The Potter Library has a display on “Making A Difference” about giving to charity this Christmas For example, All Hallows’ is donating wage savings from the recent industrial action to the Sr. Mary Ronan Fund that supports All Hallows’ students and families in need. So be a bit M.A.D. this Christmas. More at: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/ http://today.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=176601 http://www.christmas-australia.com/content/christmas-giving

Congratulations to winners of the Potter Library Book Review Competition: Read these and other reviews on the Potter Library moodle site in the Reading section. Students are encouraged to keep adding reviews for direct entry into the next competition in 2010.

Drink meter from the government of South Australia This interactive program helps estimate Blood Alcohol Concentration through a simulated drinking session. Good message for all; as well as teenagers http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=180
“There are no credible predictions for worrisome astronomical events in 2012” Recently, NASA responded on their website to the hype around the year 2012. More at http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/yoemans20091110.html

Education Queensland has recently changed its teacher code of conduct in relation to social media networks, such as blogs, facebook and myspace As an early adopter of moodle, All Hallows’ has a secure context for teaching students how to use social networking tools, in a password protected and monitored environment. This does not mean that external social networking tools are never utilised, but that teachers are aware that using public contexts requires teaching the associated rights and responsibilities. The following article “Plug in, log on, take care” by Jane Fynes-Clinton would be useful to share with your daughters regarding their personal use of these tools. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26304500-5012473,00.html

Multi-tasking, and the lure of screens Students can be distracted by phones and screens; but the crew of Northwest Airlines who flew 150 miles past their destination, have also discovered the wisdom of time management and task focus. For a spot of humour about the distractions of screens, you may enjoy the following; perhaps best viewed after any holiday plane trips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UieFk6yq74w

And so we come to the end of another school year Again, this year has seen further increases in student numbers in the Library, with students are using an even wider range of software and online learning tools, especially through moodle; increased use of digital cameras; and the success of netbooks in facilitating increased access to learning; anywhere, anytime. We have also seen increased interest in popular culture and reading, albeit much of it related to vampires. This site http://www.teenreads.com/features/ultimate-reading-list.asp may inspire reading ideas. Please encourage the girls to read over the holidays as research shows that literacy skills decline if reading is not maintained, and have a happy and safe Christmas. Thank you for your support in 2009. Thanks also to our wonderful Technology Department, and our amazingly talented Library team, and God’s blessings to all, till next year…