Maria SMITH

Head of Library

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM HIGHVALE!

December 5 was a delightful day at Highvale with students enjoying a Christmas-themed fundraising free-dress day, following stressful days of exams particularly for the seniors and middle school. A sausage sizzle and a bake sale at the Junior School courtyard added to the excitement of the day with fun games and canteen vouchers for the winners. Christmas tunes played and karaoke-style singing enticed music lovers.

Students were also excited to learn “Merry Christmas” wishes in different languages: Maligayang Pasko (Filipino), Joyeux Noel (French), Buon Natale (Italian), Kala Christougenna (Greek), Shengdan Kuaile (Mandarin), Meli Keuliseumaseu (Korean), Frohe Weihnachten (German) and Feliz Navidad (Spanish).

What a perfect festive atmosphere reflected in Christmas decorations, laughter and meaningful connections reinforcing our school values particularly of respect for tradition and one another while strengthening our positive school culture of acceptance and kindness.

CELEBRATING OUR LIBRARY MONITORS ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF VOLUNTEERING

Coinciding with the International Day of Volunteering on December 5, the Library prepared morning tea to say THANK YOU LIBRARY MONITORS for their valuable support running the Circulation Desk and performing other duties ensuring library patrons are all catered for.

Especially for the festive season, library monitors excitedly took down old displays and helped prepare a colourful Christmas eye-catcher in the library foyer, complete with a bulletin board of Merry Christmas wishes in different languages! The monitors also excitedly assisted in the returns/collection of textbooks as part of our FINAL Book Hire.

THE LIBRARY MONITOR PROGRAM

Our Library Monitor program is an amazing initiative that provides volunteers with opportunities to enhance relevant interpersonal, communication, organizational and other employability skills while teaching school values of respect, responsibility and resilience.

Congratulations to seven new monitors joining our Library Team for 2026: Kyon C., Nicole L., Elsa L., Maya P., Sanvi R., Aagvi S. and Anishka T. Excited for you to introduce new and creative ideas to improve our welcoming Library, everyone’s favourite place to be!

Reflections from one of our Library monitors in 2025:

“As this year comes to an end, I would like to take a moment and reflect on the year I’ve had. It was not my first time helping around in the library, but it was my first official role in this school. Being a library monitor taught me several skills like clear communication and organisation which will be helpful for me in the future. I am sure that whoever likes spending their time around books will enjoy this role and help in adding value to our library. To Mrs. Smith, a big thank you and to fellow readers and booklovers, all the best!” (Sai G. Y11)

LIBRARY NEWS FLASH

What an exciting meet-and-greet opportunity at the Knox Library with new local author Kylie Orr and great interviewer Knox Library Manager Catherine.

“Kylie Orr (she/her) is a Melbourne-based writer who once kicked a winning goal in a charity football match and has never let her family hear the end of it. Over the past fifteen years, her feature articles have been published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Life and across News Ltd. Kylie’s novels explore the darker side of humanity and question what we understand about ourselves. Her debut novel Someone Else's Child was longlisted in the Richell Prize, the MsLexia International Novel Competition and awarded the Dymocks & Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Masterclass scholarship”. (Booktopia)

“The Eleventh Floor” is a suspenseful, dark story with shockingly unexpected outcomes that feel completely realistic while exploring powerful moments of motherhood, marriage, trust and love, and a seeping sense of dread. (Australian bestselling author of The House of Now and Then, Jo Dixon)

ESS BOOT CAMP WITH CATE SCHRECK

Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lightbulb Training Solutions, Cate Schreck is an influential and inspirational practical workplace trainer, mentor and coach sharing over 30 years of experience in finance, retail, employment and training with the Highvale ES Team on November 28 as part of Professional Development on customer service excellence.

Cate’s ‘The A – Z of Service Excellence’ covers customer service essentials including how to communicate respectfully with people from all walks of life, identifying and addressing one’s levels of stress to achieve the best outcome for all the relevant stakeholders.

HIGHVALE WRITERS CLUB!

The HSC Writers Club provides an opportunity for students to create and inspire peers through sharing literary pieces including poetry, short stories, reflective drawings among others. Please enjoy our final contribution for the year.

Uhh: The gods that burned green (Grace H. Y7)

“There used to be gods on this world. They’d roam, peaceful and unbothered, silent but observant. These gods had a green tinge to them, a fluorescent shimmer that seemed to light up their skin in an unnatural way. Eventually, humans grew to ignore the gods, not knowing how important they were.

It was the year 5700CC.

Humankind had waged a war. Soot and ashes of not only weapons but once living things clogged the air.

Maybe living beings became weapons 100 years ago, when the war started and the peace ended.

Please click the link to continue reading Grace’s short story

https://eduvic-my.sharepoint.com/personal/maria_smith_education_vic_gov_au/Documents/Grace%20H%20(The%20gods%20that%20burned%20green).docx

WHAT ELSE IS ON AT YOUR LIBRARY (KNOX) FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!

YOUR LIBRARY at Knox offers an amazing program of activities for this upcoming festive season, serving patrons and families in the Knox City Council, Maroondah City Council and the Yarra Ranges City Council areas. Please access the following links for info on event categories, location and other details:

https://events.yourlibrary.vic.gov.au/

https://www.yourlibrary.vic.gov.au/whats-on-guide/

https://www.yourlibrary.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Festive-Fun-Program-2025.pdf

WHAT’S ON AT THE STATE LIBRARY!

STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA UNLOCKED: A GUIDED TOUR BEFORE THE DOORS OPEN (1 July 2025 9:15 am – 28 February 2026 10:15 am meeting at Hansen Hall via Mr Tulk Café on La Trobe Street)

For the cost of $39 per person, why not join the State Library of Victoria’s exclusive guided tour and experience SLV’s grand and iconic Dome and hidden magnificent heritage spaces before the doors open to the public!

Discover catacombs hidden beneath the library floors and the treasure trove of original card catalogues while uncovering one of Melbourne’s most infamous relationships between Library founder Sir Redmond Barry and the bushranger Ned Kelly. (The tour is suitable for children aged 8 and above.)

Please note: This tour includes stairs, alternative accessible route available upon request. Please call 03 8664 7000 or email slvtickets@slv.vic.gov.au

For other free and exciting events and exhibitions for everyone, please explore what the State Library Victoria has to offer by accessing this link:

https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/hidden-histories-guided-tour

WE GOT YOU COVERED FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!

Why not try any of the following iconic venues in our beautiful city of Melbourne! With special events for families and children on the school holidays, we just need to organize our day and enjoy memorable quality bonding time for everyone.

Please check the link:

https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum (Melbourne Museum)

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/plan-your-visit/ (National Gallery of Victoria)

https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/ (Immigration Museum)

WHY NOT SIGN UP FOR THE BIG SUMMER READ!

The Big Summer Read aims to engage children and their families in a fun and dynamic reading program.

The program runs from 1 December 2025 until 31 January 2026. To register and for terms and conditions please visit

https://readbooks.com.au/

For other online and face to face events activities at the Monash Public Library, please access https://monlib.events.mylibrary.digital/

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2026!

BE PART OF SOMETHING SPECTACULAR! Why not register for the 2026 VICTORIAN STATE SCHOOL SPECTACULAR!

Expressions of interest are open for schools to participate in the mass choir, mass dance or specialty acts which will be performed on Saturday 29 August 2026.

Book an audition (video or in-person) to perform in the main cast (musicians, dancers, singers, acrobats, circus performers) or register for a crew role (lighting, audio, vision, stage management). Please copy and paste the link below to find out more about this spectacular event and register!

https://web.cvent.com/event/ed045402-88a5-4423-9e56-7677e2bdb4c6/summary

WISHING OUR STAFF, STUDENTS AND THE WHOLE HIGHVALE COMMUNITY A BLESSED FESTIVE SEASON

MAY THE NEW YEAR BE FILLED WITH HOPE AND POSITIVITY

Monday - Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm
Sunday	Closed

Uniforms

PSW

Trading Hours