The Royal Gazette's award-winning Newspapers in Education programme is looking forward to a new school year with an exciting fall line-up of in-paper features and other material to support learning inside the classroom and beyond.

Recognised for its innovation in supporting literacy in the community by the National Newspaper Association, the NIE programme will introduce a new series of short stories, in addition to last year's firm favourites.

In November primary students will be introduced to Sarah Catherine, a young girl living in the fledgling colony of Bermuda. Author Trudy Snaith has created a lively, intelligent young heroine whose parents arrived in Bermuda as indentured servants before she was born. Her elder brother is a sailor, working on one of the ships keeping the communication lines between Bermuda and Jamestown open. Her companions are Ophelia, niece of the local minister, and mischievous William.

4 Centuries: Evolving Art is weekly 12-part series beginning September 15, which explores four centuries of artistic expression in Bermuda. It has been produced in conjunction with the exhibition at the Bermuda National Gallery, featuring the collections of the gallery and the Bermuda National Trust. The text and images provide insight into a wide range of genres, and activities prompt young people to develop their own artistic imagination.

Back by popular demand, Education Officer Darnell Wynn's monthly Literacy Matters (see below) will appear in the Lifestyle section of The Royal Gazette on the first Tuesday of every month. Packed with insights and tips for parents, the series examines the critical early concepts and skills that beginner readers must acquire and strategies for maintaining success into the middle years and beyond. The first in the series will appear on September 8 to celebrate World Literacy Day.

Also appearing monthly The Royal Gazette's Green Pages will be the science series "How it Works" which looks at the science behind 'Green initiatives' like high efficiency washing machines, recycling aluminium and glass and composting. Look for the next feature, on the vacuum flask, in September's issue of the Green Pages which publish on the first Thursday of every month.

As always, the Young Observer page, appearing every Thursday, is for kids and, as far as possible, by kids. Schools are invited to adopt a page and submit images and articles written by their students. In addition, middle and high school students can join the student reporter scheme, writing an article a month under the guidance of Education Services Coordinator, Jennifer Hind.

World News Share, an exciting online exchange programme involving classrooms in Bermuda and Charleston, South Carolina, explores the geography, history, economy and culture of two distinct communities. Piloted last year at CedarBridge Academy and Warwick Academy, the programme is looking to expand this year, with classrooms in more schools signing up for hands-on social studies activities with a difference.

Workshops, school tours, classroom visits and worksheets on a wide range of subjects round out the Newspapers in Education programme. Students and teachers interested in more information about the programme can contact Jennifer Hind by emailing jhind@royalgazette.bm or telephoning 278-0136.