Mr Casamento’s favourite reads

November 11, 2008 · Filed Under Book Review, Favourite Books

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The Memory Keeper’s Daughter - Kim Edwards

On a frosty winter’s eve, during the middle of a horrendous blizzard, of 1964, ‘the snow started to fall’ and Norah Henry’s child was coming into this world being born by her Doctor and husband, David Henry. Little did they know that this labour was to change their lives forever…

As his son Paul, was born healthy and wide eyed, his unexpected daughter Phoebe was immediately recognized as having Down syndrome and David’s assistant Caroline was requested to do the most atrocious and gracious thing that any human could be asked. She was to take the baby away to an institution where it could receive proper care. But instead she disappears into a forbidden city (for those with illnesses) and she raises the child as her own.

This tantalising novel is such an engaging read that you won’t want to stop! It’s a tremendous tale of life, lies and loss and is one of the most beautifully written tales of all time.

Find out more about the book at absolutely mesmerizing Memory Keeper’s Daughter at the book’s website, and take the time to read an expert too!

Written by Ryan

November 4, 2008 · Filed Under Book Review

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Uglies - Scott Westerfield

This is the first in a sci-fi novel set in an alternate universe where all is ruled by social statuses. It is ruled by all things cool and ‘hip’. It is ruled by beauty. For the main protagonist, Tally Youngblood, things do not add up and she takes it upon herself to defy this structure. With her own knowledge and help from some insiders she sets out to topple the hierarchy but those at the top like being where they are. How long will it be before they try to quench her rebellion? This story is a gripping read and the series is highly entertaining for older and younger readers alike.

Find out more about the Uglies Trilogy, which includes Pretties and Specials at Scott Westerfeld’s Website. These books are highly recommended for SF fans or anyone who likes a good, thoughtful adventure.

Written by John

November 4, 2008 · Filed Under Book Review

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Readers Cup Challenge

Watch out world!!

The Readers Cup Challenge has begun - and the first round of the challenge has some great books to get stuck into.

The Readers’ Cup is a competition that rewards students who do well at reading and love the challenge of a ‘mastermind’ quizz competition to test their knowledge of a book.

Boys have formed teams of three students, and each team gets to read four books that have been selected by the Resources Centre Staff. The teams will compete against each other in heats, and the first one will be next term. When the day comes, each team in the competition will provide written answers to questions about each book, and the four teams with the highest scores go into the finals.

Books we are reading in the first round of the challenge are:

  • Holes, by Louis Sachar

  • Once, by Morris Gleitzman

  • Lost property, by James Moloney

  • Point Blanc, by Anthony Horowitz

Written by Joseph

September 22, 2008 · Filed Under Reader's Cup

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To Pester of Not to Pester…

A long, long time ago…

…In a school not so far, far away…

… A competition was held to discover….

…the champion of St. Joseph’s College!

The competition to find the champion of Joey’s involved teachers, submitting their favourite book, a small hint written by them which led to, with the help of a blurb of the book written by the teacher, finding out which book was which teacher’s favourite. It was then the student’s job to figure out which of the books belonged to which teacher however using the clues was not the only way of finding out…da, dum, dahhhh!

For the two week duration of the competition- no teacher was safe! If they were hiding in the staffroom, the toilets or the classrooms, they could not escape the tirade of questions or blackmail which was only second to torture. Most teachers crumbled as we stood our stance and stared them down, while others tried to surpass our torment by playing strong. This however was not enough to stop our wrath of awesomeness, as no teacher, not even the headmaster, could withstand our ongoing bombardment. Everybody had fun, and some teachers really stuck out there necks by picking books like the twits, while others played it safe by picking classics like Lord of the Flies (we know you haven’t really read it Mr Bouhabib! We known you’re trying to sound smart but it’s ok to admit that your favourite book is “IT for dummies”.)

Some of the books were really easy (Mrs. Burke- Wuthering Heights) as we know the teachers extremely well, though others, like Mrs. Valentine, were harder hearts to break. Some, like Ms. Blanch’s, were nigh on impossible, and had to be found through process of elimination (and torture to the power of ∞)

The competition’s weirdest book to teacher pair was Mr. Malloy’s, a science teacher, whose favourite book had nothing to do with his clue but was all to do with cooking for competition (please make us a cake, sir). A mention must also go to Mr. Tarlinton, whose offhand phrase of ‘It’s quite cryptical’ led to hours of studying every acronym and backwards spelling of his clue. When we next saw him, he corrected us, “not cryptical in that sense” (we then used emotional blackmail from guilt to find his favourite book, which involved a very severe spelling mistake (again sir ‘j’ not ‘g’ in ‘pygamas’).

In conclusion, a great time was had by all (but the teachers), however we will not be able to write again due to three weeks of detention (the teachers revenge).

Written by Harry and Oliver

September 12, 2008 · Filed Under Literacy Event

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Cherub by Robert Muchamore

Background: Cherub is a book series which has been based on a group of kids in London that work as spies. In the first book (the Recruit) we meet our two main characters James and Lauren Adams.

It starts off with their mum dying and them going to an orphanage. At the orphanage they go to, Cherub have sent out recruiting scouts which is how he joins.

About Cherub: Cherub recruit kids because they believe that they’re un-suspected to be spying on someone. Cherub (in the book) is actually a branch of the British intelligence. The cherub campus is a facility hidden in the English country side.

Cherub is ranked by coloured t-shirts.

The rankings are ranked like this:

-Orange -for visitors
-Red- for kids who aren’t old enough yet
-Blue-for kids in the 100 hundred day training
-Grey-Qualified for missions
-Navy-(James t-shirt) - Outstanding performance on a mission
-Black-Outstanding performance over many missions.
-White- For retired cherubs and some staff

The Other Side: Help earth. This is the terrorist community that Cherubs, James and Lauren, are trying to stop. James’ first mission was to stop a major terror attack planned by Help Earth.

Author and Awards: Robert Muchamore, the author was born in 1972 and worked as a private investigator for 13 years. The cherub series has won many awards including the red house award in 2005 and the Portsmouth Children’s Book Award in 2006.

Books in the Series:

-The Recruit
-Class A
-Maximum security
-The Killing
-Divine madness
-Man vs Beast
-The Fall
-Mad dogs

Overview: This series is very good! I have read up to Divine Madness and have enjoyed them. I would recommend the series to anyone.

Find out more or read sample chapters at CHERUB, or get graphics, information and more at Cherub Campus

Muchmore.com Find out about Robert Muchamore’s life, read his writing tips or make him a friend on Bebo!

Written by Sam

September 4, 2008 · Filed Under General

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National Literacy and Numeracy Week

National Literacy and Numeracy Week at St. Josephs saw a change this year under the new management of Ms O’Connell and Ms Denahy.

The week kicked off with numerous advertisements and decorations - however the festivities only just began on the Wednesday with the ‘Living Books’.

Guests included Kate Colley, a well-known bookseller to the school; Alfred Comb, a 94 year old war veteran; Leslie and Majorie Campbell, survivors and victims of the Stolen Generations; and Chris Kerr, a builder who helped build a chimpanzee sanctuary and ecotourism in Uganda.

Each had their own story to tell and all held their audience captivated with their words as they spoke to students from mixed classes ranging from Years 7-12.

‘Living Books’ and the Resources Centre Staff

The day was bought to an end with students from the College going to read story books to Kindergarten and year one students from the Villa Maria primary school across the road.

Student from Years 10-12 engaged the children with their stories and questions, which they eagerly answered. In all many benefited from the experience and the work and effort really shone through as many students showed their interest in the festivities.

Written and photographed by John

September 3, 2008 · Filed Under Literacy Event

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War of the Wounded

Wounds are made,
And wounds are hidden,
As our condemned troops
Lay wounded … dying
Wounds are made,
And wounds are hidden,
The dank black sky hums,
With the drone of hollow engines
Wounds are made,
And wounds are hidden,
As the death strewn fields
Announce the sun bludgeoned red
From its shallow grave
But wounds are made,
But will they heal?

Written by Kain

Photo:Fields

September 3, 2008 · Filed Under Poetry

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Writing Rampage

We entered the library unprepared, pedantic and a tad lethargic, unsure of what we were to encounter throughout the day to come. After being addressed by a very suavely dressed Mrs. Denahy, instructed to write a book of good taste and either a novel in format or a picture book, we moved to our various allocated places around the library and began planning out the greatest books ever to be written.

Within the first two hours of planning, ironically scribbling notes down in cerise and blue textas, we had drawn one overly unorganized mind map and one outrageously neat storyboard. After this hectic two hours an arranged recess was most welcome as we picked up a hot cocoa each and a biscuit or two as well. It was quite a funny sight to see the various groups typing away at the clicking keyboards whilst sipping away at our hot beverages, quite similar to that of a professional writer.

With our two contrasting pieces of planning we began the set task of writing our own individual chapters that were to be squeezed into our books later that day. As the clock ticked away lunch soon began and we were off on our lunch breaks to enjoy one of the school’s “delicious” meals. After a well-cooked chicken burger each we wandered back to the library to finish off our masterpieces.

With one hour to go, the heat was on as the teachers came around checking on our progress and interviewing those who had spare time. Once we had finished the written work we compiled the book together on one computer and printed off the document on clean, crisp, white paper.

We could sit back and relax at last; time was up!

Write a Book in a Day - awesome experience. You can read our finished marterpieces at Write a Book in a Day 2008.

Written by Ryan.

September 2, 2008 · Filed Under Literacy Event

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Welcome to our space!

Welcome one and all to the space where “students say” what they think! We are not quite sure what to expect, as this is a new venture for us all - and it’s going to be different!

Read what we write, listen to what we say, enjoy our pictures, and best of all - tell us what you think!! We are taking charge of our ‘literacy’ life!

We welcome you, our readers, to this online journal of our literacy experiences.

August 16, 2008 · Filed Under General

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