hanover Street School in King Street and Kittybrewster Primary in Great Northern Road launched their project yesterday at HM Theatre in Rosemount Viaduct.
Primary six pupils from Hanover Street School planted a copy of Fit Like, Yer Majesty – a book of 47 poems – in the theatre’s auditorium, along with an explanatory letter.
Read the full story here:
Pupils plan to send Doric out to wider world (Press & Journal 26/9/08)
September 29th, 2008
Jenny
You can now purchase Fit Like, Yer Majesty? on-line or from Waterstones.
The magnificent book was launched on Thursday 11th September. Fyvie Castle provided a spectacular backdrop to the celebration. The book was unveiled to over 100 invited guests including poets and storytellers Sheena Blackhall and Les Wheeler, Doric broadcaster and writer Robbie Shepherd, Itchy Coo’s Matthew Fitt, River City star Joyce Falconer, Scotland the What? legend Stephen Robertson and top fiddler Paul Anderson.
The event brought together the poets, artist Bob Dewar, designer Julie Barclay and editorial committee together with guests from Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, University of Aberdeen.
It was a fantastic day with over 80 youngsters provided entertainment throughout the castle.
Watch this space for more. Photos coming very soon!
The event was covered by the Press & Journal and other media…
A new generation is keeping the north-east’s traditional culture alive, with youngsters from throughout the area yesterday joining in the launch of a new book of Doric poetry.
The 47 poems have been written by Mither Tongue writers - from teenage pupils to pensioners - across the country.
Yesterday, Fyvie Castle provided the backdrop to the celebration of Doric heritage.
…
Read the whole story here: Young generation helps keep traditional culture alive (Press & Journal, 12/09/2008)
September 12th, 2008
Jenny
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