Our school participated in this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime. 

The students either had the story read to them by their teacher or watched a live online feed where the author, Rebecca Young read the story and the illustrator, Heath McKenzie demonstrated how to draw a sloth.

We like to seize as many opportunities as we can to encourage reading with our students and this event showed just how much they all still love being read to.

Library Monitors

I would like to introduce our current library monitors.

Jasmine Bertacco (5B), Georgia Allman (5B), Khloe Jorgenson (5B), Rosalie Larkin (5B), Isabella Masters (5B), Ariah Blue Channer (5G), Jessica McKevith (5G) and Scarlett Raschilla (5G)

These students have been an amazing support in our library. Each has been designated a particular section to look after, ensuring it’s ordered correctly and is clean and tidy. They are helping to shelve returned books, of which there are lots as we have a well utilised library. 

The girls have been keen to write book reviews and recommendations as well as assisting with our weekly library displays AND they’re often on hand for students to loan and return books. They are giving up lots of their time (recess and lunch) to perform these tasks and I am extremely grateful and proud of them for their commitment and wonderful work ethic.

I get assigned a couple of hours in the library each afternoon so our monitors provide me with invaluable assistance to ensure the smooth running of our operations.

Thank you for everything you are doing girls!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

A reminder that it’s not too late for your child to join in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge.

PRC book lists can be found on the PRC website - https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html

For Kindergarten to Year 2 students, books can be read to them. 

Last term every student was given a letter about the Premier’s Reading Challenge which also provided their individual login details.

If this letter was lost please and you would like another copy of these details, please email me at CarrollK03@dow.catholic.edu.au and I can send you the details.

Overdue Books

We currently have over 200 books that are overdue in our library system.

Since taking over the Library Administrator role at the end of last year I have been trialling different ways to deal with our overdues. Previously, parents have been emailed directly at the end of each term listing the overdue books our library system says their children have. I have received emails and messages from parents saying their children have never taken these books home and this sometimes causes concern. Please note, your child will not be blacklisted or having anything held against them if they do not have a book listed on the email. Sometimes books turn up several weeks later when myself or the teachers are sorting through classroom resources. 

At the end of last term I decided to email lists of overdue books to class teachers rather than email parents first. The teachers were then able to ask the students to look for their overdue books in their classrooms and school bags. We had many books being returned but we still have lots which are overdue, some from early in Term 1.

I will therefore be sending emails for overdue books out to parents towards the end of this term. If the books cannot be found please just reply to the email you receive letting me know which books cannot be located. No charges will be made for missing books.

Knitting Club

We are starting a knitting club in the library for Years 4 - 6.  This will take place on Mondays during lunchtime 1:30 - 2pm and there will be a couple of staff members assisting.

There are many benefits of knitting including:

• Supporting mathematical skills - counting stitches and rows, measuring

• Problem-solving - mistakes happen to all beginner knitters!

• Motor-Coordination - a high level of hand-eye coordination is needed so knitting can certainly help to improve this. 

• It encourages creativity and teaches patience.

Students will be required to bring along their own knitting needles, a ball of wool and a small bag to put them in. 

The knitting needles and wool can be purchased at local craft shops e.g. Spotlight, or, at most local Op-Shops. 

Knitting needle size should be either 4mm, 4.5mm or 5mm.

Wool should be 8ply and a bright colour is preferred. It is difficult to see all the stitches for beginner knitters when using dark coloured wool. 

All students from Years 4, 5 and 6 are welcome and we look forward to seeing what can be created.

National Reconciliation Week 27th May - 3rd June 2023

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best wishes to you all.

Library Administrator - Mrs Katrina Carroll