Library News
Maria SMITH
Head of Library
HIGHVALE WELCOMES SPRING !
WITH AN AMAZING DRESS-UP DAY WHILE CELEBRATING LITERACY/NUMERACY/BOOK WEEK 2026 AND FUNDRAISING FOR INDIGENOUS CHILDREN!
The culmination of the Literacy/Numeracy/Book Week celebration on September 4 brought a lot of fun and positivity among Highvale Staff and students with a Dress-Up Day, Library-managed competitions, a raffle and Book Sale. We continue to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) and Reading Out of Poverty (ROOP) as they provide culturally relevant books to Indigenous children in their literacy journey while developing their love of reading.
The Arts and Technology Department once again impressed with their thoughtfully created Book Week costume while the Junior School Office led by Mrs Valentine provided a delightful surprise dressed as Mr Book characters. There was more proactive participation from the English and Science Department as more teachers dressed up creatively. Eight teachers got lucky with the raffle of refreshing and relaxing book hampers, courtesy of the Library Team. Thank you for supporting this annual raffle!
Special gratitude to English/Humanities Teachers Mrs Morey and Ms Warwick for co-judging entries for the 50-word short story writing challenge, poetry writing competition and bookmark making competition. Huge thanks to Executive Assistant Ms Rosenfeld and Vice-Principal Ros Patti for providing much-needed support in the preparation of our Friday Morning Tea.
And certainly, we could not have done all these lunchtime activities (including the BOOK SALE) without the valuable support of our Library Monitors: Year 10 students SARA K., JONELLE W., ANDREA Z., ANGELA L.; Year 9 students NIYA R., ELSA L., ALYSSA P., AMELIA W., ANISHKA T.; Year 8 students SANVI R., MAYA P., KYON C., AAGVI S. and Year 11student PRIYA P. (Kyon C., Ziqi and Zilong G. put together the Kahoot/Blooket Quiz!)
Please enjoy the photos that truly reflect our FUN and PURPOSEFUL SPRING CELEBRATION!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIONS:
Poetry Writing: LIAM D. (Y10) Please enjoy reading Liam’s winning literacy creation “The Plant Room” and runner-up ZOE N.’s verses based on Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale.
THE PLANT ROOM by LIAM D. (Y10) (Poetry writing competition WINNER)
Moist tendrils pulse with digestive rhythm
Unfurling leaves unleash the stench of bile
Grotesque slime bathes filth in tragedy
Sharp pincers crumble bone like gelatine
Acidic pools sloshing subdue the screams
Organic matter reverses its environmental gift
Screeches emit lulling frequencies
Omniscient spirals act as herbicide
Repulsive biohazards sparse of recovery
Humans pulled apart like spider silk
Beams of agony scorch the chosen
As their pitiful slumber meets the plant
Kidneys scattered like shattered glass
Nerves dwindling with what it once was
Neurons dead, once with agony
Forever digested and twisted into currents
Muscles once trained now devoured
Individual myofibrils severed ruthlessly
Glistening corneas stained with trauma, and the bloody slurry of exponential misery
Peristalsis contracting; syncopated with howls of torment
The desire for carbon extends past dioxide
Extrusion of anatomy, indescribable vista
Thin tissues dissolved in the elegy of all
Little beknown to the pupils of the school.
What was my dreary life all for?
A waste of time, sacrificed for the power of fluorescent globes and charged batteries.
The spores embedded deep within, impossible even for time to pry out.
RED RIDING HOOD by Zoe N. (Y12) (Poetry Writing Competition RUNNER-UP)
Intro Volatile to the bones Sometimes think I might prefer it No, I’ll never take you home But if I did, you won't deter it
Verse 1 I know big words Sometimes forget to use them Told a million lies Now I let you abuse them
Pre-chorus There's nothing that I wouldn't do Drowned myself into the blue It's true it's true it's true
Chorus If wolves ate you You would still talk Your guts splattered 'Cross the sidewalk Fatefully hit the ground You fall You were not worth it After all
Verse 2 Water flowing through me Trying to be brave Learning all the same lessons Path I could not pave
Pre-chorus Never have I hated more You wretched little guy So self-imposed, my ivory rose I cried I cried I cried
Chorus Ripped your lungs out How’d you still talk Your limbs scattered 'Cross my sidewalk Laugh when I hit the ground And fall You were not worth it After all | Bridge Belief in you is wavering The ice we walk is wafer thin From now, I'll never let you in I know I gave you everything You couldn't give my phone a ring That night I almost died Drowned in rivers that I cried
Verse 3 Grieving my right You’ve been my plight Congrad-eff-u-lations One day I'll tell this story Of our sad bloody relations Yet another reason why You shouldn’t trust a stranger
Pre-chorus Believed it wasn’t true Know I didn’t think it through Good for you Good for you
Chorus Ripped my lungs out Believed your sweet talk My guts splattered 'Cross the sidewalk Wore a grandma dress in Late fall You were not worth it After all
Outro You won't get better You won't find good Get eaten Like red riding hood.
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Bookmark Designer Winner: LYNN P. (Y9) What a beautiful bookmark!
Sudoku Challenge: CHLOE C. (Y9)
Wordsearch: ALYSSA C. (Y9)
Kahoot Quiz: LUKE M., KRISHIV T. AND ALLAN L. (all from Year 9)
Guess how many lollies are in the jar winner: JANET H. (Y12)
VICTORIAN PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE COMPLETION
The Reading Challenge finishes on September 4. Congratulations to 15 Highvale students who completed the challenge of reading 15 books From April to September. They will each receive a beautiful ‘Thank You’ certificate signed by the current and former Victorian Premiers.
These students have demonstrated our school value of EXCELLENCE by completing the Challenge and writing book reviews and recommendations, mostly published in our Newsletter and VPRC website.
SAMANTHA T. (Y10), ISABELLA L. (Y10), SAANVI V. (Y9), NICOLE L. (Y8), MAYA P. (Y8), SANVI R. (Y8), RIYA S. (Y8), ANISHKA T. (Y8), MYRA D.(Y7), CHLOE D. (Y7), LIVIA F. (Y7), KYRA P. (Y7)
Please enjoy the amazing book reviews from our Reading Challengers:
Violet made of thorns by Gina Chen ★★★★★
I really love the 'enemies-to-lovers' kind of dynamic as I enjoy seeing their character growth. It's just beautiful that they grow, emotionally. I like how everyone's thoughts of Dante support the Seer Violet, but when it mattered most, he betrayed her and everyone that trusted him and killed Cyrus's father brutally. Although I wished they didn't include the brutality of the murder, it adds volume and detail to the event, highlighting how descriptive language can change the detail of something. (Nicole L. Y8)
Lottie Brooks vs the ultra-mean girls by Katie Kirby ★★★★
Wow, this book is definitely a roller coaster of friendship, drama and life of an 8th grader at school! As Lottie Brooks steps into 8th grade, lots of friendship drama occurs. With their friend Amber completely ignoring them and leaving their group, the Queens of Eight Green and joining the Ultra Mean Girls Gang. Will Lottie be able to bring Amber back to their group?? This book is certainly a 4 out of 5 keeping you on the edge of your seat and wondering what other WACKY things Lottie will get up to!! (Diya N. Y7)
The lost sisters BY Holly Black ★★★
I really liked this novella! It gave a new perspective on Taryn and added depth to the world I already love from the trilogy. I do wish it had been a bit longer, and I especially wish it had focused more on the coronation part, because that part felt super important and exciting. Overall, it was a good read and I’m glad I got to see the story from Taryn’s point of view.
(Sanvi R. Y8)
The magic of the lost temple by Sudha Murti ★★★★★
This book is about Nooni who has come to her, Ajji and Ajja's (grandma and grandpa's) house for the holidays and she hears a story about a step well she was interested about overall, but most importantly finding it.... I loved this heartwarming and adveturous story, and I feel like I learned a lot too. Nooni in this story learned about plants animals and much more, so did I!! (Diya N. Y7)
HUGE THANKS TO 23 students who competed at the School Level of the 2026 Spelling Bee Challenge.
The following FIVE students advanced to the STATE/TERRITORY FINALS:
Competition Level | Individual Scores | Test Completion Time | |
| DIWAS B. (Y8) | 7-8 (red) | 27/30 | 1:20.625 |
| MYRA D. (Y7) | 7-8 (red) | 27/30 | 1:41.832 |
| AVIK A. (Y8) | 7-8 (red) | 25/30 | 1:33.045 |
| YOSHITA M. (Y8) | 7-8 (red) | 25/30 | 2:13.051 |
| REESA D. (Y8) | 7-8 (red) | 23/30 | 2:09.400 |
CELEBRATING OUR HIGHVALE LIBRARY!
August 26 marks Australian School Library Day. Did you know that some schools have NO Library, and some school libraries are sadly and slowly disappearing. At Highvale Secondary College, students continue to enjoy a well-resourced Library that has recently been refurbished with new shelving units, huge thanks to our School Leadership Team for facilitating the process.
With planned renovations, the Library continues to provide a beautiful, shared space for students to develop their love of reading, maximise learning outcomes in a caring and supportive educational setting beyond the classroom, connect with peers, and develop curiosity, critical and creative thinking through Library-managed programs and activities.
FUN ACTIVITIES WE DO IN OUR LIBRARY:
SCRABBLE THURSDAYS, FUN FRIDAYS AND SOON-TO-BE BOOK CLUB TUESDAYS! We do have Private Study and Silent Reading sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The English and Math Homework Clubs are in H-Block and S-Block, respectively.
Students can contribute to the Highvale Writers’ Club anytime, email the Librarian: maria.smith@education.vic.gov.au
SPRING READING TREAT and SEPTEMBER SURPRISES FOR EVERYONE!
Following deletion of some ancient resources, the Library has stocked up our main collection with more Young Adult novels, Graphic Novel fiction, and non-fiction for students and staff. COME AND BORROW FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!
NON-FICTION TREATS FOR STAFF AND ADULT READERS (Biographies and memoirs, books in other languages and on wellbeing and creative writing!) GIVE YOURSELVES A TREAT!
IMAGINATION LIBRARY
A special tribute to extraordinary singer/artist/storyteller, the legendary music icon DOLLY PARTON. Her greatest legacy may well be the Imagination Library, which Ms Parton—the beloved “Book Lady”—founded in 1995. What began as an effort to put books into the hands of young readers has grown into a global literacy initiative, with more than 300 million books gifted to children worldwide, inspiring a lifelong love of reading and helping to build essential literacy skills.
Thank you for the wonderful gift!
VALE DOLLY PARTON (1946-2026)