The beginning of the year is always busy, preparing and distributing over 1,700 textbooks within the first few weeks. With an unexpected change in staff, it is with thanks to Mrs. Kim Hekimian who kept all staff and students happy, meeting their textbook needs. Term 1 also saw us engaged and celebrating being back at school, displays were created. We set up the WIDE reading program and began the database and research lessons.
During Term 2, Merici College hosted the Canberra Heat of the Kids’ Lit Quiz. This was a huge success, we had participants from Year 5 through to Year 8 from 16 schools across Canberra consisting of 37 teams. This is an opportunity for book lovers and the avid reader to shine, testing their knowledge of book and author trivia. It was with excitement that one of our teams; Catherine Brooker, Tamsin Gloag, Elizabeth Goldsworthy and Nhien Vu came first. This meant we travelled to Sydney for the National finals. Its an impressive feat and we finished fifth nationally.
Week 6 of Term 3 had us celebrating Book Week. The Book Week Committee did an amazing job, creating activities to keep everyone busy and interested in reading. Activities included a Scavenger Hunt, lunch time trivia, Kahoots, quizzes during Pastoral Care, a cake decorating competition and the Dress Up Parade. It is always so inspiring to see the creativity expressed and the fun had by everyone involved. This annual activity brings the whole school community together over their love of characters, books and reading.
We finished off the year with some big events. We welcomed the author and graphic novelist, Nicki Greenberg, for a day of activities. Year 8 listened to her share being an author, Year 9 had an information session on the adaptation process from novel to the graphic form and interested volunteers attended a writer and/or illustration workshops.
We run chess as a co-curricular activity, competing in interschool events through the year. In Term 4, the Interschool Girls Chess Tournament was also hosted by Merici. Being held at our school meant many students could join in the fun.
The iC would not be the hub of the school and could not run or provide the services it does without the wonderful work of the library staff. It is with gratitude I acknowledge and thank Mrs. Kim Hekimian, Ms. Anne Lange and Ms. Nicole Dwyer Johns for everything they do to keep the library looking enticing, running smoothly and remaining the safe place for all in our school community.
Mrs. Ann Blakey
Teacher Librarian
