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

Abbey 2016

HARMONY WEEK

This week we have celebrated Harmony Week with Friday being the official 2025 Harmony Day. Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.

At St Nicholas School we are blessed to have many students of different cultures.

This week we have placed student names on a world map to show countries of birth.

The map has been a source of interest for us all.

We have spoken about the importance of belonging and enjoyed the text "Room On Our Rock" by Kate and Jol Temple. It is a poetic picture book that reads forward and backward, revealing two narratives about sharing, welcoming and belonging. Two seals are perched on a rock but when others need shelter, do they share it? A heartwarming story about sharing, compassion and belonging.

WRITING COMPETITION

Many students are taking the opportunity to participate in this wonderful opportunity to be a published author.

This year the theme is: write a story to make us smile or giggle or chuckle or laugh: a story to lift our spirits. The students are very interested in participating in this initiative to work with an illustrator and become the published author of an ebook which will feature on the SORA platform.

LIBRARY EVENTS

*National Simultaneous Storytime - 22 May

*Author Visit / Gregg Dreise - 26 June

*Book Week / Book Fair - 18 to 22 August

THE "COOL" PLACE TO HANG OUT

The library is cool, calm and comfortable while the weather is hot outside. Students may do jigsaws, draw, read, chat with friends and play chess.

LIBRARY BAGS

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

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

Abbey 2016

This quote was submitted on a library leader application back in 2016.

Abbey explained that the library is not just book shelves laden with books. The library is full of ideas and adventures and opportunities to learn something new, to try something new, maybe to meet someone new.

Next week I will be unpacking this idea as we embark on our reading journey.

READING for learning, READING for living, Reading for enjoyment.

Children’s Book Week / 16–23 August 2025

This year the theme is "BOOK AN ADVENTURE"

The Children's Book Council Of Australia celebrates 80 years of Children's Book Week this year, a marvellous milestone of connecting children to story. In the following weeks we will be having lots of fun talking about this theme and how it relates to our own reading journey. I look forward to hearing some wonderful insights from the students.

2025 Class WEEKLY LIBRARY TIMETABLE

MONDAY: Yr 3

TUESDAY: Kindergarten & Yr 5

WEDNESDAY: Yr 2 & Yr 4

THURSDAY: Yr 1 & Yr 6

PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE HAS BEGUN

Kinder, Yr 1 and Yr 2 have a reading log and information note which should live in their library bag. This will be stamped each week as books borrowed are written down.

Primary students will only bring home an information sheet as borrowed books are tracked through the library program, Oliver.

EARLY BIRDS READING CLUB

Early Birds will startup next week.

EARLY BIRDS READING 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. "

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

C H O I C E

in what they can read and borrow.

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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CLOTHING POOL

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”Phyllis Diller

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller