Maria SMITH

Librarian

Our Year 7 students attended the Library Information Session presented by the Librarian and Library Assistant Mrs Leonida Baldwin (Photo 1). Students learned the library daily starting/closing and opening times during Lunch; how many books to borrow and for how long; how to print and photocopy; the different sections of our Library; how to search for books using the Dewey Classification System/Search desktop and how the front Circulation Desk operates (in the photo Library Monitors Victoria L. and Freya H. having fun after helping out).

Acknowledging some Year 7 students volunteering for photos (below) and sharing their favourite genre and fiction books they would recommend to other students.

Likewise, it was heartening to hear Ray Q. and Lucas P. speaking on behalf of 7C: “Thank you for letting us learn (about) how to use the library”.

GOOD NEWS FOR OUR AVID READERS!

Our very first, new fiction books (22 altogether!) have arrived and now ready for you to enjoy in a quiet and relaxing Library space. You may borrow these novels, four at a time for three weeks as long as you return/renew on the due dates. Check out these fiction highlights, Booklovers!!

Secondary Fiction Book of the Month (Smoke & Mirrors)

From the author of My life As An Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear, this is a funny and compelling story by Barry Jonsberg. “I don’t know about love. I suspect the emotion that others apparently feel all the time is just … absent from me. Like there’s an ingredient missing from the recipe. The possible exception is Gran.”

Lower Secondary Fiction Highlights (Andromache between Worlds and The Swifts)

This is another page-turning, action-packed adventure story by Gabriel Bergmoser. “All fourteen-year-old Andromache Peters wants is a normal life. But normal is pretty near impossible when your parents were famous adventurers who saved the world and nobody will let you forget it.”

The Swifts, a hilarious mystery adventure by Beth Lincoln about mischief and murder.

“On the day they are born, each Swift is brought before the Sacred Family Dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, and it is assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift has other ideas.”

Secondary Graphic Novel (Lunar New Year Love Story)

A wonderful YA romantic graphic novel about family, relationships, growing up, culture and love written by Gene Luen Yang.

“Val is ready to give up on love. It’s led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she’s pretty sure she’s cursed – no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love.”

FREE BOOKMARKS FOR YOU!!

If you ever need it, we have newly laminated and freshly cut bookmarks on display at the Circulation Desk. Thanks to Library Monitors Freya H., Victoria L., Priya P. and Xinyi S. for preparing these beautiful bookmarks while volunteering in the Library at Lunchtime and demonstrating our school value of RESPONSIBILITY.

INSPIRE EVERYONE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE HSC WRITERS CLUB (HWC)

The Library through the HWC provides students an opportunity to demonstrate our school value of EXCELLENCE through creating literary pieces such as poetry, mini short stories, personal reflections, book reviews, drawings) with a positive message.

Our motto: BE CREATIVE AND INSPIRE OTHERS

Please submit creative pieces to msm@highvalesc.vic.edu.au and inspire everyone with your positive messages reflecting our school values of RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, RESILIENCE, EXCELLENCE and INTEGRITY.

FIRST HSC WRITERS CLUB CONTRIBUTOR

Leave it as a question mark (by Benson Z.)

There are always many questions before us. In my past years, I have been wondering a lot: How do cars move? How does water freeze? How is a paper plane made? How to fit into the new school, how to be the best version of myself, how to pass a job interview …… And so on.

If we write all the questions we have faced and will face in our life, that will go on forever and that is a complicated thing no matter how old we are.

The case is that people face questions at every stage of their lives, and there is not an answer that fits all… Life is all about making decisions, and those are not always perfect. This is also about life’s uncertainty.

Keep trying with faith and keep learning with resilience. It does not matter whether tomorrow is good or bad; instead, if we put every effort into every day, then, every moment is worth it…

Comments from our young writer Benson Z. (Year 11)

Two years ago, I was a Year 10 student in Guangzhou, China. Since I came to Australia one year and a half years ago, I have experienced the greatest changes ever in my life: speaking English, fitting in the local communities, finding my voice, pursuing my sense of belonging. That was an incredible journey!

Now, as a Year 11 student at Highvale, I genuinely feel the need to share my reflections after struggling through challenges. Everyone’s story is unique.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to write and send your literary pieces to Mrs Smith at the Library or via email msm@highvalesc.vic.edu.au Please feel free to share!

FIRST BOOK REVIEW FOR 2024!

Thank you, Freya H., for this comprehensive review of Upon a Frosted Star by M.A Kuzniar (2023) Rating: 4.2/5 (8.4/10) “A magical yet poetically eerie twist of the classic 'Swan Lake' story. The novel follows Forster; a painter living in 1900s London, as he attends a magical annual party held on the first snowfall of each year. When he finds out who the mysterious host is, he falls down a rabbit-hole of long unanswered questions with sinister revelations. Tying together fairytales, fantasy, magic and a whirlwind style romance, it was a very pleasant/cozy read (one which I, as a fantasy lover immensely enjoyed).

What made the book memorable for me personally were the magnificent descriptions of inanimate objects, almost bringing a spirit to them. From the snowfall and scenery to Forster's own thoughts, each page is riddled with narrations that are so intricate that they literally test the limits of the English language. The vintage setting, as well as contrast of characters bring a subtle sense of enchantment to the book, like a weird sense of déjà vu or nostalgia. Overall, I am very happy I purchased it! It's definitely one of those 'stay-up-all-night' reads’.”

AMAZING AUTHOR TALK NEWS

(by HSC English Teacher/Tutor Mrs Elly Morey)

On the 2nd of March, Mrs Smith and Mrs Morey attended a talk by Alice Pung, a well-known author of several fiction and non-fiction books including ‘Laurinda’ (a popular choice for Year 9 readers) and the editor of ‘Growing up Asian in Australia.’ Her writing ranges across novels, anthologies, memoirs, essay collections and even children’s books. Alice has also taught and mentored students.

Alice first spoke about her own grandmother – her latest novel “One Hundred Days” has a similar central character. She described her Cambodian grandmother as “formidable” as she faced many challenges including being a single mother of ten children while running her own business during the long military conflict in her homeland. In her factory, she employed 11 to 14-year-old children, one of whom became Alice’s mother.

As Grandma became older, her twenty grandchildren cared for her. Alice is convinced Grandma had no fear and that she had a pure and unconditional love and acceptance of her grandchildren. A devout Buddhist, she regularly prayed over 45 minutes every night, including a lengthy dedication.

Alice grew up in a working-class community in Melbourne and attended five different schools. She looked after her younger siblings during school holidays while her mum was an outworker. She described her parents as “over-protective” but that this is a consequence of their own life experiences. This provided Alice valuable insight into her parents’ perspectives.

In her latest novel, Alice features how women’s lives change when they take up new roles in a new land. Her fictional characters are not exact profiles of a single person but drawn from her understanding of a collection of people. Her main character Karuna in ‘One Hundred Days” is described as a troublemaker in her homeland – the Philippines. She has constant conflicts with her mother reflecting differences in family values.

Alice has this advice for students and prospective writers:

Keep a diary (writing things on social media is NOT writing, just ‘broadcasting’)
Sit alone with your thoughts when you write, especially when you’re bored (this worked for Alice as she was often bored, lonely and annoyed at the constant stress and anxiety of looking after her younger siblings at home, instead of socialising with friends)
Writing is a way to vent your emotions
Writing is synthesising your thoughts
NEVER publish your diary.

CONNECTING OUR HIGHVALE FAMILY WITH THE WIDER COMMUNITY

The largest free festival in Melbourne held annually over five days, the Moomba Festival is on again from March 7-11. Please check out the link to discover what this magical Festival has to offer our HSC families over the Labour Day long weekend.

https://moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArfauBhApEiwAeoB7qF05ZafldDCCzQS1MpQqoI2WhaHi7lcaC4RI4l6rUF4sjfgamkZdmhoCAi8QAvD_BwE

POSSUM MAGIC THE STAGE SHOW

The Possum Magic production has already captivated over 170,000 enchanted audience members across Australia. Thanks to Monkey Baa’s award-winning ‘delightful adaptation’, Possum Magic (by Mem Fox) returns to stage on April 5-7 at the Alexander Theatre, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, Monash University. If interested, please access the link for more details on booking etc. Tickets from $25-$39.

https://www.monash.edu/performing-arts-centres/event/possum-magic/

COME AND VISIT THE VICTORIAN STATE LIBRARY

For FREE tours and rewarding experiences for the young and old, the majestic SLV at Swanston Street, Melbourne is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm daily, please visit the link for more informative events and invitations:

https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/world-of-the-book?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0fWTgO3ehAMVsCiDAx3cPAknEAAYASAAEgLnSvD_BwE

Finally, to all the women in our Highvale Community, on March 8:

Junior School Captains