Read Know Grow!
Our Term One Newsletter is full of stories from both our libraries, Mt Sion in the Junior School and Westcourt in the Middle School.
Library Lessons
In Junior School library lessons this term, Mrs Burton has been extending on what is being learnt in the classroom. Year 4 have been discovering more about Captain James Cook, in Year 5 they have been exploring narratives and a novel study (see more below) and in Year 6 they have been writing Biographies.
In English lessons Year 5 have created a portfolio of work and written a range of texts to persuade (persuasive writing) and entertain (narrative). Students learned to set a scene by writing a ‘Swoop’ – a clever technique that drew their reader in, built suspense, and allowed them to paint a picture in their mind. Formative reading assessment is underway and students have dedicated reading lessons. Who doesn't love a good book? The boys continued to expand and refine their knowledge of spelling and grammar conventions while enjoying the class novel study was Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. And our teachers have loved reading the story aloud to an enthralled group of Dahl devotees!
Break Time - Fun Time
Break times in Mt Sion are super busy, so we now have a timetable to meet everyone's interests. There's games, puzzles, mindfulness, construction, chess, craft, cards and Friday films! You can check out the timetable via the ATC App under your year level tag.
Easter Borrowing
Students are encouraged to read over the holidays and we make this super easy by opening up holiday borrowing for the Easter break. Add to that a fun Easter Reading Challenge set by Mrs Burton and the books will be flying off the shelves this week! The Easter Reading Challenge is where boys have to read as many books as possible over the Easter break, every book read earns a 'Bakehouse Buck', which can be redeemed at either the Bakehouse or Paddy's Place. See Mrs Reynoldson or visit Westcourt homepage for more details. Come down to collect your Easter Reading Challenge form today! T&Cs apply.
Digital Library
We also remind students to make use of our digital library ATC Wheelers, over the holidays. Get online to get reading!
New to Clickview
- Dylan Alcott Meets : The Hon Julia Gillard
- Holderness : Sustainable Coastal Management Planet Reef : Resurrecting the Reef
- Norway : Climate Champions or Hypocrites?
- Australian Story : Game Changer - Parents worry their children are gaming to excess and don't know how to deal with it. An Australia-first program is tackling problem gaming;
- Global Ecosystems -Looking at characteristics of ecosystems and the factors affecting their distribution. Also the threats they face and their impact on an ecosystem's dynamic equilibrium;
- The Science of Vaping - health effects and links to the tobacco industry;
- 50 Years Of Mr. Men & Little Miss - insight into publishing icons and what the characters mean today.
New Reads
These reads are recommended by Mrs Burton for Junior School students:
These reads are recommended by Mrs Reynoldson for Middle and Senior School students:
Reader's Cup
In Week 8 of Term Two, we will have a Year 5/6 team representing ATC at the Readers' Cup. Keen readers should express their interest to Mrs Burton. A Year 7/8 team will represent ATC at the Readers' Cup too and our keen readers should express their interest to Mrs Reynoldson. reynoldsonk@atc.qld.edu.au You can CLICK HERE for more information!
Suggestion Box
We have had a huge influx of new books this term at Westcourt. With students contributing to the suggestion box at the circulation desk we are adding many fiction, non-fiction and graphic/manga titles to our collection! You can have your say by dropping a message into the box at the Circulation Desk.
Year 7 Flash Fiction
Year 7 students have keenly embraced their new library space and the expanded collection available to them. Students are borrowing in their library lessons and a time has been mandated for them to "just read" in silence and we call it 'Flash Fiction'. Even those students who thought they couldn't concentrate in silence have quickly adapted. Borrowing rates have dramatically increased with many students appreciating this time put aside for them to just read. You can CLICK HERE to read Mrs Reynoldson's blog called In a Flash - It's a Game Changer.
Looking Ahead - 2023 Literary Festival
We are looking forward to our 2023 Literary Festival to be held in Week 4 of Term Two from Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 May. A range of talented authors and artists will be presenting to boys in Years 4-12. This is a week where we focus on all things 'literary'! There will be Surprise Storytime sessions as well as a stellar line up of special guests. This year we are honoured to welcome author and poet, Josh Donellan, Manga artist David Lovegrove, slam-poet Angela Peita, non-fiction author, author, columnist and editor Tim Baker, poet and author Michelle Taylor, author Sam Wheeler and Shakespearean Hip-Hop artist, Charlie Tompson. Boys will be treated to both cohort presentations and small-group workshops, to titillate their literary appetites! We are also very excited about having a Middle and Senior School Book Fair and a Book Chat evening for parents on Tuesday 9 May. More news on that to come! Please email library staff with any questions about our upcoming Literary Festival and keep an eye on the ATC App and Mr Gardiner's blog.
Happy Easter,
Mrs Kristy Reynoldson
Head of Library Services
