LIBRARY NEWS

Welcome to Term 2. I hope everyone enjoyed a restful holiday break and is ready for an engaging term ahead. The library has a full schedule planned, beginning with our annual focus on Anzac Day narratives before we transition into a series of non-fiction inquiry projects.

Each year, I’m always moved by the thoughtful way our students connect with these historical stories. Here is a glimpse of what happened in the library last week.

Kindergarten: Have been reading the beautiful Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry. Through the story of a worn-out teddy bear, students have been discussing the special objects and comforts that remind them of home and family.

Stage 1: Students are exploring the history of wartime care packages through Claire Saxby’s The Anzac Billy. After learning about the items sent to soldiers in the trenches of WWI, they illustrated what they would include in their own billy cans today.

Stage 2: We have been discussing the extraordinary bravery of Charlie D'Antoine, a Bardi man from Broome. Using the book Charlie’s Swim by Edith Wright, students learned about his courageous rescue of a Dutch mother and child during the air raids of March 1942.

Stage 3: Year 5 and 6 students engaged with the powerful story behind the well-known Australian song I Was Only Nineteen by Redgum. Through this text, they are learning about the Vietnam War, conscription, and the experiences of refugees who came to Australia seeking safety and a new beginning. The song remains one of Australia’s most recognised and impactful pieces of music.

Families who would like to explore these and other Anzac stories at home are encouraged to visit Storybox Library.

​​To access the curated Anzac collection:

1. Visit the Storybox Library website.
2. Username: htsinverell
3. Password: Inverell2360
4. Scroll down the homepage to find the dedicated Anzac Day collection.

Below are some of the beautiful Anzac stories we have at school, and the poppies created by Stage 3.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2026 — Coming Soon!

Once again, our school will participate in the National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS), a vibrant annual campaign that celebrates the joy of reading and promotes literacy across Australia. Every year, a picture book by an Australian author and illustrator is chosen to be read at exactly the same time in schools, libraries, and homes nationwide.

This year’s selected story is 'Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller', written by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd and illustrated by Jake Minton. We will be joining millions of other readers on Wednesday, 27th May at 12:00 pm. If you would like to join in at home, visit the NSS website to register your interest.

Term 2 Library Borrowing Days

Don’t forget to bring your library bags for your library day.

Monday - 3D, 3M

Tuesday - 1D, 6D, 5M

Wednesday - KM, KTM, 5F, 4W

Thursday - 2D, 2M, 6B, 6L

Friday - 1W, 3S, 4WL

The library is open for borrowing before and after school, as well as during snack breaks:

Primary Students: 1:20 pm – 1:40 pm, Monday to Friday (Closed Thursdays)

Secondary Students: 2:00 pm – 2:20 pm, Monday to Friday (Closed Wednesdays)

2026 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge

The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is officially in full swing! It’s certainly not too late for your child to register and begin logging their books. The challenge remains open until Friday, 18th September 2026, giving students plenty of time to explore new titles and reach their reading goals. For more information on how to participate, please email me at invlibrary@arm.catholic.edu.au or visit the PRC website.

Overdue Books and Library Reminders

As we settle into the new term, I will be sending home reminders this week for books that remain outstanding from last term. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in locating these books and returning them to the library so they can be enjoyed by other students. If you can’t find them, please send a note with your child or email invlibrary@arm.catholic.edu.au.

Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a love of reading within our school community.

Meet the Reader

Meet George, who happened to find a new book with his name on it. We agreed that no one is too old for a great picture book!

Reading Superstars

Finally, a huge congratulations to Jacob and Maddi on successfully completing the HTS Book Bingo. Your commitment to exploring different genres and authors is wonderful to see!

Happy reading,

Mrs Toni Fraser