Newsletter | Live a life worthy of the calling you have received

Last week, we received the announcement that Pope Leo XIV had been elected as the leader of the Catholic Church. His first words 'Peace be with all of you' signalled a commitment to working for what is one of the greatest needs in our world today. I was heartened to hear Pope Leo also use the words ‘dialogue’ and ‘building bridges’ multiple times in his first address; words which resonate with the Catholic and Sionian ethos of our school. We pray that Pope Leo XIV will be supported in his ministry and that the Holy Spirit will guide his work for a better world and better future for all.

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world.

Amen.

Girls Sport Victoria – 25^th anniversary celebration

Last week, our Leadership Team, Head of Sport, staff who are GSV coaches and I, together with the other 22 girls’ schools who make up the Girls Sport Victoria organisation celebrated a significant milestone in the GSV history. The 25^th anniversary of the competition was marked by a celebration at the MCG where we were joined by well over 400 past and present representatives from all school communities to reminisce and celebrate the great benefits of such a strong sporting association for all our students. The evening also provided a chance to hear from Olympic diver, Anabelle Smith, AFLW player, Elle Bennetts and Snow Australia Victorian Interschool Snowsports Advisory Group member, Vicki Hoban who spoke not only of their GSV experiences but also of the importance of sport in the lives of young women.

Our Lady of Sion College is proud to have been part of the GSV story for the last ten years and we look forward to many more opportunities for our students in the years ahead.

Significant Women’s Breakfast

Thank you to the many significant women who joined students last Friday for our annual Significant Women’s breakfast. Well over 600 people filled our LHC and it was a real honour to welcome and celebrate the wonderful relationships our students have with their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, family friends and female teachers at our school. Collectively they play such an important role in nurturing and encouraging our students and fostering a sense of trust and acceptance. Each of these women is significant not just because of their relationship with our students, but because of the emotional, intellectual, and moral impact they have. They help shape identity and values, foster self-worth and a sense of belonging during such an important time in our lives.

Behind every successful woman is herself — and often a community of women who believed in her.

Blessing and Official Opening of the Ratisbonne Discovery Centre, Colmar Centre and Ein Karem Centre

Preparations are now finalised for the Blessing and Official Opening of the Ratisbonne Discovery Centre, Colmar Centre and Ein Karem Centre next Thursday 22 May. As communicated to all families by Christine Kralj recently, the structure of the day will be slightly altered in order that we are ready to begin our ceremony at 3.30 pm. Please note the details below.

This is a significant moment in the history of the College and we are looking forward to celebrating our ongoing commitment to students and staff to ensure they enjoy the very best learning and teaching environment and opportunities.

Finally, I hope students and families enjoy reading this edition of the newsletter which will provide some highlights from the last fortnight.

With every blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Tina Apostolopoulos

It has been a momentous past few days with the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. We ask God’s blessing for our new Holy Father, to be a shepherd who will guide us with love, faith, and humility. As we begin this new chapter, we pray that Pope Leo XIV is filled with the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. We lift up our prayers trusting that with God’s help, he will lead with courage, compassion, and peace.

Year 8 Retreat Day

On Wednesday 7 May, our Year 8 students came together at Holy Cross Centre in Templestowe for their annual Retreat Day. Centred around the theme Building Positive Relationships, the day provided a range of engaging opportunities that students embraced enthusiastically.

The students participated in a series of workshops, and reflected on the College’s theme for 2025, Live a life worthy of the calling you have received, discussing how it could be meaningfully expressed in their daily relationships. Each Homeroom created a banner as part of their reflection, which will be displayed in their classrooms for the rest of the year.

The celebration of the Eucharist concluded the retreat, where all were invited to reflect on the reading from John’s gospel, which was a powerful reminder of the depth of God’s love and Jesus’ call for us to extend that love to one another:

'This is my commandment, that you love each other as I have loved you' (John 15:12).

Siena E and Charlotte G from 8 Blue reflect:

The first session had three different parts, which all had some component of team building, and communication. The first part was a game where we were given a word, and we had to find the person with the matching word, however, we didn’t know what our word was as it has been stuck on our backs. The purpose of this game was to help us build stronger relationships with our classmates and strengthen our communication skills. After we had found our pair, we then had to sit back-to-back. One of us had to draw an animal or object by listening to the other person’s instructions on where to place different shapes and lines. This activity also helped us with listening and communicating. For the final last part of the session, we were asked to design a banner with this year's College theme Live a life worthy of the calling you have received which reflected the different members of our Homerooms.

The morning tea break ran smoothly, despite a bit of rain. We had access to an amazing space outside with plenty of room for the entire year level. We also were given some delicious apple and blueberry muffins to enjoy.

Our second session was all about healthy and unhealthy relationships and assumptions. Mr Wilkes showed us a presentation and an inspirational video that was about how kindness spreads and will come back around to you in the end. We also reflected on our own relationships at school, at home, with sports teams, and more.

Overall, the retreat was such a great experience and provided us with some very valuable lessons, and we are all very thankful for the teachers that helped make it possible.

Wishing all members of the College community many blessings.

How We Think About Teaching

Mrs Ioannidis, Mr Larkins and I are part of a MACS Masterclass series that intentionally applies specific and research driven learning pedagogies that studies indicate will lead to improved student outcomes. The main premise is that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process. We have reviewed, discussed and applied a lot of different strategies and as reflective practitioners, we are actively discerning what will work in our context.

An interesting article that we read in preparation for the last session was entitled How to Improve Student Learning in Every Classroom Now by Janet S Twyman and William L Heward which emphasises the importance of active student responses (ASR) to improve learning outcomes.

Choral Responding: This involves all students in the classroom responding orally in unison to questions or prompts from the teacher. It's effective for questions with a single, brief answer. It also includes reading along with the teacher as key points are being made.
Response Cards: These are cards, signs, or items that students hold up to display their answers to teacher-posed questions. They can be pre-printed with options like yes/no, true/false, multiple-choice letters, or even be write-on boards for more varied responses. This also gives teachers an indication of what students know/don’t know and what may have to be re-taught.
Guided Notes: These are teacher-prepared handouts with blanks that students fill in during a lecture or presentation. This keeps students actively engaged in listening and writing, increasing their focus and retention of information.

Of course, there are a lot more ideas than this. A good discussion at home may be to share the strategies that work best for you. Consider what you have to do to focus, when your motivation for it may be low. Showing your teenager that this is a challenge for everyone, normalises the experience and will give them language to talk about their preferred way of learning.

While our staff are engaged in Professional Learning on Friday 16 May we will be thinking about how we can take what we know about our learners and adjusting how we are teaching, to match how they learn best.

Supporting Your Child After a Wrongdoing: Navigating the Difficult Conversations

As parents/carers, we all hope that our children will always make good choices, but what happens when they make a mistake, especially one that feels out of character or harmful to others? This can be challenging, particularly when the behaviour is public or involves peers and other families. It’s important to approach the situation with a mindset that encourages learning and growth, even when emotions are running high.

Recently, I watched the series Adolescence and it gives food for thought. We see the struggles of Jamie and his parents as they navigate his wrongdoing. While the story is intense, I encourage parents/carers to set aside the time to watch. It reflects a truth many parents face: no child is beyond making mistakes. While Jamie’s behaviour is an extreme case, it serves as a reminder that sometimes, we must acknowledge our child’s missteps, even when we find it hard to believe they are capable of such actions. Denying the reality of their mistakes can prevent them from learning crucial lessons.

When you first discover your child has done something wrong, it’s essential to stay calm. Reflect on your child’s usual behaviour and then approach the situation with empathy. Ask questions, listen carefully, and ensure that your child feels heard, without jumping to conclusions. The way you handle this first conversation sets the tone for how they will process the situation and learn from it.

Often it is the school that is notifying you of the incident after gaining some of the facts. Remember that engaging positively with the school is important. Whether the incident happened at school or online, the school is an important partner in addressing the behaviour and ensuring the child understands the impact of their actions. In some cases, other parents/carers may be involved, and the situation may become public. While it’s natural to want to protect your child, it’s equally important to support the school’s efforts in holding them accountable, as this teaches valuable lessons about responsibility.

In the digital age, much of our children’s lives unfold online, out of our immediate view. Social media and messaging platforms can amplify poor behaviour, and it’s unrealistic to expect that all bad decisions will occur under the watchful eye of an adult. This is why it’s crucial for parents/carers to maintain an ongoing dialogue about online behaviour and the consequences of actions, both online and offline.

Ultimately, Adolescence is not just a story about a boy making mistakes, it’s an opportunity for parents/carers to reflect on their own approaches to discipline, communication, and support. By watching and discussing the show with your partner, other parents/carers and child, you can open up conversations about responsibility, empathy, and understanding. Remember, every child is bound to make mistakes. It’s how we respond that shapes their growth.

Emotion Coaching - Tips on Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child - An Article by Justin Coulson

I invite you to read another great Happy Families article by Justin Coulson about Emotion Coaching. The article is linked here.

The final year of school is filled with milestones and meaningful experiences, and our Year 12 students continue to embrace the many opportunities available to them. Amidst a demanding study schedule, they remain actively involved in school life.

Last week, our Student Leaders generously supported the Significant Women’s Breakfast, while others took the chance to celebrate with important women in their lives. The House Athletics Carnival was another highlight, with plenty of fun, friendly rivalry, and the much-loved tradition of Year 12s dressing-up in their creative costumes. It was wonderful to see so many students embracing the spirit of the day.

Another special event this week was the Mentor’s Breakfast, where students heard from past graduates who shared insights and advice about life after school. Thank you to Ms Brooke O’Hara for organising this valuable experience and to the Year 12s who availed themselves to this opportunity.

Looking ahead, students will engage in a series of life skills sessions as part of the Pastoral program. Led by Homeroom teachers, these rotations will cover practical topics such as Medicare, HECS, voting, budgeting, cooking, partying safely and travel safety tips. These sessions aim to prepare students for the transition to adulthood with confidence and real-world knowledge.

The Gadal program is another important aspect of life in Year 12. These scheduled classes focus on supporting Year 12s with their studies and may include School-Assessed Coursework (SACs), Masterclasses in specific subjects, VCAA information sessions, GAT practice sessions and/or supervised study periods. All students are expected to attend these classes unless otherwise advised. We ask that if a student is unable to attend for a valid reason then parent/ carer communication is emailed to Ms Dale Hunter, Director of Senior Learning, and me.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement as your daughter navigates this demanding, yet rewarding, stage of her life.

Earlier this week, the Year 10s took part in our Pastoral session that looked at ways to support their organisation of upcoming assessments and exams. In our end of Term 1 survey the Year 10s reflected that they need additional support with:

Procrastination and Motivation – struggle with delaying work and finding the motivation to start and complete tasks efficiently.
Time Management and Prioritisation – want to improve their ability to plan, balance their workload, and focus on the most important tasks.
Study Habits and Focus – aim to develop better study techniques, concentrate more in class, and engage in more effective revision strategies.

Our focus in our study skills session focused on time management, prioritisation, study habits and focus. We spoke about the importance of using diary strategies that allow us to see what is occurring (coming up). Then we looked for spaces in our week that allow us to dedicate ourselves to our studies. Finally we spoke about how motivation comes from doing. By adopting our plan on a continuous basis, motivation will come because of this, of being consistent.

Over the coming weeks, we will explore executive functioning skills that can be developed and fostered. I’d like to encourage our Year 10 students and families to explore:

Problem Solving (flexible thinking):

In this area I encourage our students and families to take on board a growth mindset approach. Look for positive ways to solve the problem that is before you. This could be breaking a bigger task down into smaller chunks, it could be navigating how to approach asking more questions in class. Or it could be seeing the opportunities within your week to spend time studying on your subjects. I encourage our young people to ‘think critically and solve problems’. Parents/carers can, and will, act as the support. But allow our young people to own this process.

Seeking Support:

I really want our young people, (and our parents/carers) to know that it is perfectly okay to seek support. We can seek support by asking questions, by starting conversations, by being curious on how others around us use their executive functioning skills to benefit what they do each day. By seeking support we can learn what might work for us. Support can come from many places, parents, carers, friends, teachers and extended family members. I promise you (young people, parents/carers) that you are not alone. Share your thoughts and concerns. By discussing these, you engage in explicit teaching and learning of seeking support.

In our first two articles we have spoken about organisation, planning and prioritising, problem solving (flexible thinking) and seeking support. These executive functions we do every day, without noticing on most occasions. I want to encourage all Year 10 families to name these functions when you see them in action. I like the way you solved that problem, I see how you planned out your day, I loved the way you sought out that help and advice, I acknowledge that shift in your mindset, to see what was possible on that occasion. By naming what we see, our young people (all of us) will be able to grow with confidence, little bit by little bit.

Finally, I’d also like to thank those families that joined us at the Morrisby Information session this week. It was wonderful to see so many families present and I certainly agree with many of the parent/carers' reflections on just how good the Morrisby report is for our young people. There is so much opportunity for exploration of what they may consider post secondary education.

As we head off into the next cycle, explore what is possible, be curious and ask plenty of questions.

Each fortnight the Year 9s are given a focus for the weeks ahead; one wellbeing related and one study related. These foci are also shared with Year 9 teachers to promote their use in classes and so that students are able to see their use across their study and wellbeing aspects of their lives. The study focus is taken from the Habits of Mind which allow the development of skills that are related to their academics, but also promote key skills of leadership. The wellbeing focus is made in response to the feedback given by the Year 9 SRC, Alice D (9 Red) & Ava R (Purple), and the Year 9 Class Leader team which meet fortnightly.

For the current fortnight, the following foci have been shared on our Year 9 Google Classroom and have been read to the students by their class leaders:

🙆🏼‍♀️ Thinking Flexibly: being able to look at situations from different points of view, change your mind when needed, and try new ways of doing things is a superpower for problem-solving, relationships, and learning! As we move through the next fortnight, consider if there are new ways of thinking about different situations and challenges.

🙅🏽‍♀️ Try Something New: everyday we have the opportunity to try something new. This could be trying to see the day in a different light, trying a new food, talking to a different person or doing something out of the ordinary. These new things - whether big or small - allow us the opportunity to learn about ourselves and to grow as people. Have a chat with your friends or family on something new you could try together for a shared new experience.

This week we were also excited to have our SRC lead their first assembly for the year. In response to the feedback from Year 9s, the leaders were able to include a range of reports from different portfolio leaders and share the initiatives and ideas they are working on within the SRC team.

Finally, a core aspect of the Year 9 Social Justice program is our involvement with the Days for Girls charity. As a year level we will participate in a number of fundraising initiatives to ensure that the work of this charity can continue so that women who menstruate in developing countries continue to receive packs that allow for privacy and dignity. Donations are now open for students to give to a Year 9 Period Pamper Pack. This could include donations of period items, snacks, beverages, heat packs, comfy socks etc. – anything to make a period more comfortable. These packs will be raffled off at the end of term and we welcome any donations from students and their families.

Have a great fortnight ahead.

On Tuesday during our Pastoral lesson, we continued to discuss the harmful nature of gossiping and rumours. We emphasised that if the answer to any of the following questions is no, what they’re going to say must be stopped and not shared; Is it true? Is it nice? Is it helpful?

In small groups, students were presented with a variety of different scenarios that may occur in their day-to-day lives and given the opportunity to discuss the best way to respond to information about somebody else that a friend might have passed on to them. ‘Stopping the chain of transmission’ is a crucial aspect of reducing this harmful practice and the students were guided through ways to respond to situations presented. In most cases, the correct response was to not spread the information and keep it to themselves or to speak with a trusted adult depending on the seriousness of the information.

This lesson also provided the opportunity for reflection on their current friendships and whether gossiping and talking negatively about other people was a significant part of their conversations. If this is the case, it is worth considering whether that friendship can continue in its current form to have a positive influence on their life rather than a negative and harmful one. A friendship that is built on gossip and treating others poorly will often end in the same way.

Please encourage your daughter to approach their Homeroom teacher or me if they would like any further support with any of the above. Your support with maintaining consistent messages about what has been covered is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I recently came across a fantastic ABC series available on iView hosted by Amanda Keller called Role of a Lifetime, which offers parents a fresh perspective on modern raising of teens and tweens by uniquely blending scripted comedic scenarios of a fictional family (starring Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussain) with factual discussions and expert advice from specialists like Maggie Dent. The show tackles pertinent contemporary issues such as technology, social media, teen mental health, and relationships, aiming to empower parents/carers with practical tips and confidence by also incorporating teen perspectives on these challenges.

We are thrilled to welcome our new Italian Language Assistant, Miss Noemi Lacirignola, to the Sion community. Through a program supported by CO.AS.IT, last year we applied to have Noemi join our Languages Department, and we were fortunate to be selected. Noemi brings a wonderful mix of cultural insight, valuable experiences, and genuine enthusiasm. She began her time with us last week and will remain at the College until 12 December.

Noemi was born in Mannheim, Germany, to a German mother and a Pugliese father. When she was just four, her journey took her to Italy, where she grew up in the beautiful coastal town of Fasano—just ten minutes from the sea.

Her passion for languages has guided much of her life. She pursued her first degree in languages in Bari, where she lived for three years, before moving to the enchanting city of Venice. Known for its canals and scenic walks (with no cars in sight!), Venice became her home for another three years. There, she completed a degree in English Language and Literature and gained valuable teaching experience by working with international students learning Italian.

Now, Noemi embarks on an exciting new chapter—her first visit to Australia! We are delighted to have her join our school community. She will be working alongside our Italian classes, supporting students in developing their speaking skills and offering authentic, engaging, and meaningful language experiences.

In just a short time, Noemi has already made a wonderful impression. Our students have quickly warmed to her and truly enjoy having her in the classroom. Her friendly nature, cultural insight, and passion for language learning are sure to bring a fresh and dynamic energy to our lessons.

Outside the classroom, Noemi enjoys going to the gym three times a week, travelling, cooking, and—most of all—eating at all hours of the day!

We wish her all the very best as she embarks on this exciting journey with us. May her time here be filled with growth, joy, and lasting memories. Benvenuta, Noemi!

Term 2 Music Soiree – Monday 19 May

I encourage as many instrumental and classroom students to sign-up to perform solo music items at the Term 2 Music Soiree, that is on this coming Monday 19 May at 5.00 pm in the Miriam Theatre. Interested students need to talk to their instrumental/classroom teacher, or email me here.

VCE Music Performance Unit 1 and 3 Recitals – Monday 19 May

VCE students studying Music Performance (Repertoire) at Year 11 and 12 are presenting their semester recitals on Monday 19 May at 5.00 pm in the Music Room RD 1.22. Parents/carers, and friends of these students are most welcome to attend.

Year 7 Ensembles Open Rehearsals – next week

Parents/carers of our newest Sionians are invited to attend one of the rehearsal sessions of the group your daughter is involved in. Go behind the scenes to see how an ensemble practise session runs! Please refer to the poster below for specific times for each group.

Prospective Students Years 3, 4, 5 Information Evening – Intermediate Strings

The Intermediate Strings, under the direction of Mrs Jackie Tinsley, are performing at the Prospective Families Information Evening on Tuesday 27 May, to support this important evening for parents/ carers interested in sending their daughter to Our Lady of Sion College.

2025 Ensembles Concert Thursday 3 July 2025

We are very excited to present the annual Music Department Ensembles Concert this year as part of Music Week. All Our Lady of Sion College Ensembles, large and small, will be performing. It will run in two ‘acts’ according to the schedule below. TryBooking links will open soon.

Act 1: 5.00 – 6.30 pm Year 7 Junior Concert Band 1 (Monday morning group), Jazz Club, Year 7 Junior Strings, College Choir, Intermediate Strings, Flute Ensemble, Senior Concert Band, Combined Strings, Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choir
Act 2: 7.00 – 8.30 pm Year 7 Junior Concert Band 2 (Tuesday afternoon group), Rock Band, Year 7 Junior Choir, Senior Strings, VCE Music Class, Intermediate Concert Band, College Vocal Ensemble, Senior Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choir.

Details on how to book will be communicated via EdSmart soon.

25 Year GSV Celebrations

Girls Sport Victoria know how to throw a celebration! Over 420 people that have played a role in providing opportunities for girls to participate in sport attended the MCG on Tuesday 8 May. Since 2001, GSV have empowered girls to participate and thrive in sport. It was fantastic to speak with guests past and present that have had an impact on a school and association across the quarter century. Although we have only been a member of GSV for the past 11 years, our contribution in weekly and carnival sports has been solid. A special mention to Tina Apostolopoulos for supporting our sports program and assisting with the 25 Year Celebration planning committee, working behind the scenes to ensure the night was a success. Guests of the night listened to a panel including Anabelle Smith, Vicki Hoban and Elle Bennetts who detailed their experience within GSV sport and the growth that they have witnessed in themselves and their communities. Executive Officer, Michelle Barry perfectly summarised the benefits of participating in Sport stating "When girls play sport in school, they don’t just become better athletes, they become stronger students, more capable leaders, and more confident young women." We are excited to continue to provide opportunities for our students to participate in GSV sport for many years to come!

House Cross Country

On Tuesday 6 May, 180 students headed to the clear blue skies of Springfield Park to participate in the annual House Cross Country. It was fantastic to see the continued growth in the event, with a 20% increase in participation from last year. Top 10 students in each year level will be announced at Year Level Assemblies. Well done to Loreto who took out this year’s House Cross Country by a narrow 3 points!

House Cross Country Placings:

1^st – Loreto – 130 Points

2^nd – Lourdes – 127 Points

3^rd – Fatima – 104 Points

4^th – Carmel – 62 Points

House Athletics

It was a glorious autumn day over at the Tom Kelly Athletics reserve in Doncaster, where students participated in the 2025 House Athletics Carnival. This year saw more than 60% of the College participating in a track and field event in addition to the House novelty events, which was a great result. Congratulations to Fatima who has taken out the House Athletics Carnival for the seventh consecutive time in a row. Well done to the following students who set a new College record!

New College Records

Year 8 400m– Carla P (8 Red),1:06.01 (OR: 1:08.19, 2021)
Year 8 800m – Carla P (8 Red), 2:54.71 (OR: 2:55.24, 2006)
Year 10 Javelin – Isabelle A (10 White), 26.24m (OR: 24m, 2013)
Year 11 4x100m Relay – Fatima, 57.65 (OR: 58.93, 2016)
Year 12 Javelin – Grace N (12 Purple), 25.27m (OR: 25m, 2015)
Year 12 Long Jump – Madeline B (12 Blue), 4.91m (OR: 4.64m, 2014)
Year 12 4x100m Relay – Loreto, 58.62 (OR: 59.65, 2016)

House Athletics Placings:

1^st – Fatima – 2289 Points

2^nd – Loreto – 2065 Points

3^rd – Lourdes – 1941 Points

4^th – Carmel – 1889 Points

Aerobics

On Friday 2 May, our aerobics teams headed off to Doncaster Secondary College for the Aerobics State Qualifiers. We are pleased to announce all three teams qualified, with our Senior and two Junior teams taking out 2^nd, 3^rd and 6^th place respectively. A big thank you to Ms Macdonald and the alumni coaching team for their ongoing support and dedication. Our students are now busily preparing for the State Championships on Saturday 31 May. We wish them all the best in the lead up to the big day.

As we move towards the cooler weather, there are opportunities in the LRC at lunchtime to get involved with. Inside our Makerspace cupboards there are numerous activities and technologies that students can engage with from papercraft, electronic kits through to 3D printers and drones.

Here are some activities that are occurring in the LRC at the moment:

Wednesday Afternoon Homework Club

Sometimes students like to study with friends and it is with this in mind that we present 'Wednesday Homework Club'. BYO cup and pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate and grab some cookies. The payment for the snacks is to sign into our Homework Club Book and to actually do some homework!

Of course, students don’t have to wait until Wednesdays to use our space for a study session. We are open most afternoons until 4.30 pm and the door is open for students to study or read quietly before they go home. The LRC has a wide range of resources and boomerang items (such as staplers, sticky tape and bull clips) to support students with organisation and study skills.

Lunchtime Crochet Club

A spark from a recent Crochet Workshop at lunchtime in the LRC Makerspace, saw a small group of Year 9 students and staff organise a regular catch up to work on projects.

Scattered throughout the group were experienced and inexperienced crochet crafters and soon there were Year 7 and 8s wanting to learn. If anyone has any crochet hooks or wool that they would like to donate to the school, please feel free to drop it off at reception.

Mother's Day Card Making Workshop

Taking advantage of the hallmark holiday, we set up a card making station in the LRC for students to flex their scrapbooking skills to make a celebratory card. Utilising some old water damaged books, we gave them new life by turning them into decorations. When students craft they build up their bilateral coordination skills and of course their imagination. These tools and resources are available all the time for students to access, as long as they pack them away after use.

Do you have an idea for a club?

Students are encouraged to speak to the LRC staff if they want to reserve space inside the LRC for a club or activity.

Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge Book Reviews

Since the last newsletter we have verified 635 verified books, which almost doubles the number of books that were verified in the last newsletter.

Please enjoy the following book reviews from our students:

'Our Race for Reconciliation' by Anita Heiss. Linked here.

This was a very educational book for me. Even though it was a fictional story I learned a lot throughout the book, especially about Aboriginal culture. My favourite character was Trish. This is because of how kind she was to write a letter to Cathy Freeman just because she knew how much it would mean to her best friend Mel. I think it was really effective setting the story in 2000 because it shows how far we have come in recognising indigenous culture but also how far we still have to go. Olivia W (7 Blue)

'Undercover Princess' by Connie Glynn. Linked here.

Undercover Princess is a fantasy book that will keep making you turn each page, to see what happens next. There will be an ocean of twists and turns coming your way. Lottie Pumpkin, a girl that dreamed of being a princess, is an ordinary person that’s going to Rosewood, a school filled with fancy rich people. Ellie Wolf, who wished to be ordinary but is a secret Mavarish princess. Her and Lottie decided to switch roles. I highly recommend this book to the ones that love fantasy genres and princesses. Elli N (8 Gold)

Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge Quicklists are available through our library catalogue: