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Stromness Academy

From 2nd to 12th June 2025, we’re quietly marking the Empathy Festival—a celebration of how stories help us see the world through other people’s eyes. Research shows that as well as improving literacy and attainment, reading can help build empathy. When we read, we step into someone else’s experience—feeling their fears, hopes, challenges, and joys. It can stretch our perspective and reminds us that every life is complex, valuable, and worth understanding. In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming, reading offers a moment to slow down and connect—with ourselves and with others.There is also an opportunity for pupils and staff to send ‘Empathy Messages’ to other pupils or staff in the school with message slips and ‘post boxes’ available in the library and foyer. This can be to thank them for being kind, caring and helpful towards them, or for something nice they did. It is an opportunity to show appreciation.On Empathy Day, Thursday 12th June, there will be a low-key event in the library at lunchtime: a space to reflect, discover books that promote empathy and wellbeing, and maybe find a story that speaks to you in just the way that one might need.Our Empathy Collection reading list can be found here on OLIVER, our Library Catalogue: tinyurl.com/26qmna7u #EmpathyDay #ReadForEmpathy #WellbeingThroughReading #EmpathyFestival

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Accelerated Reader

Stromness Academy uses the Accelerated Reader (AR) programme to help improve pupils’ reading and literacy. This is designed to improve pupils’ reading skills by encouraging them to practise reading at a level which develops their vocabulary, while keeping the challenge level of books appropriate to their reading ability.  Put simply, the scheme helps our lower-school pupils to identify books which are just challenging enough.

Every day, S1-3 classes on the programme will have 20 minutes of reading allocated to them in one of their subjects. Pupils are expected to have a book with them everyday (their own or borrowed from school or public library). If this isn’t the case, each department has a box of books from which pupils can select reading material for the 20 minute session. Alternatively, pupils, with access to a computer can read one of the articles available to them within the AR programme and do a quiz on them afterwards. Staff will be modelling good reading behaviour by doing some of their own personal reading.

Further information is available from our AR co-ordinator, Mrs Hunter, at the school.

Computers are also available for pupils to take their quizzes, both during English library periods or at lunchtimes in the library.

AR Timetable awaiting update

Pupils in S1 – 3 must ensure they have a reading book with them every day. They can bring a book from home or or visit the library before registration or at lunchtime to borrow one.

 

Accelerated Reader in the School Library

The library provides access to many AR books which are identifiable by coloured labels on their spine. Book level, interest level, and points are indicated inside the book.


Pupils can also search the library’s online catalogue, OLIVER, from any PC, tablet or mobile phone with a browser. Further information about the library and its resources and activities can be found on the Stromness Academy Library Blog.

A specific AR book search is also available where searches can be done by book level, interest level, points, author, title, etc.

Click the image to go to the catalogue.

 

AR & Reading Links

AR Bookfind – Search for books with quizzes

AR Website: Book Quizzes and Star Reading Test

How to take an AR Quiz

Choosing a Book to Read

School logo of a Viking longship

Stromness Academy Young Reporter 2025

Mental Health Resources & Support

Disclaimer

Stromness Academy seeks to ensure that the information published on its website is up-to-date and accurate. However, the information on the website does not constitute legal or professional advice and Stromness Academy cannot accept any liability for actions or consequences arising from its use. Stromness Academy cannot be held responsible for the contents of any other website accessed through a link on our site. Stromness Academy provides these links as a convenience and inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement by Stromness Academy of an external site.