Maria SMITH

Librarian

Book Character Dress-Up, a springtime highlight for LITERACY/NUMERACY WEEK 2023 celebration for Highvale staff and students

Huge thanks to our HSC Library Monitors, Staff and Students for a successful week-long L/N Week celebration that has ignited the love of reading and writing reflected on huge book donations, students’ increased book borrowings, literary submissions, bookmark designing, active participations in word games/number challenges, and creatively taking part in the Dress-Up Day, all towards raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) making a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children in around 400 remote communities across Australia.

With prior publication approval, here are some photos (credit to official photographer Alex K. 11.3) capturing the inspirational teamwork displayed by the ART/FOOD&TECHNOLOGY Department posing excitedly with an impressive number of ES/Staff members and students:

MOST CREATIVELY DRESSED (photos below): ‘Enjolras’ from “Les Miserables”; ‘Howl’ from “Howl’s Moving Castle” and ‘Harry Quinn’ from “DC Comics”

Congratulations to all the winners of the different challenges:

Spelling Bee Yifan C
Sudoku Challenge Ayaka K
Kahoot Quiz Jai R, Maral A and Yifan C
Guess how many lollies in the jar Competition Martin K
Most Creatively Dressed Bingyi Z, Navya SK and Onyx L

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO OUR BOOKMARK DESIGNERS AND THEIR EXCELLENT CREATIONS!! (1 - Chloe L, 2 - Emme L, 3 – Ancella K)

HIGHVALE WRITERS’ CLUB inspires through students’ creative contributions

Please enjoy this contribution from Benson Z (Year 10) amazingly explained in detail.

“The inspiration for this piece of poetry is a kind of native tree in the tropical area of Asia, bombax, most commonly known as “cotton-tree flowers” in Cantonese. It is an important part of the Cantonese culture, showing the connection of the land, the country, and the people, as well as the hope and pursuit of independence, freedom, fairness, and equality. In early spring, the trees with red just like fire, will cover the sky of many places in the city. My previous school had a lot of bombax trees covering the campus, so I have applied my understanding of the connotation/significance behind the bombax to this literary piece.

Welkin is a literal word for the sky, the sphere of a world and the space beyond the world. The word “welkin” is used as part of the title to highlight the magnificent view of bombax trees as a special space, which means “heaven”. At this sense, “welkin” includes all the space beyond this limited space of bombax, implying a wider perspective.

“Welkin of Bombax” is a kind of metaphor. It visualizes the pursuit of freedom and independence, and the hope for equality and fairness.”

Welkin of Bombax

(Benson Z, Year 10)

Living breeze, flames of youth

Blossoms of hope, the mind of freedom,

Witnessed by you, safeguarding our glory.

Honoured the welkin of bombax.

Fighting spirit, the era of flames

Lead our stories throughout our country,

Pursuing the hope that never ends, to the eternal.

Hero the welkin of bombax.

Emerging notables, the blood to strive.

Celebrate our community deep in thoughts,

Studying for future’s needs.

Flourish the welkin of bombax.

Continuing history, the alarm to thrive.

Flames of the hero, passed to your hands.

Uncountable spirits died in sight, unbelievable courage grown up in fright.

Heritage the welkin of bombax.

Eternal future, the vision to delight.

For our people, for our alliance,

The stride never ends. Be resolute, be brave.

Epic the welkin of bombax.

The Origin of the Universe by Priya P

How was the universe created? – a question as old as time itself,

Perhaps by an ancient deity or a mystical elf,

Of course, not the kind that lives on a shelf,

Or maybe the world was created by The Big Bang - an innocent little mistake,

White holes are another interesting take,

These questions always keep me awake.

Dear Me (Anonymous HSC Writer)

I miss the old me,

the careless and reckless me.

The young and naive me,

but like everyone else,

I had to grow up.

In most moments I feel content.

I walk around aimlessly with no direction but forward.

Sometimes I sit to read being envious of the characters walking across the page,

Their story already played out multiple times before.

In other moments, I stare off and observe strangers.

Such a strange feeling of comfort and ease,

seeing strangers laughing, enjoying one another's presence.

Like seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses,

tinted in way that feels like I am witnessing it as a mere child.

But as always,

my reality settles and I realize I am all alone.

Growing up feels like a blaring,

heartbreaking,

wake-up call.

Time doesn't stop.

as much as I beg,

hope,

sit here in silence watching the world moves around me,

myself and everyone else will keep growing.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Will you get married?

Are you going to buy a car?

It's so daunting. Responsibilities being shoved down my throat,

with the weight of expectations on my shoulders.

So,

dear me.

Breathe,

take in the moment,

with all its glories and all its pains.

Your story is an unwritten canvas,

changing and turning with every decision.

Your time here in the world does not define you,

nor what you choose to do.

Just breathe,

choose what makes you happy,

for you have all the time in the world.

Some quick tips for students who are inspired and have creative ideas. This website is a complete package if you are into poetry, reading about poets and writing poems.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poems/how-to-write-a-poem-10-steps.aspx

The competition aims to ignite a passion for creative writing and inspire the voices of the future. Entering the competition is free for all secondary school students throughout Australia. There will be a chance to share in over $3000 of cash prizes! Please access the link for more information.https://www.insightpublications.com.au/insight-writing-competition-2023/

VICTORIAN PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE NOW FINISHED

September 8 was the closing day for the VPRC.

Congratulations Year 7s: BEN B, ARJUN K, RYAN K, AMELIE P and ABEL D.T;

Year 8s BLAKE C, CRYSTAL N, MEGHAN N, THINULI T, NORAH T and EMMA Z

Year 9s FREYA H and VICTORIA L for having read over 400 books altogether in the space of six months!

These students each receive a magnificent “Wild about Reading” CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT signed by the Premier of Victoria, The Hon Daniel Andrews.

International Department