Goodbye and Goodluck!
Dec 7th
Today is the day we farewell the year 9 students – most of whom are going to the senior school next year, but some of whom are continuing their journey elsewhere.
The end of the school year is an exciting time for all students; it is a time of reflection – things learned, friendships made – and a look toward the coming year with excitement and anticipation of the new beginning it represents. From the Resource Centre staff we wish all the girls and families of Marymount a wonderful, safe and Holy Christmas, and all the best for 2012, wherever that journey leads.
Funky New Furniture
Dec 7th
Gone are the days of libraries being dark places of silent independent study – sitting at desks with chairs as hard as concrete – no wonder people develop an aversion to libraries!
This year, the Marymount library has updated its non-fiction shelves and added some comfy new furniture in funky colours – making the library a vibrant hub of learning.
Interactive Whiteboard for Language Learning!
Nov 28th
The Drama/Languages Room in the Resource Centre is getting a new interactive whiteboard installed this week.
Be sure those pinkies are clean before you use it!
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Nov 24th
Literacy is such a vital skill – think about how many times during a day you read without even really thinking about it. Ads on tv, the internet, newspaper headlines, magazines and their headlines, photo captions, song titles on your ipod, computers/ipads/iphones etc, facebook status updates, twitter, street signs, instructions from teachers on assignment sheets, labels on clothing and food, price tags. Every single one of things requires some amount of reading.
We are a Resource Centre/Library, so of course we LOVE books and reading. We are not the only ones, but can you believe that there are some people out there who… *not sure if I can get the words out* don’t… love… books!!! ! I KNOW right? Hard to believe! I mean, I have to admit, I sometimes feel like the slowest reader in the world, and sometimes, (just sometimes) I get the whole, hate reading thing. That being said, there is nothing quite as good as being taken away by a well-written novel, or having your heart strings tugged by the cleverly chosen words and illustrations of a picture book, or laughing so hard it hurts and you can’t help but try to find someone to share it with!
Well, eight years ago, the Premiers of the various States of our country got together to try to do something about it. The gauntlet was thrown, the Challenge was named: read 12 books between the start of the school year and September. The Challenge has been so successful in getting reluctant readers more involved with, and interested in books, that it is now in its eighth year. Not only does it serve as encouragement for children who screw up their noses at the thought of reading, it rewards those young people who already love reading.
Today we celebrated those girls from Marymount who completed the challenge this year. For some, it was their 8th successfully competed challenge. What an achievement!! Congratulations to those girls, and to everyone out there who gave it a go. Don’t give up on reading. When you find a good book, it makes it all worth it!
Remembrance Day 11-11-11
Nov 10th
Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year Australians observe one minute silence at 11 am on 11 November, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. Every life is precious in the eyes of God. Please all take a moment to be thankful for the fortunate life we lead in Australia, while we remember those who have died in the name their countries, say a prayer for peace, and for those who are currently serving their country. Every person who has ever died fighting for their Nation has been someone’s much-loved father, brother, mother, sister, daughter, son. Lest We Forget.
NEW BOOKS!
Nov 2nd
PAN’S WHISPER – SUE LAWSON
Pan Harper is brash, loud and damaged. Ordered into foster care, she is full of anger at her mother and older sister and is certain that she knows the reality of her past – until she meets Hunter, the boy who understands her story better than anyone else and who just may be the key to unlocking the truth of Pan’s memories. But are some memories best left forgotten? And is Hunter worth Pan breaking her most important rule? – Never. Trust. Anyone.
SHADOWS ON THE MOON – ZOë MARRIOTT
In Shadows on the Moon, the traditional fairytale of Cinderella is transformed into a powerful story of love and revenge set in a reimagined feudal Japan. Trained in the magical art of shadow weaving, Suzume is able to conjure up illusions and recreate herself in any form. But who is she really? Whatever her true identity, Suzume is determined to capture the heart of a prince – and to use his power to destroy her enemies. And nothing will stop her, not even love.
EVERY YOU, EVERY ME – DAVID LEVITHAN
In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs – some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he’s been torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan’s starting to believe it’s Ariel who is behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more he starts to unravel himself.
WHEN WE WERE TWO – ROBERT NEWTON
Dan isn’t going to take his dad’s abuse anymore. He’s sixteen, old enough to leave; and maybe he’ll find his long-lost mother in the process. What Dan doesn’t count on is being followed by his younger brother Eddie. Their bond is tested by the characters they encounter and when they fall in with a small group of would-be soldiers marching over the mountains to join the fight in the Great War, who take the boys under their wing, the experiences they share together with this rag-tag crew will shape all their lives forever.
TAKEN AWAY – CELINE KIERNAN
When twins Pat and Dom’s demented grandma sets their house on fire, the family is forced to move. It’s then that 13-year-old Dom starts to speak in strange old-fashioned tones and to behave weirdly. Only Pat and his baby sister realise that something seriously bad has happened to Dom. Pat gradually learns that Dom’s body has been taken over by the vengeful ghost of a boy whose own twin was killed in the trenches of World War I. The race is on to appease the ghost goblin boy’s demands before Dom completely fades away into the grey half-life, where he is neither dead nor alive.
Book of Everything Performance Review
Sep 29th
I believe The Book of Everything performance was well worth while going to see. I loved how there was a big book on stage and every time they would switch scenes they would turn a page in the book. I thought it was interesting how the performance was based on a true story and I found it hard to believe that the sort of violence in the performance actually occurred in a real life situation. My favourite character in the play was the main character Thomas because he was very funny and entertaining to watch. One thing I learnt about him as an actor was he went to Nida acting school the acting school I want to attend when I leave school. Over all the performance was good and I enjoyed the day.
By Monique
Book of Everything Performance Review
Sep 29th
I had never read The Book of Everything before we went to see this play, so I decided it would be fun to see the performance and learn about the story. This fact did not affect my understanding of the play, as it was extremely detailed and entertaining, I became in awe of the story in the beginning. The play was about a boy who was 9, named Thomas, who could see things others couldn’t. He recorded the things he could see in his journal- the book of everything he called it. As time went on, he had more things to write about. His Papa has started becoming violent, and hitting his mother and himself when they misbehaved. His sister Margot did not get hit because she was always on his bet behaviour. One day, Thomas helped their next door neighbour (The Witch, he nicknamed her) to carry her shopping inside. After this kind act, Thomas befriended her, and began to confide her with his worries. In the end, the violence gets so bad that Margot stood up to father, threatening him with a knife and telling him to stop hitting them. Father then learns with help from their neighbour, that they shouldn’t take their anger out in violence. I loved this play, although it was quite confronting in the fact that it was related around domestic violence. I got many messages out of this play, one of them being that you should never face fear alone.
By Emily
