Library News
As the end of term fast approaches, we can look back at Term 2 and reflect on some of our favourite library activities.
In collaboration with the Excellence and High Abilities Program, this term, the library team organised for popular author George Ivanoff to visit our library. George addressed all Year 7 students, who responded enthusiastically to his presentation and the way he used drama and humour to communicate ideas about narrative and content.
George is a Melbourne based author who's written more than 100 books for kids and teens, including the interactive You Choose series, the non-fiction Survival Guides, the RFDS Adventures and the Other Worlds series. In the afternoon session, George ran a writer’s workshop with over thirty excited Year 7 students who had expressed an interest in creative composition and a talent for imaginative writing. Creative sparks flew as George taught these students to build a repertoire of tools and strategies for the writing processes, using ideas, expression, and the writing word.
Reading has been a priority this term and June has seen a flurry of novels being borrowed with all students in Years 7, 8, and 9 selecting books as part of the school wide Reading Response Unit. The library staff ran sessions for all classes designed to help students identify their preferred reading genre and to borrow a book aimed at their reading level. Students who expressed a love of reading or an interest in improving their reading were presented with a novel which had been carefully chosen by the library staff to match their interests and reading ability. The books were individually gifted to students during their sessions in the library and were wrapped in Christmas paper to mimic the excitement students feel when opening a present. Students were pleasantly surprised by how accurately the librarians were able to find an appropriate book for them.
To further promote the importance of reading, students are reminded that the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is happening again! With the holidays around the corner and lots of available time for reading, any student who would like to participate in the challenge this year is reminded that they can access the VPRC website from the star icon on Compass using their EDUPASS login credentials. Please see a library staff member if you require more information.
The library continues to play host to music performances from our talented students involved in the music program. In May, staff and students were treated to a performance by all VCE music students whilst in June, many of Ms. Bagnato voice students entertained everyone with their beautiful singing. It was fabulous to see the library being showcased as a multipurpose venue during the recent Taylors Lakes Secondary College Arts Week.
The library team enjoy creating displays in our front windows and running crafting workshops to celebrate significant school events. Two of our favorite events this term includes, decorating bookmarks using fabric designed by the Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation in recognition of NAIDOC Week and rainbow decorations as part the IDAHOBIT celebrations. Lunchtime Kahoots continue to be popular with students of all ages keen to participate. Topics are varied and this term have ranged from a Kahoot based on Books which have been made into films, books based around First Nations literature or queer themed novels and films.
Don’t forget that the library is open before school, recess, lunchtime and after school until 4:30 Monday to Friday. Please encourage your students to use this time, to pop into the library for a great book recommendation, ICT question, research guidance or just to ‘hang out’ in our fun, safe and inclusive environment.
We hope you enjoy the photos from our recent library events. Thank you to our Year 10 photographers Eve and Joshua, who did a fabulous job acting as our ‘press’ photographers and capturing the fun of the George Ivanoff author event. Finally, we wish long time TLSC teacher-librarian Vince Antonetti a well-deserved retirement and thank him for his years of service to the school.
Penny Earl (on behalf of the library team)
Teacher-librarian