The Great Book Swap

There are only two weeks left until our Great Book Swap event to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF)

The Great Book Swap is a fantastic way to celebrate reading locally, learn more about Indigenous Languages and culture, while raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. As part of the event Karoo is assigned to the MARANYDJALK house – this translates as Stingray. This year the ILF are aiming to raise $180,000!

In registering to host a Great Book Swap event Karoo is actively helping to gift the target of 18,000 new, carefully chosen books to children in remote Communities across Australia.

All you need to do is consider what book (or books) you would like to donate to this wonderful charity initiative then place them in the clearly signed hamper in the office foyer. Books should be in a good condition, it could be something you have just finished reading and would love for other students to enjoy!

The idea is to swap a favourite book in exchange for a gold coin donation.

The book swap event will be held in the school Library on:

Tuesday 14th November, 8:45am – 3:45pm

Students will be invited to visit with their class during the day and bring along their gold coin donations to browse and select a book they would like to take home.

If you would like to learn more about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the amazing community led work they carry out you can visit : https://edu.greatbookswap.org.au/

I MET JANE GODWIN TODAY!!

Our students enjoyed a fabulous visit from Jane Godwin on Monday 16th October. Jane has such a warm and friendly disposition she instantly captivated her audience of students and staff. Her presentations were packed full of information giving the students an insight into the processes of writing and publishing a book.

Jane cleverly adapted her content to suit the year levels leaving them enthused, confident and keen to create by sharing where her own ideas start and develop. Jane highlighted three important tips to help students in their writing processes through making connections to the world around us, seasons, nature, playing games outside, other family members, using our own life experiences and always making observations.

She encouraged lots of questions from the students, asking our Grade 3 and 4 students “who enjoys writing stories?”

Melissa K in 3D enthusiastically explained that she has such a big imagination that helps her write lots of stories in the classroom and at home.

Jane explained how Tilly is the only book she has written based on true events from her childhood, some of her books such as Go Go and the Silver Shoes begin based on real life events but then she will change the end and that not all stories need a happy ending.

During the senior student presentation Jane introduced 3 books, A Walk in the Dark, When Rain Turns to Snow and As Happy As Here then describing how she drew on her own and her son’s hospital experiences as seeds for a storyline when simply reading a newspaper article in a café one day, standing on the deck of a holiday home in the country on a winter’s day. We all enjoyed her recount of when she went walking during the night, alone in an Otway’s forest in order to write about the characters emotions, thoughts and make it such a believable story for the readers.

Jane introduced her stunning new picture story book, A Life Song and was very excited to announce that after almost 30 years she has created a book with another Library favourite,Terry Denton! Look out for the release in March 2024 of Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree, a quirky and inspiring book about celebrating who YOU are and the power and peace to be found in not trying to be anyone else.

Our Library Captains Alyssa, James and Miley did a wonderful job of meeting Jane when she arrived, making her feel at home then proudly announcing Jane to each year level. There were many great photos taken throughout the morning and lots of writers notebooks were signed at the end! Zack H from 5D enjoyed a memorable moment when asking if Jane would have time to take a look at a book he has been writing in the classroom, to which she offered lots of positive feedback and encouragement!

The question now is WHO can we book for a visit next year?!?

I met Jane Godwin today!!