The day began with Rowling Class searching for book titles as they walked in the manner of How to Live Forever. Faith and Emily were the first to find all twenty-four hidden in trees and around the playground. They were followed by Horowitz kitted out in wellies ready to take on our very muddy school field in the style of Michael from Kensuke's Kingdom. They were explorers making their way into the unknown.

The bunnies burst forth next from Inkpen all hopping happily. They knew they were searching for parsley and lettuce and Rosie found the vegetables hidden away. They bounced around as little Peter Rabbits looking fabulous with their bunny ears and whiskers. In between them came the Little Princes of Dahl Class. They completed their laps and then had a fun time jumping from planet to planet (hoops) and naming the planet they landed on.

After break it was the turn of our Riddell Class icons.  The children dressed as people from their class text, Young, Gifted and Black and it was great to see Muhammad Ali, Mo Farah and Beyoncé taking a walk with Michelle Obama and Venus Williams. As they reached their 15th lap, Donaldson scurried out as an array of forest creatures, all on the lookout for a Gruffalo. They heard the story and went in search of foxes, owls and snakes all over the playground. Father John joined in with both classes and walked alongside the pupils in solidarity.

The final group before lunch was Lewis Class. They had really taken to heart the message of walking in the shoes of someone else to develop the empathy which reading brings. They had just a backpack to remind them of their class text The Boy at the Back of the Class. The child in the story is a refugee and Mrs Graham guided her class through the experience of losing their home and setting off for an uncertain destination. It was very powerful to see. 

After lunch, the youngest pupils of Murphy and Butterworth, set off to complete their walking challenge. Their double-sided hats allowed them to walk two laps as a happy hen on a fun walk and two laps as fox encountering challenges along the way (hoops and cones). Mrs Naylor reminded the children that they are lucky to be like Rosie and have an easy walk to school but that many children are like the fox and their walk to school is long and difficult.

The day was closed by the Reading Leaders. In assembly, they reminded the pupils about the importance of empathy and how this and many other personal qualities, are developed by reading widely and often. They set the Need to Read Challenge to each class. Four new titles per class to be read before the end of term by as many children as possible. 

We were able to send all the children from Reception to Y6 home with a new book. This and the Need to Read challenge were made possible by the support of the Get Suffolk Reading initiative and the amazing selection of books they provided. £109 was raised for Cafod.