Melbourne High School Library

The biggest Biggest Morning Tea at Melbourne High School

tsheko — Sat, 25 May 2013 07:00:31 +0000

I’ve only been at Melbourne High School for almost 2 years, so I can’t judge, but others have said that our Biggest Morning Tea held, as usual, in the library, was the biggest turnout they’d seen. It was so much fun hosting this event, and it’s actually the only day when most of the staff gather in the library, so it’s an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company. Of course, it’s all for a very good cause, and money donated goes to the Cancer Council. There isn’t anyone, I don’t think, who hasn’t in some way been touched by cancer, so it was good to see our staff dig deep for the cause, and although we don’t have the final amount raised, Lynette mentioned we might have broken last year’s record. Thanks to Denise for the gorgeous, quirky displays, and for your streamers entrance, and thanks to Pinterest for being such a gold mine of wonderful imagery and quotes. I have a feeling our strategic (and slightly narrower) entrance leading straight to the contributions table might have been responsible for the increase in money collected. All for a good cause!

Playing with book titles – Book spine poetry competition for Library and Information Week

tsheko — Sat, 25 May 2013 06:31:05 +0000

One of the competitions we’ve run for last week’s Library and Information Week has been the Book Spine Poetry competition. I’ve always loved seeing creative examples of this. It’s fun, hands-on and once you start you can’t stop. Only things I have against it is the shelving after the event! (just joking – I don’t shelve, haha).

At first it seemed that nobody could be enticed into the competition. Our boys are so incredibly busy and suffer from major over-involvement. We have so many interest groups at the school that it can be very difficult for our students to do anything extra. Anyway, I was thrilled when Matt Lyons started the ball rolling – thanks, Matt! – and soon a few more boys started playing with books to create spine poetry.

Here are a few of the entries. We will be judging and awarding prizes some time this week.

Do you ‘like’ our new Facebook page?

tsheko — Sat, 25 May 2013 06:05:06 +0000

I’m convinced that if you take the time and effort to do something, then it should be effective. Sounds obvious, I know, but here’s an example to elucidate. I’ve been writing posts in this blog for over a year now, and although I’m pleased to say that people are reading it, I noticed that it’s mainly teacher librarians from other schools. Whilst this is fabulous, and I appreciate the readership and feedback, I’m still wondering how to promote things to our own school community – the students, teachers and parents. Promotion is such an important part of doing anything at school; you could be spending all your time writing posts and documenting what’s happening with photos but if it doesn’t reach your primary audience, then something isn’t right.

So it occurred to me that a Facebook page might be the way to go. I know that seems obvious but it really isn’t going to be effective unless you know that enough people are on Facebook. Anyway, I’ve created the page – and here it is. It’s (obviously) called Melbourne High School Library. So far it has 49 likes and 11 friends. It’s a start.

Every blog post will be updated here, and I hope to attract more of our students, teachers and parents to the page, but also my very supportive network, some of whom have already given me the thumbs up. What I love about social media is that it brings so many people in, and I’m happy to see ex-students showing some interest in our new page. Thanks!

SRC campaign – student initiative and creativity

tsheko — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:58:14 +0000

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.

2013 – and we’re off!

tsheko — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:18:50 +0000

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!

Stonnington Literary Festival atMHS

bucklandm — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 04:40:13 +0000

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.

Goodbye Year 12s

tsheko — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:34:55 +0000

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.

What I’d like to do before I die

tsheko — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:08:11 +0000

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 -

Paper folding talent

tsheko — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 01:06:03 +0000

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.

Reading Ambassador #9 – Jonathan LEE

tsheko — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:43:53 +0000

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 19^th 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.