Library News

It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that I have joined the library here at Marist-Sion. After almost thirty years in education in the southeast region of Victoria including two years volunteering in Eastern Indonesia, I am incredibly happy to join the Marist-Sion community as Library and Information Services Leader. I bring with me a wide range of skills, experience, and a genuine desire to instill a love of reading with the young people of Marist-Sion. Over the past two weeks, I have been fortunate to meet many delightful students in the library and together with the amazing library staff we are excited and ready for 2025.

Library Survey Results

We asked students to complete a survey about their expectations, experiences and wishes for the library in 2025. We will survey students again next year to ascertain their views about the library space and resources. Some of the results are below:

Study skills over the holidays – Preparing for 2025

As the school year finishes and families are preparing for Christmas and the summer break, it is worth remembering to balance rest, relaxation, and readiness for the new year. Here are some tips about balancing schoolwork during the holidays.

TIDY UP AND SET GOALS

Organise your space: Transform your study area into a productive environment. Declutter, rearrange, and make it a place where you feel comfortable and focused.

Sort and simplify your materials: Go through your school supplies, digital files, and notes. Keep what’s essential, organise everything logically, and set up systems to make studying easier next year.

Plan ahead:

Create term planners for the upcoming year to mark key dates when school starts.
Plan a weekly study timetable for next year to build good habits and stay on top of your workload.
If you can, find out any of the novels you will studying in the coming year, read them over the holidays.

Focus on weak spots: Identify tricky areas from last term, such as math concepts, grammar, foreign languages, or literacy skills, and dedicate some time to improving them. A little effort now can make a significant difference later.

STRETCH AND GROW YOUR SKILLS

Learn something new:

Challenge your brain by picking up a new skill or activity. Whether it’s Sudoku, learning touch typing, starting a new sport, or trying out a new hobby, the holidays are a perfect time to push your boundaries and build new neural pathways.

Explore study resources

Check out the Study Skills Handbook for tips on boosting your study habits, memory, or even your understanding of how your brain works. Start with the Your Brain and Memory unit for inspiration. Choose units to work on that will build your skills in areas of weakness.

SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIOR STUDENTS

It is important for senior students to stay focused on what’s ahead.

Download and review syllabuses: Familiarise yourself with course materials for the upcoming year so you can hit the ground running.
Tackle early assignments: If you have assignments due early in the term, plan to complete them during the holidays. Starting strong gives you breathing room for other priorities.

Prepare for exams:
Update your study notes and create summaries for major topics.
If exams are early in the term, dedicate regular time to study sessions.
For significant post-holiday exams, prioritise intensive preparation.

HOLIDAY TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BALANCE

Set a Schedule: Block out specific times for schoolwork so you can enjoy guilt-free downtime.
Prioritise Rest: Catch up on sleep, enjoy hobbies, and take breaks to recharge your mind.
Stay Active: Physical activity, even a daily walk or stretch, can do wonders for your mental clarity.
Reconnect: Spend quality time with family and friends to create meaningful memories.

Reminder about Library books

A reminder when cleaning out school bags and rooms - old lunches and rotten fruit – can be disposed of at home! Please return your books to school. They can be dropped into reception before 19th December.

Japan Club

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the amazing work of Ariene (former student) and the joy she brings to students in the Japan Club. This is held once a week in the library and the students get to partake in cultural and language activities from Japan such as watching and reading Anime, sampling food and dressing in kimonos.

Here are some photos from last week’s session, thanks for your enthusiasm Ariene!

Sean, Oliver, Charlotte and Mikaela with Ariene.

Merry Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday

The wonderful library team of Donna, Erin, Ariene, Mary-Clare, and Jo wish the Marist-Sion community a peaceful, safe, and relaxing festive season, surrounded by love and loved ones. We are looking forward to seeing you in the Louise Humann library in 2025.

Jo Keating

Library and Information Services Leader