Library News
It’s hard to believe that we are already in the month of September and heading towards the end of the academic year. The library has been transformed this month with the celebration of all things reading and books with Book Week and the Premiers’ Reading Challenge.
Premiers’ Reading Challenge celebration
This year we have had some wonderful readers participating in the Premiers’ Reading challenge. The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 and aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading. It is not a competition; it is a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 5 September 2025.
Children from Year 7 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books in four months.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers. This year, the Challenge is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘20 years of words and wonder’ and a year of special activities.
Since it began in 2005, more than 4.5 million young readers have taken part and together read more than 63 million books!
We had a very enthusiastic group of readers who took on the challenge with glee. They borrowed books, read them quickly, returned them and were onto the next one.
All books needed to be verified by the Library team and students were able to write reviews for their peers to read. As a reward for these wonderful students, we had an excursion to the State Library in Swanston Street for a behind-the-scenes tour and research workshop.
Students were amazed at the Dome Reading room and were delighted to hear about the history of the library (including Ned Kelly’s armour). We followed the library visit with a delicious lunch at the QV food court and then ended the day with a visit to Readings bookshop for some more books! The entertainment on the way down and back was compliments of the students singing and laughter was wonderful to hear.
We completed the Premiers’ Reading Challenge with a library celebration involving hot chips, certificates and badges presented by Ms Lisa Harkin and Mrs Melissa Ferris. All students who participated in the program were invited to attend and celebrate as a group.
We are very proud of these students and look forward to supporting them in their reading challenges all throughout the year.
Revision and exams
As always, we remind students and families that we are open from 8:00am every morning and close at 4:30 every afternoon except Friday (4.00pm). Senior students are always welcome to spend time studying in the library as they prepare for the end of the year. We can also assist senior students with accessing and printing past exam papers to revise for their exams.
HOW TO STUDY FOR TESTS AND EXAMS
Knowing how to study effectively for tests and examinations is a skill that is essential not just for school but for life-long learning. The study skills handbook site (www.studyskillshandbook.com.au) has lots of extra information and activities for you to complete to help you build your skills for school. All students have access to the handbook via the Simon site. Please ask the friendly library staff if you would like more details or assistance.
Jo Keating
Library and Information Services Leader