Heanor five-year-old wins £100 for school library
A creative five-year-old from Heanor is celebrating after winning a charity competition to design a book cover with a Community Hero theme, in which she celebrated her class teacher.
Isobel Colson-Walters, a reception pupil at Howitt Primary Community School in Heanor, won a £100 book voucher for her school library. She also received a collection of children’s books and a notebook with her design on the front in the national competition organised by Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care.
Children across the country entered the competition, with all £1 entry donations going to the Alzheimer’s Society.
The inspiration for Isobel’s award winning portrait was her class teacher Mrs Payler, who said: “It was such a lovely surprise to hear that Isobel had won the competition to design a book cover and an even bigger surprise to hear she had called her book ‘The Amazing Mrs Payler’ - I was very touched with the thoughtful gesture. We’re so proud and pleased for Isobel on her win and this shows her love for reading – she is always bringing in books from home to share with her classmates.
“We are thrilled that our school will receive some book vouchers because we believe reading from an early age is so important, and this win means we can bring even more exciting stories into our classrooms and school library to inspire a love of books in all our children. Thank you, Isobel, for entering this marvellous competition.”
Isobel loves to draw and read, so she was both surprised and thrilled to have won the Scrivens competition.
Isobel’s dad, Matthew Colson, said: "The colouring competition caught Isobel’s attention when she was in the branch supporting her younger sister during her very first eye test. She loves to get creative at home and couldn’t wait to get started on her entry.
“Isobel chose her teacher, Mrs Payler, as her Community Hero because she absolutely loves school. Her teachers have really supported her learning in such a lovely, positive way, so she wanted to celebrate the difference they make. Isobel is thrilled to have won the competition – we’re very proud of her!"
Scrivens has been running the charity book cover competition for eight years as a way to encourage reading and highlight the importance of good eyesight.
Stephanie Jarvis, branch manager at Scrivens on Market Street, Heanor, said: “Alzheimer’s Society is our chosen charity and this activity has been a fantastic way to engage children while raising awareness of its vital work. This year’s colouring competition invited children to celebrate and thank our local Community Heroes through creativity. Isobel’s imaginative and colourful entry really stood out and was a wonderful tribute to her teacher - an individual who positively impacts her pupils daily!”
Scrivens is supporting Alzheimer’s Society for a tenth successive year. Family business Scrivens was established in 1938 and has 166 branches. For more information visit www.scrivens.com
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