Term 1 : Friday 13 April 2018

We are certain that they (and their teachers) are looking forward to the break.  With just 2 terms remaining, the HSC target is well defined for them, as you might remember yourself.

Over 200 parents joined us this week on Wednesday evening, to hear the noted psychologist Colleen Hirst, on the topic ‘Positive Parenting in an Age of Anxiety’.  Well received, Colleen will make available several slides from her presentation and parents across the College will be able to download them early next term.  We will also continue to offer our ‘Well Being Matters’ events during the year.  Thanks to the organising team.

Have you purchased your tickets to the Musical yet?  Selling fast, the ‘Leader of the Pack’ tickets will allow you to enjoy a fast paced program including lots of those well-known hits from the early Rock & Roll era.  Over 100 students from Senior and Junior School will entertain you and the family as they bring their talents to the stage.  Plenty of tickets are still available – just follow the links on the website.

The new Gymnasium and Oval complex, to be named the Rawdon Middleton VC Sports Complex, is nearing completion, and we expect to be able to use the Oval soon.  Perhaps the Junior School Cross Country Carnival will be the launch event.  What a way to test out the new surface!  In naming the whole complex after Middleton, the namesake of our suburb and a distant relative of both the Hassall and Hume families, we honour his strength and courage and that of the thousands of servicemen and women who have served the country in wartime.  With ANZAC DAY held this year during our vacation period, we are reminded of such great service at this time of the year.  Our complex will allow students and community members the opportunity to reflect on these great themes.  Our first European History Tour takes place over the break, with the team visiting the French Battlefields along with the Ancient History sites of Italy.  What a great opportunity for the students on this excursion.

Several Parent Teacher nights have been held over recent weeks.  We trust you have had time to speak with teachers about your child’s learning progress.  We have also had a number of breakfast events to open up discussion over coffee about the College programs.  Let’s continue to bring these opportunities through the coming months.

Please enjoy the vacation time with family and take time to refresh for the next term.  Thank you for your ongoing support of the College, our students and staff.

‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ … may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better’ Ephesians 1:17

The Reader of the Month for March is Brooke Greenup (Year 9) Congratulations! Brooke has won a book of her choice.

Each month a prize is given to the student who borrows and reads the most books. Open to all grades. Will you be the Reader of the Month for April/May? Borrow a book from the IRC, and start reading today!

Game VS Novel Term 1 Competition

The Game vs Novel competition is now over.

The prize draw will be held during lunchtime Friday 4th May. (Week 1, Term 2)

First prize: $20 EB Games voucher and a book of your choice.

First runner up: Book of your choice.

Second runner up: Book of your choice.

Thank you to all students who participated in this competition.

Term 2 Competition Sneak Peak

We all have a favourite book, a book that we can't put down, that stays with us forever, and that we want to read over and over again!

However what would be your teacher's favourite book? Could you guess it? Could you figure it out?

Stay tuned for more information next term!

What's new on the shelf?

A fantastic new book on Australia's two greatest generals has arrived in the IRC!

Monash & Chauvel - Roland Perry

"John Monash commanded the Australian forces on the Western Front at the most critical time of the war, 1918. With his German Jewish heritage, Monash was an outsider who had risen to his position through his ground-breaking military achievements. Almost uniquely among Allied generals on the Western Front, he learned the lessons of past failures and devised the tactics that allowed his Australian troops to break through the stalemate of trench warfare as well as masterminding crucial battles.

In the war against the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, Harry Chauvel led the 34 000 strong Desert Mounted Column. Chauvel was an Empire man, who considered himself as British first, Australian second. His attitude changed in the course of the war, when he realised he would have to ignore the directives of his British superiors and take the initiative in planning battle tactics himself if he was to defeat the Turks and drive them out of the Middle East after 400 years of brutal rule over the Arab tribes.

By the end of the war Monash and Chauvel had brought a distinctly Australian sensibility to their areas of operation, involving flexibility, innovation and a deep respect for the troops they led, which was in turn reciprocated by their men. Their impact on the war was immense and, in this fascinating and compelling account, bestselling author Roland Perry does full justice to their extraordinary careers and the soldiers under their command."

Monash & Chauvel written by esteemed Australian historian Roland Perry is a wonderful book that makes the compelling case that John Monash and Harry Chauvel can be and should be considered the two greatest generals of the First World War. Providing detailed information not only on the two generals, Perry also provides insight into the lives and thoughts of the Australian soldiers who served under their commands.

With Anzac Day approaching, Monash & Chauvel is highly recommended to all readers who would like to gain a deeper and richer understanding of the great contribution these two Australian Generals and their men made to the winning of the First World War. It is a great resource filled with fantastic maps and black and white photographs, and would very useful to all history students.

This is just one of many great Anzac resources to be found in the IRC. Please speak to Library staff for other great titles.

Please see the new book stand in the IRC for more great new resources! 

Overdue books

Many students still have outstanding books from 2017. Students need to return these resources to the IRC as soon as possible.

Overdue notices will be sent out this week. If any students require a printed list of their loans please speak to Mrs Comiskey or Mr Smith.

Students who do not return their books will be invoiced for a replacement copy.

Mrs Annette Comiskey & Mr Michael Smith
Senior IRC Library Team