Our school is buzzing – no, pumping – with projects and activities. The energy is truly palpable. As teachers we experience this as energizing.
Melbourne High School takes students leadership very seriously, and provides many opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. One of these is SRC for each level across 9-12.. Here are some of the promotional student posters scattered around the school.
This is my favourite one
… but they’re all good.
Kicking off the new year at Melbourne High School Library, the dust has begun to settle after a hectic beginning loaded with new challenges. Tempting as it may be to list what’s new in detail, I might forego the comprehensive approach and leave you with a couple of photos of our front window display, arranged with meticulous and thoughtful dedication by Denise. So, in case you didn’t know, February is Library Lovers Month, and February 14 is Library Lovers Day. Well, why not love your library as well as your Valentine. Our display is deliciously tongue-in-cheek.
I love the Myers Windows feel to our old fashioned display windows – so retro. Here’s an adjoining window display -
And after quite a few hitches, and a mammoth collective effort to stick tags in every book in our enormous collection, our RFID self check-out system is finally working. Now, where’s that robotic vacuum cleaner?
Happy Library Lovers Month!
Adolfo Kevin Sammy J. Kat John
[Untitled] our writers, readers and stories
On Friday a group of literary-minded MHS students gathered to celebrate an afternoon event in
the inaugural Stonnington Literary Festival. Chelsea and the team at Stonnington Library had
put together a lively and diverse panel to share insights into their lives and careers across the writing industry.
Adolpho Aranjuez, poet, short story writer and editor and chairperson
Kat Muscat, 21 year-old editor of Voiceworks
John Richards, comedian and filmmaker (of Outland fame)
Kevin Burgemeestre, author/illustrator
Sammy J., local comedian, writer and singer
Our budding writers were fascinated and appreciated the candid insights and, often very humorous, stories.
Last day for our year 12s today which means final assembly and muck-up. It was a day of mixed emotions, good natured pranking and serious shirt signing. We wish them well for their exams and for the next stage of their lives.
I’ve included a few photos of their pranks, as well as the staff presentation at assembly. A wall of framed photos of past educators was an easy target.
Students had to get their pranks approved. It was good to see creative rather than destructive.
The shirt signing before the final assembly.
The final assembly commences. Year 12 teacher coordinators entertained the students with their irreverence.
Another cohort leaves the school community and heads into the big wide world. All the best.
Year 10 students were asked to complete one of four sentences on paper labels. These have been strung around the library and provide an interesting diversion.
The options were:
What I’d like to do before I die.
My dream is …
If I could be anywhere in the world tomorrow it would be …
I’d like to say thank you to …
Here are some of the answers -
Our students never cease to amaze us with their talents and passions outside their academic lives. Year 12 student, Brandon Lam, has been folding a lot of paper to create a beautiful swan which will somehow be incorporated into Year 12 end of year activities.
Brandon Lam, Paper Folder Extraordinaire, is being assisted by his friend, Nathan Yong, in preparing the swan to be suspended.
What are you reading at the moment?
At the moment I’m reading The Thief by Clive Cussler. The main character – Isaac Bell – is a spy who is trying to stop Germany from rising to power using a new invention of the time, which was hugely innovative at the time – known to us as a microphone. The Germans believed that they could use it for propaganda, to get the Americans on their side. The story is set in the 19th Century – just after the industrial revolution. This is the fifth of the Isaac Bell series, and this series is more ‘spy’ oriented, where Cussler’s other books tend to be more action & adventure. It’s the type of book that I enjoy reading. I’m also reading Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Where’s the most enjoyable place that you do read or have read a book?
The most enjoyable place that I read is in bed at night, when everyone has gone to bed. This is usually in the holidays.
What was your first reading memory?
I didn’t do a lot of reading until I got to secondary school & found books Like the Cherub Series [Robert Muchamore]. I guess the genre of books that I like isn’t really for younger readers. I do remember in Year 3 the teacher reading to us – in the afternoons, especially when it was hot – she read Charlie & The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
Thank you, Jonathan, for being our Reading Ambassador, and to Denise for the interview and photo.
