Library

Winifred Berry and Handbury Libraries

Readers Return to School:

I am often impressed by our students and the reading culture held by their families. Over the break a large number of books were borrowed, and they started coming back through the returns slots on each site as soon as school resumed. As acknowledged in Dr Hirst’s Third Term letter to families, our participation rate in the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is incredible for this year – way better than in the past. Kierun McClure still leads the group of all ages as he charges towards conquering his third hundred titles. His family is one of many that have taken up the option of a family book bag. Please contact me via email if you would like to join: msimkin@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au. The bags come to your home with a range of books for all family members to explore. They are designed to be read across the family, either alone or aloud and contain titles that are often those that the students will not find, or may not choose, by themselves. We often include old titles that may have been enjoyed by parents and grandparents, as well as recent releases. We value feedback and we try to accommodate requests where possible but meeting the student’s favourite author request may not always be possible, and will not lead to the reader’s development that is one of the program’s main objectives. Students are also able to borrow as many books as they like this year when they have Library borrowing time.

Overdue Book Charges:

If your child had a book out that they had borrowed in Term 1 you will have received a request for its value to reimbursed in your last invoice. If the book subsequently returns we advise the business office. Our aim is to get the book back, or to reclaim its cost so that we can replace it. Please ask if you have any queries relating to this matter.

Blogging, Lambs and Learning – at the National Gallery of Victoria!

In the holidays Stephen Mirtschin and I presented a 7 minute “Ignite” session for Microsoft’ Melbourne Teachmeet about the Grade 4 Lambs at Myrniong program. We showed our resulting blog posts and explained the process to an audience who were keen to hear our story. The power of our students being in classes at RIST was seen to be a very positive means of learning.

We also talked about the purpose and process of our weekly innovation time under the following headings:

• OneNote – how we started and how we brought it all together at the end.
• Global Innovation Project organised by the amazing @zelfstudie from Belgium.  Koen Timmers was one of the top ten teachers as named by the Varkey Foundation in 2018 (along with Australia's Eddie Woo).
• Blogging

This semester I will be working with ELC 4, Prep and One and Grade 5 on Fridays. Watch this space for more information!

Here’s to a great Term 3 across our wonderful college!

Margaret Simkin