Awards for an excellent reading and presentation

The final of the Great Reading Competition in Hafnarfjörður took place at Hafnarborg yesterday, where representatives from the Year 7 classes of Hafnarfjörður's primary schools took to the stage with polished reading and presentation. The group as a whole received an award for their performance, and the three top performers were also individually recognised. The Great Reading Competition has become an important part of the school and parent community across the country, but the festival originated in Hafnarfjörður and is one of the longest-running reading projects in Iceland, having sprung from the initiative of enthusiasts for the promotion of the Icelandic language. .

Fourteen pupils from the Year 7 classes of Hafnarfjörður's primary schools took part in this year's Great Reading Competition in Hafnarfjörður, reading a text by Andri Snær Magnason from The Blue Planet, a poem by Steinunn Sigurðardóttir and a poem of their own choice, but Andri and Steinunn were the poets of this year's competition. Andri Snær also gave a speech at the celebration in Hafnarborg. The students were presented with books, swimming passes, the Átthagaspilið game about Hafnarfjörður, and vouchers for a performance at the Gaflaraleikhúsið theatre. Kristján Þór Júlíusson, the Minister of Education and Culture, presented all the students with certificates for their outstanding performance. Three students were deemed the most successful in the reading competition by the judging panel: Erla Rúrí Sigurjónsdóttir from Áslandsskóli, Dagur Logi Sigurðsson from Hvaleyrarskóli, and Sveinbjörg Júlía Kjartansdóttir from Hraunvallaskóli. Erla Rúrí was the winner, Dagur Logi came in second place, and Sveinbjörg Júlía Kjartansdóttir in third.  This year's judging panel consisted of Anna Þorbjörg Ingólfsdóttir, Ásta Margrét Eiríksdóttir, Heiðrún Kristjánsdóttir, Óskar Guðjónsson and Símon Jón Jóhannsson.

A festival of creativity and entertainment

Awards were presented for the festival invitation poster and short stories in the short story competition for pupils in years 8-10 in Hafnarfjörður's primary schools, which was launched on the Day of the Icelandic Language. Brynja Kristín Bertelsdóttir of 6.SJ at Setbergsskóli received a prize for her drawing of the invitation. Four short stories were awarded prizes, which were presented by the First Lady, Mrs Eliza Reid. Two short stories came in third place. A day in his life by Nói Barkarson at Víðistaðaskóli and This is the story of Nizar by Særúnu Björk Jónasdóttir at Hraunvallaskóli. In second place was the story The Two Guitarists by Val Áki Svansson at Víðistaðaskóli and in first place the story Joe by Kristófer Baldur Sverrisson at Víðistaðaskóli. Students in the Víðistaðaskóli brass band added a festive touch to the gathering at Hafnarborg with a rousing fanfare at the start, young trombone players from Tónkvísl, the rhythm department of the Hafnarfjörður Music School, performed both soulful and rock songs, and Year 4 pupils from Setbergsskóli had a talk choir.

A reading festival that has made its mark nationwide

The first reading festival was held in Hafnarfjörður on 4 March 1997, and for the past seventeen years, all Year 7 pupils nationwide have taken part in the competition. The aim from the outset has been to raise awareness and interest in schools in good reading and pronunciation, and to create an opportunity for teachers and parents to make a concerted effort on one aspect of the mother tongue: good reading and pronunciation. Each school decides on its participation in the autumn and selects two representatives at an elegant in-school ceremony to take part in the final festival on its behalf, which is held annually at Hafnarborg for the primary schools of Hafnarfjörður. 

Photos from the closing ceremony can be found on the City of Hafnarfjörður's Facebook page.  see HERE