LIBRARY NEWS

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

Abbey 2016

OVERDUE BOOKS DUE NOW PLEASE.

A GREAT BOOK WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU WARM

HOLIDAY TIME = EXTRA BOOKS = EXTRA READING 

All overdues returned please to be eligible to borrow for the holidays.

TOWN LIBRARY HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Check out their website for more information:

https://cnl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/HOME

WELCOME: SID THE SLOTH

                              "Where am I now... The adventures of Sid the sloth."

Sid the Sloth is exhausted from his touring around the school this term, so he is having a well-earned break until next term.

The students are enjoying browsing through Sid's adventures so far.

Stay tuned next term for more Sid adventures.

Library Leaders  - Reading Initiative

This week the Yr 6 Library Leaders began an initiative whereby they would pair up to read picture books to any interested K, 1, 2 students at 2nd Break.

Here are a few more photos:

Thankyou Library Leaders for your commitment and enthusiasm and to the K,1,2 students and teachers for your support.

Here is our WALT: (We Are Learning To) and WILL: (What It Looks Like) which underpins all our learning at St Nicholas School.

WALT: Give Library Leaders an opportunity to connect to younger students eg their buddies through literature.

         : Provide primary students with the confidence to read aloud to students.

         : Promote the role, and importance of Yr 6 Library Leaders to the wider school community.

         : Assist Yr 6 Library Leaders to be role models, “Leaders are Readers” by providing a positive reading experience for younger students.

WILL: Library Leaders will pre-choose (the day before or at 1st break and practise reading it aloud to a friend), a picture book to read at Infants 2nd break in the Holy Family Courtyard.   

         : This would be for about 10 minutes or the duration of one picture book. 

         : Library Leaders will provide some cushions for the students to sit on in a sunny area to listen to the story.

         : Library Leaders will follow the Library Leader roster.

         : At the completion of 1 book Library Leaders will return to the Zone and infants students may go and play.

BOOK WEEK 2023

"READ, GROW, INSPIRE

21 - 25 August (Term 3)

 Advanced Notice:  BOOK FAIR - TERM 4 

November 6th, 7th and 9th - St Nicholas School Library

WRITING, WRITING and MORE WRITING

Armidale Catholic Schools Writing Competition has now closed.

Mia Schumann-Gross from Yr 6 has proudly submitted an entry titled:

"The FORTIETH Green Hill"

Here is the tag line and an excerpt from Mia's narrative:

"Faith is the main character and shows courage by standing up to those around her with inner strength finding determination within herself."

"It was like the world around her had paused. Fluffy white houses stood with open doors. A marketplace was frozen, with once fresh apples strung above the snow-white ground. People did live here, but the cloud kingdom of The Forty-Ninth Green Hill was as isolated as that of a ghost town. Most people just wanted to keep to themselves. Faith was the only one that thought differently. She had her thoughts set on the outside world, and nothing else. She dug her hands into her hoodie and fixed her brown eyes on the land ahead of her. As she began to slowly walk, her hood fell off to reveal flowing black hair. 

The problem with living on a cloud kingdom was that it was entirely suspended in air. Faith didn’t really know if there was anything other than her kingdom in the whole universe, but she kept that thought to herself. Shaking her head, she continued to slowly walk. Her mother and father would be angry at her for going out, but she had learnt to cope with it for quite some time.

The shadows of silence and darkness was slowly rolling in from the west like they always did, but the sky shone a pink colour that made the day seem as if it were already starting. It was at that moment when Faith realized that she should be home by now. Her mother and father would be waiting for her and Faith dreaded what they were going to say. It was nearly dinner, and Faith shouldn’t have gone outside, especially to come home this late. She spied an open window and recognized it as her bedroom. 

Careful not to make a sound, she walked around and closed the back door softly behind her. This caught the attention of a bald man and a lady with curly brown hair, which were unmistakably Faith’s parents. She took a moment to survey the room. Dark wood stairs led up to the second floor, but next to them was the living room, and in turn the dining room. The kitchen was next to the open back door, and Faith’s parents rushed to her from their positions in front of the sink. 

Faith’s mother was the first to speak, her red lipstick and round blue eyes showing fear and anxiety. ‘We were wondering where you were, my sweet. Do come inside. ’‘You really shouldn’t go outside, darling. It’s far too dangerous. ’‘Quite so.’ Her father piped up. ‘We have dinner ready. You shouldn’t go out there, sweetheart. You’ll come home too late.’ Faith gulped. Her face was pale by the time her mother finished what she was going to say. ‘We should never have let you go outside in the first place.’

EXTRA BOOKS = EXTRA READING 

CONGRATULATIONS  =  270 students have completed the Challenge. 

Challenge closes 18 th AUGUST.

2023 - NSW PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE

Primary students have received notes and K - 2 students have received notes and a reading log on which to record books borrowed.

If you have any queries regarding the PRC please check out the website or send me through an email.

https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

If you would like to add your own child's books to their account please wait till the 27th Feb , the official start date of the PRC. For students in Years 1 - 6 the login details are the same as last year. If you are a new family or a kinder parent please wait until March to ask for login instructions.

In the library we are safe online and respectful of each other and the technology.

Please follow the steps:

1. Write your name, class and CB / ipad number neatly in the book.
2. Sit where Mrs McGuirk, or a library leader can walk behind you.
3. Always log in on your chromebook using your school login.

If you would like to access another site, please ask Mrs McGuirk first.

CHESS CLUB

Chess is available each morning and 1st Break for students to play.

The Chess Tournament will take place in Term 4, so plenty of time to get some practice in.

CHOICE = Motivation 

"The strongest positive impact on reading engagement and learning gains come from student self-selection of reading materials. When reading materials are selected for students the links to engagement and learning gain decline significantly." 

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

 CHOICE

in what they can read and borrow. 

CLASS LIBRARY TIMETABLE - 2023

MONDAY: Yr 3

TUESDAY: Kindergarten and Yr 4

WEDNESDAY: Yr 2 and Yr 5

THURSDAY: Yr 1 and Yr 6

FRIDAY: Library Open 1st Break to all students

BOOK BUZZ: Reading Lovers Group  - Friday at 2nd Break , Yr 2 and Primary Students.

LIBRARY BAGS -  ALL students require a bag.

Please check your child's requirement list for 2023 - LIBRARY BAG is top of the list.

Now is the time to find, purchase or make a new library bag.

Regardless of which option ALL students need a library bag for 2023.

Please check your child's requirement list for 2023 - LIBRARY BAG is top of the list.

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

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.