Eastern Regional Libraries membership

We hope that all those students who are now members of the Eastern Regional Libraries are enjoying the benefits of the amazing online offerings, including:

70,000 eBooks & eAudiobooks
Hundreds of eMagazines
The Encyclopedia Britannica - great homework resource, includes multimedia
Mango Languages – choose from over 70 different languages and learn through practical, real world conversations whilst gaining insights with cultural notes
LinkedIn Learning – over 16,000 courses to choose from with over 150,000 award winning video tutorials taught by industry experts
Kanopy - Stream over 45,000 Documentaries, Classic and Indie Films on Desktop and Mobile devices
Literacy Planet - an educational game suite for students in grade levels from Prep – Year 10. Fun filled games that compliment literacy development
Aussie Driver - Free learners practice tests and this year’s official Victoria Driver’s Manual are available

If you have been meaning to join, the link for students is https://www.yourlibrary.com.au/students/ Adults can also join at https://yourlibrary.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN

Resident Writers competition

With everything that has been going on in the last few months, our inaugural Resident Writers winners announcement was delayed. Please accept our apologies, and we are delighted to announce that our student judges have chosen the following entries. We are also now open for Term 3 entries - as a rough guide works should be between 250 -350 words, shorter ok but certainly not significantly longer. Send your entries to library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au with the subject line Resident Writers entry. By submitting you agree to be published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc) - please contact us if you want to submit but prefer to keep your work private or anonymous.

Student – Stow Away by Kai

They found me.

How could I have been so stupid? The palace guards were smarter than they look, they could sniff out a criminal from miles away. How could I have ever thought that I could hide away, disappear from their eagle-like vision.

I had two days. Two days to disappear again, two days until they came to get me, to send me back into that morbid and cold cellar, never to see the light of sun, never to see the moon rise again.

Pulling a gold coin out of my pocket, I slowly slid it onto the counter next to me, my seat creaking as I stood and pulled my hood over my shaven head. The bartender huffed and slid my golden coin into her pocket and shooed me out.

I walked along the seaside pier, peering at certain items that were being sold by various merchants. You could always tell who tourists to the town were, they were naïve, willing to throw away their savings to scummy merchants for what they think is a good deal. The locals knew better. They kept their heads down. Even take a glance at certain people around here could get you killed.

And that’s when I heard the yelling.

Men and woman of all shapes and sizes stepped along creaky boards, boarding a ship.

A ship.

That’s it, the ship could take me away. No one will even notice me in the crowd trying to get on. Of course they would notice I don’t belong eventually, but I’m a smooth talker. I have managed to get this far; I can get further.

My experiences have always taught me to never trust pirates. They were described as large, slimy men who had no manners nor self-respect. But as I stepped across those creaky boards, I realised I didn’t have to much of a choice but to become one of them. I smiled as the wind blew, letting my hood fly off and my coat flap in the wind.

I may be caught one day, but at least that day wasn’t today.

Staff and Community – Real Colours by Linda Stocks

“We will inspire individuality, and challenge the constraints of conformity,” announced Martin Satchwell, the mayor. “Purple roads, orange tree trunks and multi coloured buildings are all part of the reforms I propose for Montania.”

“What a loser,” groaned Chloe.

“Yeah!” agreed Simon.

The doubters of Martin Satchwell’s concept were voted out at the last council elections. Non-conformity and individuality were sprayed liberally around town: on buses, shop fronts and multi coloured buildings.

“Montania is leading the way in creating an ideal environment for citizens: personal, creative and economic development,” boomed Martin Satchwell on Channel 9 News. “We will show the world how to foster individual growth.”

Chloe’s office was transformed; multi coloured bean bags replaced desks, and fluorescent pink carpet lined each room and corridor.

“What do you think?” Mary paraded her new outfit displaying too much skin and a skirt so loud Chloe felt like blocking her ears.

“Wow! It’s different,” commented Chloe.

She really wanted to say the outfit was totally inappropriate for work.

Simon slammed the door when he got home from work. “Thommo, my apprentice, arrived to work in his board shorts and thongs. Jim said he was stressed, so he practised yoga moves whenever I asked him to do something, and Mick didn’t rock up at all. We’re weeks behind and everyone’s too busy exercising their individuality,” groaned Simon.

“I know! It’s terrible. Mary came to work dressed like she was offering more than advice, Jane played games on her laptop, and lunch was a three-hour affair at Daisy’s Pub.” Chloe was furious.

The news of what was happening in Montania spread like gastro through a childcare centre, and after three months the concept was considered revolutionary; until businesses folded, and the stock market crashed because nobody wanted to work.

Martin Satchwell’s young daughter, Josie, was experiencing nightmares.

“What’s wrong, Josie?” asked Martin after he was woken by Josie’s screaming.

“I like real colours, Dad. The world’s all wrong,” she sobbed.

“You’re right, Josie.” Martin called an emergency council meeting the next morning.

Book Week 2021 - Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds

What world do you live in?

To celebrate Book Week 2021, we are inviting you to be the author of your own book(cover). Grab the template from the Library Teams page (all entries must be submitted on this template).

FRONT COVER: create a title and an image about the WORLD you imagine yourself living in – OLD, NEW or OTHER WORLDS.
BACK COVER: write a brief description about WORLD you live in and something significant that happens to you in your chosen world
SPINE: provide the title and author information

You may submit your entry in person or via library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au

ENTRIES CLOSE Monday 30 August, 2021 at 4pm, and all entries will be displayed in the Library

PRIZE: $25 Dymocks voucher

We look forward to seeing your worlds

Library Staff

Snowy River School for Student Leadership

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