Holiday reading

Looking for a holiday read? Then please visit the ‘Love and Relationship Stories’ display, ideal for recreational reading. Students are requested to return all of their library books within the next two weeks, so that they may borrow new items over the summer holiday period. The library has a current selection of the latest titles in Young Adult fiction as well as popular series and new non-fiction for students to borrow. If students can’t find the book they are looking for, they are invited to request items at the library desk or via the website request form.

The library year in review by avid library users

This year, students have participated in library activities and programs with creativity and enthusiasm. Their ongoing support means that in 2023 the library will look at new ways with which to engage our student cohort and showcase their many and varied talents. To wrap up 2022 in writing, students were asked to pen their library experiences in 2022. Here is what they had to say below.

The MGSC Library

The library at MGSC, is an accessible, welcoming place to go and spend time with friends, hunker down and study or browse the endless shelves of books. The library staff at MGSC are friendly, helpful and accommodating, providing ceaseless resources - as well as their own support. Those resources include DVD’s, newspapers, textbooks, magazines and articles, all placed within reach. There are many spots to make full use of those resources, whether that may be the two open classrooms which are used during periods by teachers, and then further used by students after or before school hours as well as during lunch and recess. Reading nooks with armchairs, pouffes and lounges are also spread across the library for students to utilise as well. Overall, the MGSC library experience is exquisite, with plenty of things to do, explore and enjoy.

Ten minute reading session before English class

Before every English class at MGSC, students are asked to silently read their own choice of novel for ten minutes. This encapsulates the classroom to a quiet and peaceful environment. Many students would agree that this allotment of free reading allows them to de-stress and unwind after the busy morning, or afternoon. It also readies the student for the right mind-set when learning, and grants them some time to reflect ahead.

Free reading time before class is a resourceful implementation, one that encourages students to adjust to a new class, or new day.

Aniela C (year 7)

SUN Project Shadow Judging

As students, we were very fortunate this year to be given the opportunity to take part in the SUN Project Shadow Judging process. This was an extra-curricular activity, available for any student who wanted to participate. Hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia and funded through the SUN Shadow Judging Project, the aim of this program was to add a student voice to the CBCA Book Awards for 2022. The overall process was extremely enjoyable as like-minded students came together to discuss six different books written by Australian authors, which were shortlisted for the CBCA book of the year in the Older Readers category.

Before the actual shadow judging process began, members of our group were lucky enough to be able to have two private Zoom meetings with award-winning Australian author Fiona Wood who provided us with expert tips on the judging process and gave us insight into her own writing. We were given the following six books to read and analyse: Tiger Daughter, Sugar Towns Queens, Terciel and Elinor, The Boy from the Mish, How to Repaint a Life and Girls in Boys’ Cars. Some of the books in the older readers category contained themes targeted at mature readers, which opened up and changed my perspective on the real world.

Each shadow judging group got to collectively nominate their own winner out of all the books in their category with the winner announced at the end of August. As a group, we selected the book Tiger Daughter, which ended up being the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers 2022! As an unacquainted group, we all worked together remarkably well, dedicating our spare time to reading these books and our lunch times to discussing each book. Overall, the objective of being shadow judgers was to foster the opinions and engagement of young voices through the brilliance of literature. Which was definitely achieved through this process. However, talking with all the other members of the group in a follow-up meeting after we had nominated the winner we all collectively agreed that we had actually gained so much more than this in the overall process.

Hannah H (year 9)

Book Week Book Swap

The Book Swap was an activity held during Book Week 2022, where students brought any number of books from home and exchanged them with books that other students brought. It was a fun experience as everyone could swap books that they have read or don’t want anymore and then pass it along to someone else to enjoy. The event was held in the library with the books displayed on a table and participants picking out the same number of books that they brought in. There was a variety of YA books from all genres and we hope to have more people participate in this event next year.

Book Club

Book club meetings are something to look forward to and are held once every term. All the members vote on a book to read and then at the meeting at the end of term, the book chosen will be discussed. Students shared many of their opinions on the book/s and answered thought-provoking questions with each other while eating snacks. This provided an opportunity for all members to share their love of books and talk about their favourite books and what they thought.

In Term 1 they read “The Downstairs Girl” by Stacy Lee, which was enjoyed by some of the students and for Term 2 they decided to have an option of two books to read and those were “The Hobbit: A Graphic Novel” and “We Were Liars”. The novels picked for Term 3 were “The Fault In Our Stars” and “One of Us is Lying” which many of the members loved and for Term 4, the students are reading “They Both Die At The End”, “Sadie Starr’s Guide To Starting Over”, and “One of Us is Next”.

Demah F (year 8)

Student Library Experience

My overall library experience this year has been excellent. The MGSC library is a great space to access the extensive collection of great books available for loan, not to mention it is a quiet and calm working environment for all students to visit.

The library staff regularly host enjoyable activities which make the general library experience much more exciting. They are a great way to meet new people who share many interests with you, and also just a fun experience to attend with friends! Additionally, the library staff are very welcoming and friendly, so don’t hesitate to have a chat or ask for recommendations.

To summarise, the library this year has been exceptionally accommodating. My peers and I are looking forward for what the library has to offer next year!

Trudie M (year 8)

Library Trivia Quiz

This year, MGSC held its first ever Library Trivia Quiz as part of the celebrations held in the library for book week. To compete in the Trivia Quiz, students formed tables of six with an option to ask a teacher to join as well. The quiz was very well attended, so there was a lot of competition for all the teams involved! Every team was eager to win.

The questions in the Trivia Quiz spanned a wide range of categories including questions about books (of course), general knowledge and pop culture. Some were more difficult than others, and students had to work together and combine their knowledge to answer as many questions as they could correctly. Like most trivia, it involved working as a team, using everyone’s minds together to try and think of the answer to everything. It was a lot of fun to do together with our friends.

The winners of the inaugural Library Trivia Quiz were The Shadow Judges and Friends. Second place was The Quizards of Oz (which is a great team name, by the way). Both of these teams received great prizes, but I’m sure everyone in attendance felt rewarded just by doing a fun lunchtime Book Week activity, and everyone will be able to try again next year, when the second Trivia Quiz is held for Book Week 2023!

Caitlin K (year 8)

Megan Tulloch-Nasir

and the Library team

In our community

Have a go at goal keeping

Footy is back .. already

Christmas giving