Immanuel College graphic novel collection off to flying start

Immanuel College pupils will now be able to peruse a new collection of around 80 graphic novels thanks to a £1,000 bursary handed out by Jewish News and PaJeS. 

The new collection includes graphic novel versions of The Haggadah and literary classics, such as Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, a selection of titles by Jane Austen, as well as DC Comics.

The books were unveiled last week at the official opening of the school’s de Gunzburg Library, attended by rabbi David Meyer of PaJeS and headmaster Gary Griffin.

English teacher Ben Wolfin, who selected each volume and built the accompanying bookshelves himself, was rewarded in February for his “excellence in teaching literacy” at the PaJeS/Jewish News Teacher Awards and used his prize, sponsored by Marc Samuels, to open the new section.

Judges praised Wolfin’s efforts in championing literacy including through the monthly school newsletter distributed to every student and teacher, featuring creative writing and literacy-based puzzles and quizzes.

The Jewish School Awards, run by Jewish News with Partnerships for Jewish Schools (PaJeS) reward the community’s top educators at a glitzy ceremony in London every year.