2023 saw another awesome year in our library! The library continues to grow in popularity with plenty of students gathering at break times to discover their options for creative play, searching our wide selection of books or just interacting with like peers. Staff are continually exploring the physical and digital resources that can enhance and be adapted for their teaching and learning outcomes in our unique library environment.
Library Collection News
During the latter part of 2023, our fiction collection has been sorted, refined and regrouped in to genres with the aim being to encourage and assist students in the selection of fictional reading material. New visual appealing labels and descriptions of each genre will finalise our reinvigorated fiction section during 2024.
Chess Fever continues at WBHS
The Chess Club continued their success during 2023 with an interschool competition every term and new players joining in and learning new skills.
The Interschool Chess Challenge local heat at Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College organised by the Sydney Academy of Chess was attended again by our Chess Team. A successful set of 7 games of chess saw our team awarded the 1st placed school trophy.
A local heat of the Interschool Chess Challenge was attended by our Chess Team at Central Coast Grammar School. Our team were successful again in receiving 3rd placed school.
Following our great success at these local heats, two teams progressed to the semi-finals and received the 2nd placed school trophy. Our top 5 players progressing to the finals, at Burwood in Sydney. A fantastic team effort by all students!
NSW Junior Chess League. Our Chess Team played in the NSW Junior Chess League, Country Secondary Schools Competition in the Hunter Region. Following all the rounds during the year, our team were awarded the ‘Hunter Region Champion Runner Up’ trophy in 2023.
Library Lovers’ Day 2023
Our annual Library Lovers’ Day was enjoyed by our staff and students. We had an array of celebrations, sweet treats, and some of our students composed some beautiful poems acknowledging our wonderful library.
Game Changer Challenge 2023
A record number of eight (8) teams entered the 2023 Game Changer Challenge, a design thinking program run by the Department of Education. The Solar-Powered Fridges were successful in taking part in the semi-finals virtually but unfortunately did not progress to the finals.
Big Bookweek Celebrations 2023
Bookweek was another celebrated success in 2023. Activities included were Mario Kart challenge, Harry Potter Trivia, Dungeon and Dragons, Minecraft challenge, speed reading ‘The Lorax’, plus much more. Enthusiastic staff and students took part in all the challenges. A fantastic week of celebrations.
Best Borrower
The library started the ‘best borrower’ competition for students during 2023 to encourage reading. Each term a book voucher gift card and chocolates are awarded to the student with the most borrowed books. This initiative also awards a student with a prize of encouragement who is noticed continually borrowing from our book selection.
Jigsaw Kids
Our community jigsaw continues to attract some avid students and they are flying through 1000-piece puzzles regularly.
Senior Study Hub
New Senior Study Co-ordinator was introduced to our study area this year. Our focus was on communicating important and relevant study techniques and keeping our senior students organised and productive during their study periods. A new initiative was the introduction of brief weekly presentations covering all aspects of their academic commitments for the week including regular updates for assessments. The role has developed into a positive collaborative connection between the co-ordinator and HSC teachers.
That ’s a wrap for 2023…
Let’s just say…. It All Happens in our Library😊
