Pirates Day in the library

To celebrate International 'Talk like a Pirate Day' we had a lunchtime of pirate activities in the library today.  Student librarians did really well hosting this.  Colouring in, pirate mazes, pirate memory and dominoes games kept our library humming.  We gave out stickers and treasure bags to deserving pirates.  Lots of fun and happy faces.

Books for parents

We have a good selection of books for parents in our library.  To see what's available from home you can search the library's catalogue
Search under Reading lists (left hand menu) select the Parents Library list and the book titles and cover images will be displayed.
Two new additions to the parent's library cover the sensitive issue of bed wetting and bowel control. Parents are most welcome to come to the library anytime to use the Parents Collection.  For more information email us

Olympic Reading Challenge results

The medals have been awarded and the points all counted in the Olympic Reading Challenge.  The winners are:

Senior Winner
Maggie Lindbom
Junior Winner
Holly Bamber

These two students will be presented with their prizes at assembly this week.  For a list of other category winners and medal finalists click here

Well done to all those who participated.  Your medals are hanging in the library and will be returned to you in a few weeks.  Please come to the library to collect your personalised bookmark.

Des Hunt visit - wow!

What a fantastic time we had with Des Hunt.  He not only writes great stories but is an amazing presenter.  Des uses very clever science to demonstrate how he crafts his stories - always with the reader in mind.  He learned early on that writing to teach in fiction doesn't work.  Well done Des on captivating us with your skills.  Now for a competition.  The first class (Years 5-8) that answers all the following questions correctly and gets the answers to Mrs Ross in the library, will win a book for their class library.  Click HERE for the questions.  You should be able to type the answers in and then print them out.

Des Hunt - author visit

We are very thrilled to announce author Des Hunt will be visiting our school on Thursday, 16 August, to present sessions about his work and being a writer to our Years 5-8 classes.   Des's stories are all set in New Zealand and he writes in a way that makes his stories sound so real that they could actually happen.  Visit his website to find out more about the books he has written.  It's a great website.  We have some of his books in our library so come in and pick one out.  Be prepared for some wacky science experiments too.

Will Rushton, from Room 16, has read and enjoyed the book The Secret of Jelly Mountain.  Here is his brief review of it.

Jelly Mountain is a fantastic book with adventure and excitement. The location is in New Zealand and a new mystery unlocking at the top of Jelly Mountain. Two kids a boy and a girl dream about what could be up on the top of Jelly Mountain but their dreams are ruined by some one who goes looking for oil. This book I rate 5/5.

Bluestone Olympic Reading Challenge

The challenge is on now so get reading.  The closing date is 17 August.  You can include anything you have read since May 17 as long as a parent or guardian will acknowledge you have read the books.  Books do not have to be from our library.  You can enter at Bronze, Silver or Gold level or all three but a book may only be used once at any level or in any sport.  You do not have to complete all sports at all levels but you must submit separate entry forms if you pick and choose your sports.  Each entry form must be signed by the student and a parent or guardian who must also add a supporting statement.  Entry forms can be picked up at the library or downloaded here.
Bronze Olympic Challenge
Silver Olympic Challenge
Gold Olympic Challenge

Return completed entries to the library to gain your medals and go in to the draw for prizes for the most points gained and medals awarded.  Good luck to all you champion readers.

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.

Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.

Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Bob's Booktalks

Captivated audience

The wonderful Bob Docherty, visited Bluestone on Friday to work his magic on our students by introducing them to the very best books for children and young adults.  Bob is so good at this that the students are begging for the books and finding it hard to wait for them to arrive.  The most popular request so far is for a book called Wonder by RJ Palacio.  Mrs Ross has managed to borrow a copy from the public library and is enjoying the story.  It's written with quite short chapters and is easy to read.  The main character is August, a boy with a severe facial disfigurement who is sent to school at the age of ten.  The story also allows us to get to know his sister Olivia who has had to put up with quite a lot having a brother like Auggie.

Reading to Creative Creatures

Bob with Team Explorer

Selling a story to High Fliers

Think Tank students engrossed

Thanks to Bob we have some great new books to enjoy.

LIbrary skills using ICT a hit

Today in the library Room 21 students used iPads as well as the library laptops to continue the library research skills programme for 2012. Students found the technology easy to use and were very engaged. They were able to build upon last week's activities by locating catalogue records and finding the required information. A very successful session.