Snow!

let it snow! let it snow!  let it snow!

Photos from last weeks snowfall.  Lots of fun was had by all!!!!!! :)

Week 3 Term 3 already!

I swear the year is flying past.  Thank you to all of you who took part in the John Marsden visit.  He was really impressed by the confidence, politeness and behaviour of our students and the feedback I have had from the visiting schools has been all good so thanks and don't forget to come to the pizza lunch next week if you were one of the helpers.

Joyce Valenza ROCKS!

Day two at the SLANZA conference and we are all inspired and motivated to go forth and conquer!  The amazing Joyce Valenza from Springfield USA (yes I thought that was where the Simpsons lived too) is the woman responsible.  This morning she gave the keynote address to all of your Librarians and then I was one of the lucky ones who was able to attend a more detailed workshop which has just finished....watch this space!  i am now thinking of getting you young men get out into the Library next term with a video camera in order to make little movies highlighting the library, live book reviews etc...Let's do this!

http://springfieldlibrary.wikispaces.com/

if the link above doesn't work try searching it...it will be worth it! :)

Another new website to look at!

Through my contacts at other school libraries, the onscreen tv web site came up in conversation.  This is particularly useful if you are studying NZ History or Social Studies or for wider reading and understanding on such subjects as Maori Protests, Bastion Point etc......

A particularly good resource for downloading and viewing online for free.
Try the link below:
http://www.nzonscreen.com/

John Marsden coming to HIBS!

Keep your diaries handy...John Marsden, the popular Australian author of the Tomorrow series, from which came the movie: Tomorrow when the war began, is coming to New Zealand and we at HIBS are hosting a talk to our students as well as our neighboring schools.  Being a huge fan of the series myself I cannot wait to meet him and find out what he is currenlty working on.  In the meantime do the research, read the books http://www.johnmarsden.com.au/home.html check out the web site! 

Another date to keep free is August 13 when John will be conducting a writing workshop in order to raise funds for the Christchurch re-build...the venue and time is still to be confirmed so watch this space for confirmation or check out the latest news on his visit with the Children's Bookshop in Kilburnie who are organising  everything  http://childrensbookshop.netstep.co.nz/?nsBookshop

ANZAC oratory competition

If you are studying History at NCEA levels this year and are interested in any social aspects to the ANZAC story, you may enjoy the speeches currently being broadcast on Radio New Zealand National
just follow the attached:
the speeches are at the bottom of the page and are well worth a listen!

www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/anzacday

History of the world in 100 objects

This is the book from the radio series!  I am so addicted to this programme that I wake up at 5.00am in order to listen in!!! Tomorrow is the last episode (100) which will be a solar powered lamp made in China 2010.  the thing I love about this series is the fact that Neil MacGregor has chosen mostly things that were commonplace of the time and that would have been used by everyone or have had at least importance to most.  From an ancient Mummy case (240bc) to the Solar lamp each object provides an insight into our human evolution.  Fascinating!

check the link to the web site here and judge for yourself.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/ahow/rss.xml