Learning in the Library

Community library

This week in the library we were excited to have Kate Pitman-Fernandez and Lucia Pappalardo launch our new student Community library. This initiative gives our students the opportunity to share their love of reading and contribute to a positive cycle of generosity.  Community libraries have shown the power to improve social connections and increase access to literature, whilst promoting recycling and sustainability.

Students from Year 5-12 are invited to share a book they have read and loved and take one in return.  Kate Pitman-Fernandez has embraced these elements of paying it forward with her donation of Time Shelter. Sharing her experience with the future reader, Kate writes of the joy and enlightenment she has derived from reading Time Shelter and shares her wish for this to extend ‘To the next intrepid reader’.

To give generously, share knowledge and care for the environment honour our Dominican heritage. It will be wonderful to see our students embracing the spirit of the ‘gifting economy’, giving freely books they have enjoyed without expectation of future rewards and emphasising the importance of joy, kindness, and positive relationships in our College.

Neurodiversity Week display

Also this week, Alica Bouantoun and Olivia Hone of Year 8 look at the display celebrating Neurodiversity Week. The response to this display, both from students and staff in the library and online, has been overwhelming. Through reading we can improve our understanding of the lives of people different from ourselves thereby building awareness and empathy.

Students in reading classes from Year 5 – 8 have been learning about different people who are neurodivergent. As a class they have read the first chapter of “Anything but typical”, a story of the experiences of an autistic twelve year old boy living in a neurotypical world.  Our students have shown great maturity and interest in their response to this book. To further broaden their awareness, students have been challenged to read a book by a neurodivergent author or containing neurodivergent characters.