MESC Learning Commons
Term 2 Library News
We have had a great start to Term 2 in the Library, with lots of things to see and do. There is the daily anagram for everyone to try and solve, as well as interesting displays, and a challenging 1500 piece jigsaw!
This term we have an ANZAC display with a ‘field’ of poppies and a mix of both fiction and non-fiction titles about World War 1 and other wars throughout history. We will be having a Manga display soon with some amazing art illustrations created by Year 7 students.
Book Club is in the Learning Hub each Friday lunchtime and everyone is welcome to join in. We play fun games and discuss what everyone’s been reading at home and at school.
We also have a great deal of new intriguing and emotive novels on display for everyone to come and read. Some of the new titles are “Create with code”, “Be a young entrepreneur”, “Return to Augie Hobie”, “Withering by sea”, “Truthwitch” and “Midnight star”. You can view some of these on the New Titles page of our MESC Learning Commons website.
Over the next few months the Library Monitors will be helping to prepare for our first MESC Literary Festival for Year 7 & 8 students which takes place on 21st September. We will have 10 authors/illustrators visiting for the day and are creating posters about each of them. One is New Zealand author Sherryl Clark who has written many popular novels including “One perfect pirouette”, “Our Australian girl: Tracey Binns”, “Bone song” and “Dying to tell me”. It will be a great day for all with lots of other exciting things happening on the day. (Note: there will be more information sent out closer to the date.)
Isabella York
Library Captain
Year 8
Book Reviews
‘Sisters’ by Raina Telgemeier
“Raina can’t wait to be a big sister, but once Amara is born things aren’t quite how she expected them to be.”
This book relates to my life, especially the time when I found out I was going to be a big sister. I was stoked! However once my sister Catie was born things got a little bit tougher and we would always fight about everything.
In this book I would be Raina and my sister would be Amara, but she doesn’t complain that much. I especially liked the part when Raina is screaming because she is annoyed and Amara’s just there going “shhhhh!” Another part reminds me of when we also had animals and they kept dying just like in this story.
This is a graphic novel, with colourful cartoon pictures and a funny story. Overall I give this book an 11/10 and a 5 star rating. I also seriously recommend you read this along with other books by Raina Telgemeier.
Paige Lange-Ward
Year 7
'Hope in a Ballet Shoe' by Michaela DePrince
"We are shown, through Michaela's eyes, how hope can blossom in the most unlikely of circumstances, enabling even the most underprivileged person to beat all the odds."
I highly recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 12-18, or adults even. This book is the true story of author Michaela DePrince, who grew up in a very poor and dangerous country Sierra Leone. Her parents both died before she was five and she was raised by her very mean uncle who really didn't care about her. When the uncle didn't want to look after Michaela anymore he took her to a poor orphanage which was also a school. She had to sleep on a grass mat at night and only received a small bit of food each day. During a storm one day a poster flew into her room - it was a picture of a ballet dancer. From then on Michaela was determined to become a dancer. Later an American family wanted to adopt her and she was very excited but also torn that she would have to leave her best friend. Then she found out that her friend was also coming and they were to be 'sisters'. Once in America Michaela started ballet classes and that was the start of something amazing as she later became a professional ballet dancer with the Dutch Ballet Company.
This is an extraordinary book with lots of tragic moments, twists and a happy, heart warming ending. You don't have to be a dancer to enjoy this book but if you are then you will enjoy it a little bit more. I give this book an 8/10.
Miranda Murchie
Year 7
Fishing for a New Book?
For those who are having troubles deciding what to read next why not take a dip in our 'Go Fish!' bowl. Students have written suggestions for future reading based on their own favourite books and authors. Other students are also welcome to add their own favourites. You'll find this at the check-out desk being carefully guarded by their own fish buddies!
Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge
If any students are interested in signing up for the 2017 VPRC then please see Mrs Swannell asap.
Students joining the challenge are required to read 15-30 books by the end date. Selection is from a set list of titles where there are thousands to choose from! Once completed students will receive a certificate from the Premier and also have their name listed on the 2017 VPRC Honour Roll.
You can find out more on the website - VPRC 2017
Meet Australian Author Robert Newton
Woodleigh School are hosting author Robert Newton on Wednesday 24 May 6.00-7.30pm and members of the local community are invited to join them. Tickets can be purchased via www.ticketebo.com.au/wawnewton or at the door on arrival.
Robert's first novel, My Name is Will Thompson, was published in 2001. Since then he has written six other novels for young people, including Runner, The Black Dog Gang and When We Were Two, which won the 2012 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. His latest title is Mr Romanov's Garden in the Sky.