Chase The Lion

Grammar boys are readers. It runs in our blood, we live and breathe books! We get excited by new reads, by recommendations and by a fabulous new series to devour. The ‘Chase The Lion’ Reading Challenge began six years ago, to harness and build on our book fervour in the School.

The Challenge (run each year in Term II) is designed with three levels, the names of which change every year. The boys challenge themselves to read a certain number of books to reach each level, complete a written task about one of their books and achieve a badge for that level. Getting to the end within the term earns the boys a prized tiepin, that is presented to them at our final assembly.

Each year we place Carrington (our School mascot) in a new situation which becomes the theme for our Chase The Lion that year. We have had some wonderful themes over the years and there is always much speculation as to what the new theme might be. Carrington began (that first year) travelling around Africa, in subsequent years he has been to Australia, been shrunk and explored a human body, travelled back to the past in a DeLorean and this year Carrington is exploring a scary castle in Transylvania.

The three levels in the Challenge always relate to the theme. This year’s levels include a black cat called Mavrogat (as mavrogatphobia is the fear of black cats) and a very amiable spider called Arachno. All artwork for our Challenge is designed by our Visual Arts teacher, Mr Andrew Cranna.

In addition to the Reading Challenge we enjoy book giveaways and mini-games within our assemblies, we run a selfie competition and art competition that both link to the year’s theme, there is a huge, hotly contested Book Trivia Competition and this year we are introducing a creative writing competition into the fun. Our focus throughout the School for that term is challenging and supporting the boys to read as many books as they can and celebrating with them as they achieve their badged levels. 

“It’s a wonderful time to be around St Ives Preparatory, as there’s a buzz in the air and everyone is talking reading.”

Chase The Lion makes for a fabulously exciting Term II filled with fun, reading and the communal joy of sharing a good book.