Ms Angela Burnett-Penn leads discussion with students at Willard Wheatley. Photo: Provided

Angela Burnett-Penn with Willard Wheatley Primary School Students. Photo: Provided

The reading at ESHS was held during the general morning assembly and was attended by Grade seven to nine students, who reacted positively, saying that the stories helped them feel better about their own experiences during Hurricane Irma.

The in-class readings and discussion at Willard Wheatley Primary School included all Grade four to six classes.

Students were excited about the readings and engaged enthusiastically in the discussion which focused on the positive life lessons that can be drawn from each of the survivor stories.

One student, Annay'ah King, reported that The Irma Diaries is now her favourite book.

Reading is Fun

The sessions were part of ‘Reading is Fun’ week, celebrated this year under the theme, "Reading is the Best Remedy."

The session also served as a soft launch of Ms Burnett-Penn’s,  Read to Heal school programme, which seeks to donate copies of The Irma Diaries to schools across the Territory, to be actively used as a psychosocial support and a climate change education tool in classrooms through in-class readings and discussions.

The Read to Heal programme will be supported by the kind donation of copies of The Irma Diaries to schools by businesses, other entities, elected officials and individuals across the community.