"The library is not just full of books, but also opportunities."

Abbey 2016

THANK YOU

Thank you to the many Yr 6 library leaders who offered their time this year. It's a great commitment of service to the school community. I wish them all the best for their secondary years.

Thank you and goodbye to Mrs Rachel Ferris for her wonderful displays this year and untiring efforts sending out all those overdue notices and keeping library borrows and returns up to date. Rachel, your assistance will be missed by us all.

READING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Holiday Borrowing

Last week many students were issued an overdue notice. Many long overdue books have been returned, however, some still remain.

Please assist your child/children to locate and return these books so they can borrow for the holidays and not have to spend Christmas money on replacing the missing books.

This week the library has been closed to borrowing due to stocktake.

As always the library has been open to provide students with a cool, calm and comfortable environment to play games, colour, draw and play chess.

Next week, the library will re-open to allow students to borrow for the Christmas holiday period.

CHESS

CONGRATULATIONS to Khang Nguyen (Charlie, Yr 6) on his achievement at the recent Primary Schools Chess Competition. Charli was awarded the 2024 NSW Primary Schools Competition, HIGH SCORER Award.

Charlie is always ready to offer advice to those young and old, including myself, in a most gracious manner. Thankyou Charlie.

PS. One day Charlie asked me if I would like to have yet another game of chess with him, this occurred on a regular basis. This particular time I told him rather than beat me in 3 moves could he give me some tips. He said "Sure Mrs McGuirk, just walk over to shelf 1 and you will find the Chess books." Thankyou Charlie, your sense of humour and your chess tips will be greatly missed.

Chess at St Nicholas School is BIG. By that I mean any student from Kinder to Yr 6 can be seen crowded around the chess tables in the library at break times.

At the present moment we are in the final stages of the St Nicholas School annual chess competition. We have had many rounds over the past weeks and are now down to the grand final to be played tomorrow between Khang Nguyen (Charlie), Yr 6) and Yaksh Kapatia, Yr 5. We hope to have a special guest judge officiate at our event. Photo next week.

All students shake hands at the completion of the game and all have shown exceptional sportsmanship whether win or lose.

Thankyou to our judges over the last few weeks who have given up their breaktimes to officiate the games.

Something to think about

LIBRARY BAGS

Please ensure your child has a library bag so they can enjoy these reads at their leisure at home in the holidays.

2025 Class WEEKLY LIBRARY TIMETABLE

MONDAY: Yr 3

TUESDAY: Kindergarten, Yr 5

WEDNESDAY: Yr 2, Yr 4

THURSDAY: Yr 1, Yr 6

BOOK BUSTERS CLUB

Book Busters will resume in 2025.

BOOK BUSTERS CLUB is an optional early morning reading club for students who wish to come into the cool or warm library before school to read.

CHOICE = Motivation

"The strongest positive impact on reading engagement and learning gains comes from student self-selection of reading materials. When reading materials are selected for students the links to engagement and learning gain decline significantly."

How Reading Motivation and Engagement Enable Reading Achievement: Policy Implications, Ana Taboada Barber and Susan Lutz Klauda

When students visit the library a huge emphasis is placed on the

premise that they have

CHOICE

in what they can read and borrow.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE LIBRARY

In the library we are safe online and respectful of each other and the technology.

Please follow the steps:

Write your name, class and CB / iPad number neatly in the book.
Sit where Mrs McGuirk, or a Library Leader can walk behind you.
Always log in on your chromebook using your school login.

MONDAY - THURSDAY

Cool maths games, coding - scratch, worldbookonline,

Google classroom - class work

SORA, World Book ebooks.

FRIDAY

Tech Free Friday

Library OPEN

If you would like to access another site, please ask Mrs McGuirk first.

LIBRARY BAGS

Please note a LIBRARY BAG is the first item on your child's equipment list for this year.

Thank you for ensuring your child has a library bag. I have some spares and will issue these to students next week who have not yet presented with a bag.

LIBRARY BAGS MATTER... Not just some of the time but all of the time.

No food or drink on my books.

Food and drink are for the chooks.

Library bags keep ‘em clean.

Books are cool don’t treat ‘em mean.

Bring your bag every time.

Fill it up and get in line.

Have it scanned and scoot on out.

LIBRARY BAGS

We all shout.

J. McGuirk

WORLD BOOK ONLINE -

Ask your child about the bookmark which provides home access for World eBooks and Worldbook online.

If you have not logged on and had a browse around, sit down with your child and ask them about it. I'm sure all primary-aged students will be able to show you some of the features.

UPDATED - SORA - easy access guide

Download the free App to access this online reading resource provided for us by the Catholic Schools Office. Your family will have access to thousands of books 24/7.

Sora - get free ebooks and audiobooks from your school.

Step 1: Install Sora app from Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or soraapp.com.

Step 2: When in Sora, click on CONTINUE then I have a setup code.

(Do not click on “Find My School”)

Step 3: The “setup” code is cenetau

Step 4: Click on ACEN (the top bar), click again.

Step 5:Student signs in with school username and password.

Student may then EXPLORE all the options eg ebooks and audio books available.

Select Open book or Open audiobook to read or listen to the book.
Select Options to renew or return the book, see your notes and highlights, and more.

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FRIAR'S TUCKSHOP