Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge closes next week on Friday 18th August. I have finalised student records for those that have already completed the challenge which means they won’t be able to add any more books to their reading log (make a note of any they read from now for next year’s challenge). 

There is still time for students to login and add all the books they’ve read this year to their PRC Reading Log. There are currently 58 incomplete reading records so please remind your child the challenge ends in a week’s time.

If any student has forgotten their login details they can come and see me in the library or you can email me at CarrollK03@dow.catholic.edu.au

I am very happy to assist with any queries regarding this challenge.

Scholastic Book Club 

The last day for ordering from the Book Club Magazine Issue #5 was Monday, 7th August. The orders will hopefully be sent to us within the next few days. I will distribute these to students as soon as they arrive. Issue #6 of the Book Club magazine will be sent to us soon after. 

We really appreciate every purchase made to the club as we earn reward points for these. This allows us to buy resources for the library and classrooms.

MS Readathon

We have signed up our school for the MS Readathon fundraiser which began on the 1st August - https://www.msreadathon.org.au

 This fundraiser is in its 44th year and is one our school has previously taken part in. 

By participating, we are encouraging our students to read as many books (any books) throughout the month of August and collect as many sponsors as possible in order to support people living with multiple sclerosis.

 Click this link - Register Here  - to go to the organisation website where you can follow the steps to register your child/ren - https://www.msreadathon.org.au/register/2023

In following the registration process you'll be asked to enter:

• your child's name
• your name and contact details 
• quickly create a fundraising page so the URL can be shared with friends and family in order to gain sponsors.
• select our school by typing St Columbkille's into the drop down school list and selecting our school from the list you will be given. 
• specify the number of books your child/ren is/are aiming to read for the month 
• set a fundraising goal.

 We hope your child/ren will be able to join in this event with the focus being on reading for fun while following our Catholic ethos of raising money for a charitable cause. 

Thank you to those people who have already signed up and have sponsors for this event. We have received donations totaling $163 and hope to reach our target of $1000.

If you have any questions please contact Mrs Carroll - CarrollK03@dow.catholic.edu.au

Craft Club

Craft club has been a great success. We have a lot of students bringing french knitting in to do while enjoying chatting and listening to music.

Craft Club is open to all students.

Years K - 3 during Monday lunch 1pm - 1:30pm

Years 4 - 6 during Monday lunch 1:30pm - 2pm

During the next few weeks we are focusing on colouring-in, doodling, french knitting and we have some materials available for students to use. If anyone does have some spare wool or french knitting dolls they would like to donate, all would be greatly appreciated.

Mrs Carroll’s Muse-ing

I was watching TV the other night but rather than listening to it I was reading the subtitles we had turned on. I was feeling quite tired and found it more relaxing to have subtitles to read while listening with the sound on low, as I become sensitive to noise when fatigued.

In our family we have subtitles turned on for most things we watch, not just for me. One of our children is bilaterally profoundly deaf. He hears with cochlear implants and whilst his hearing is pretty good when he wears his cochlear's, he still doesn’t have the same quality hearing as someone with ‘typical hearing’. When watching something on TV he needs subtitles to assist him with the general audibility so he doesn’t have to work too hard to listen. Before I had my son, I never thought about how much effort it can take for a person to listen or how tired listening can make us. My son is a twin; his twin isn’t deaf. When they were babies my hearing son would regularly sleep throughout the day and night but my son who’s deaf didn’t need nearly as much sleep. It wasn’t until an ENT professor explained that listening tires you; my son wasn’t getting the same sensory stimulation as his brother so he wasn’t as tired. 

There is another reason we have subtitles turned on. I have 4 boys in total and two of them have dyslexia (not my son who’s deaf) and we are constantly seeking ways to provide them with reading opportunities that don't feel like arduous tasks but are supporting their learning. Subtitles on the TV have been a great way of providing this and they can add an aspect of humour when there are mistakes or funny sound descriptive text.

Reading subtitles is similar to ‘incidental reading’ which is the reading we do through the course of our general day-to-day life. As adults we do a lot of incidental reading e.g. reading the news, social media, the weather report, environmental signs, food packaging, food menus, work related text, etc. We’re constantly learning from incidental reading.

My boys with dyslexia face distinct challenges in reading, yet I've observed that both of them have benefited greatly from incidental/casual reading. During numerous car rides, we've engaged in observing our surroundings, deciphering signs, examining shop fronts, and identifying road and place names. Additionally, I’ve encouraged them to read the labels on the food items we’ve packed for their lunches. Together, we’ve enjoyed humorous memes we’ve discovered online, and in their earlier years I would read stories aloud while they followed along. We did lots of reading together BUT please don’t think I did this all the time or even every day! I did it when I could, when they were open to it and sometimes it was tricky to catch those opportunities. That’s why I always rely on having the TV subtitles turned on…that’s something we can do all of the time.

Book Recommendation - Billy and the Giant Adventure by Jamie Oliver

My Book Week book choice to support this year’s theme of ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’

Jamie Oliver, renowned for his culinary expertise, has ventured into a new realm with his children's book "Billy and the Giant Adventure." This enchanting tale takes you on a delightful journey filled with imagination, friendship, and a sprinkle of culinary inspiration. Oliver's storytelling prowess, combined with Mónica Armiño's wonderful illustrations, makes this book a delightful book aimed at readers aged 7 - 11 years.

Twins August and Jesse ask their dad to make up a story one night, instead of them reading from a book. August struggles with reading so she’d much prefer to be read to (there is an inference of August having dyslexia). Dad thinks about it for a bit then decides to tell them a true story, from when he was their age. But they must keep everything he tells them a secret…

The story their dad tells revolves around young Billy, a curious and spirited character who embarks on an extraordinary adventure when he stumbles upon a hidden garden. Here, he discovers a world of fairy-like creatures, befriends a giant, learns valuable life lessons and discovers the magic that can unfold when one is open to new experiences.

One of the standout features of "Billy and the Giant Adventure" is how it seamlessly weaves in Oliver's love for food and cooking. The story incorporates the joy of growing and preparing fresh ingredients, as Billy and his newfound friends celebrate the magic of food. This subtle nod to Oliver's culinary background adds a layer of depth to the narrative, encouraging young readers to appreciate the process of growing and sharing food.

At its core, "Billy and the Giant Adventure" imparts valuable lessons about friendship, empathy, and embracing new experiences. Oliver skillfully tackles these themes in a way that is relatable to young readers, making the book an excellent tool for parents and educators to initiate important conversations about these topics.

While the story is primarily aimed at children, there are moments of humour and wisdom that adults will appreciate as well. The book encourages readers of all ages to embrace curiosity, connect with others, and find joy in the simple things.

Jamie Oliver's "Billy and the Giant Adventure" is a heartwarming and imaginative tale. It took Oliver 4 years to write: he is open about his own difficulties with dyslexia and he says he found it an exhausting but satisfying project. 

For me, Jamie Oliver is the epitome of this year’s Book Week theme - Read, Grow, Inspire. Difficulty with reading hasn’t held him back. His dyslexia, rather than hindering his success, seems to have fueled his creativity and determination.

He has grown by rising to fame at an early age and expanding his influence to launch initiatives such as the Food Foundation aimed at promoting cooking skills and healthier eating habits. He is inspiring in his global impact and philanthropy, tackling issues in the food industry, from promoting sustainable fishing practices to raising awareness about the impact of processed foods on health. 

Oliver's foray into children's literature may just prove to be as successful as his culinary endeavours. I am certainly looking forward to his next book!

Best wishes to you all - 

Katrina (Carroll)

Library Administrator