LIBRARY NEWS

Welcome to Week 8! It’s been an enjoyable couple of weeks settling back into our usual Library routines after all the fun and excitement of Book Week. There’s still plenty happening in the Library as we head towards the end of term.

Book Week Dress Up Parade

I have to begin by thanking all our students and families for their wonderful support of our bi-annual Book Week Dress Up Parade. It’s always a real highlight on the Library and school calendar and a great opportunity to bring our whole school community together to celebrate books and reading.

Thank you to everyone who supported students in putting together and wearing their costumes, and to the many families who were able to come along and join us on the day. It was wonderful to see so many characters from favourite books making their way around the parade.

It was a great day, but ultimately, books were the real winners! We can now pack away the costumes and start looking forward to doing it all again in a couple of years.

Book Week Window Art

As part of our Book Week celebrations, classes transformed their classroom windows with some fantastic artwork inspired by favourite stories. Many families enjoyed checking out the displays on their way home from the Book Parade, but for those who missed them, here are just some of the wonderful creations. Thank you to all the students and staff who joined in and helped bring our books to life!

Currently Reading

Students across K–6 have finished their Book of the Year activities and reviews and have now moved on to enjoying some other books from the various CBCA shortlists, as well as spending a little more time exploring non-fiction.

Last week, K–2 enjoyed some fun books to celebrate Father’s Day. We laughed along with My Dad by Anthony Browne and shared the new book The Thing About Dads by Deborah Frenkel. Students had fun writing similes about their dads or special people, and I certainly had a few chuckles reading their responses!

Kindergarten also discovered that dads come in all shapes and sizes, and they can do some pretty amazing things. These books are always lots of fun to share, and I love hearing the stories students tell about the dads and special people in their own lives.

This week, K–2 students are having fun with one of the shortlisted Picture Book favourites, Bob and Dob by Sean E Avery. With plenty of humour, mischief and great illustrations, it has already sparked lots of laughs and discussion in the Library.

Last week, Years 3–6 finished their Book Week reviews and enjoyed listening to the Early Childhood winner, The Emperor’s Egg by Rae Tan. Rather than reading the book as its intended younger audience, students put on their ‘judge’ hats and considered whether they agreed with the judges’ decision. We discussed what makes their own favourite picture books enjoyable and used these ideas to evaluate the book’s success.

This week, we’ve moved into the world of non-fiction and research. Years 3–4 are reading Caution: This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles by Corey Tutt. This unique book combines Corey’s scientific knowledge of reptiles with Aboriginal knowledge and culture, with the animals organised according to the Aboriginal Countries where they are found. Students have explored three reptiles found on Kamilaroi Country before completing a research activity that involves reading information, identifying key facts and organising their findings.

Years 5–6 are exploring Tim Winton’s beautiful Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder and learning about this remarkable World Heritage-listed area. Students are using information from the book and World Book Web to complete their research before creating a travel brochure in Canva. Their challenge is to produce a brochure that both informs and persuades us to visit Ningaloo – which, after seeing the incredible photographs and learning more about the area, shouldn’t be too difficult!

I’m looking forward to seeing the results of their research over the next couple of weeks.

Premier’s Reading Challenge – Closing Soon!

The finish line is in sight! The Premier’s Reading Challenge closes to students on Friday, 18 September 2026. Kindergarten and 1W are completing their books at school, while all other students need to finish the Challenge and return their reading logs by this date. If you’re getting close but need a little help to make it to the finish line, please let me know.

Congratulations to our latest students to complete the Challenge: Theo and Violet McBean, Eva Xavier, Sophie Foley, Isla Pordage and Camey Brown. Well done!

Overdue book season has arrived! 

It’s that time of the term to check school bags, bookshelves, under beds and all those mysterious places library books like to hide and return them school. Overdue notices will go home next week and if there’s any issues, please let me know via email invlibrary@arm.catholic.edu.au 

I look forward to sharing more of what our students have been up to next time. Until then, happy reading!

Toni