Quote of the Month

If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats is inferiors, not his equals.

- J.K. Rowling (Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Harry Potter Quiz - Winners

It seems there are a lot of Harry Potter fans in the school. 20 students got every single question right.

Congratulations...

Agnel Joseph (7 Ward)
Anthony Elliott (7 Ricci)
Cara McKinnon (11 Canisius)
Daniel Duncan (8 Castillo)
Dylan Vigilante (7 Ward)
Finn Ferguson Cumming (8 Realino)
Harper Renkauskas (7 Ricci)
Harry Leamer-Alessi (10 Olglive)
Joshua Bouma (7 Claver)
Karla Sorerenson (10 Olglive)
Leah Bensted (10 Briant)
Lily Nicholls-Noy (10 Garnier)
Luke Lawson (8 Campion)
Nikita Page (9 Gonzaga)
Petar Panjkov (10 Kostka)
Rory Quinn (7 Ward)
Sarah Skeen (8 Castillo)
Sebastian Sbrissa (9 Gonzaga)
Siara O'Brien (8 Rubio)
Ted Murphy (8 Castillo)
Tom Smith (8 Campion)

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prizes.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next year!

Check out the blog again when school starts again 2017 for a new competition and a chance to win!

In the Cinema - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

A copy of Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them resides in almost every wizarding household in the country. Now Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to Comic Relief, which means that the pounds and Galleons you exchange for it will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard. If you feel that this is insufficient reason to part with your money, I can only hope that passing wizards feel more charitable if they see you being attacked by a Manticore [blurb from goodreads.com].


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone… [blurb from goodreads.com].

Harry Potter - quiz

The last quiz for the year was created with the assistance of a pair of year 9 students. Are you as Harry Potter mad as them? Do you get stuck into the trivia of the HP world?

How well do you know the the Harry Potter books and movies??

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 25th of November.

Winners announced Monday 28th of November.

New in the ILC

Username: Evie by Joe Sugg

A graphic novel from the YouTuber ThatcherJoe.

Like anyone who feels as though they just don't fit in, Evie dreams of a place of safety. When times are tough, all she wants is a chance to escape from reality and be herself.

Despite his failing health, Evie's father comes close to creating such a virtual idyll. Passing away before it's finished, he leaves her the key in the form of an app, and Evie finds herself transported to a world where the population is influenced by her personality. Everyone shines in her presence, until her devious cousin, Mallory, discovers the app... and the power to cause trouble in paradise [blurb from Goodreads.com].



Gone Wild by Robert Muchamore

Book #3 in the Rock Wars series by the author of CHERUB.

The Rock War TV show is the most-watched reality show on British telly, and it's only halfway through. Jay, Summer, Dylan and their bands have all made it past the tough Boot Camp stage, into Battle Zone. The last six bands will fight it out until the season's finale, live on Christmas Eve.

But it's not all about the music. Summer was hit by a motorbike at the end of Boot Camp. Jay's brother Theo can't keep out of trouble - or out of handcuffs. And Dylan, the outsider, is investigating corruption within the workings of the competition itself.

They've got everything to play for ...

Google like a pro: Tip #5

Using define: to look up the meaning of a word

Can't be bothered finding a dictionary? Easy, use Google as a dictionary!

Google will often provide a definition of a word if you only search for one word, but to make certain it does use define: before your word and Google will know to provide you with a definition. It will also sift through the web to provide you with definitions for acronyms.

e.g.

A Flamboyance of Flamingoes - winners

There were nine students who knew which animals group is flocks and which in troups or bands.

Congratulations...

Abbey Stanic (7 Licona)
Anthony Zanghi (9 Isore)
Benjamin Robertson (9 Isore)
Charli Nisbet (7 Coudere)
Harrison Keating (7 Lewis)
Laney McFadyn (7 Coudere)
Matthew Elliott (9 Gonzaga)
Tess Craven (7 Miki)
Thomas Hruska (7 Borgia)

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prizes.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next week!

Check out the blog again next week for a new competition and a chance to win!

Book Trailer: Illuminae

Illuminae by By Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

So Kady thought breaking up with her boyfriend, Ezra, was bad enough. But that was just the start of it.

Now her planet has been invaded and the evacuation fleet is on the run from an enemy warship. On top of that there is a virus on one of the ships that seems to be mutating with some pretty scary results.

Not to mention the AI that is supposed to be protecting them? well, let's just say it got damaged during the evacuation, and it may or may not be going mad, and it probably can't be trusted. Only it has to be turned on to activate the defence grid, which they are going to need when that enemy ship catches up to them, and there is no way of knowing if it will turn on the enemy ship, or the fleet...

"I'm on a ****ing derelict warship on the run from the psychotic crew and insane artificial intelligence trying to save my ****ing boyfriend. Damn right it's nuts!"

Told in IMs, military files, emails, interviews, computer logs and other hacked documents.

Shortlisted for the Gold Inky Award 2016.

Mrs Kelleher rates this read 5 stars 

A Flamboyance of Flamingoes - Quiz

This fortnight's competition is all about Collective Nouns. You know: a flock of birds, a swarm of bees, a herd of cows, a so on. What about some of the more obscure ones? a clowder of cats, or an ambush of tigers?.

How well do you know the animal kingdom??

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 11th of November.

Winners announced Monday 14th of November.

Student book reviews

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children is a strange book about an ordinary boy named Jacob. Jacob learns about his grandfather's extraordinary past, and it turns out that Jacob is not as normal as he thought he was.

Why I picked it up: I heard about the movie coming out and it looked interesting, so I wanted to read the book before I watched it.

Why I finished it: Because it was so strange, that it made me want to keep reading. I also loved the characters.

I'd recommend it to: Anyone who enjoys supernatural books, and ones about family and friends.

I rate it:


Year 7 student

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

by J.K. Rowling

19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. The main character is Albus Severus Potter, Harry's middle child, and his battles with being a teenager.

Why I picked it up: I was the first one in the library to see it.

Why I finished it: EVERYTHING!

I'd recommend it to: Fantasy fans

I rate it:


Abigail Valentine Rawlins (9 Beltran)

Quote of the Month

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Pixar quiz winners

Well, no one got every question right. But there were 6 students who got all but one question, so they will all get a prize.

Congratulations...

Ruby Downes (7 Coudere)
Jazmyn Galea (8 Xavier)
Devlin Wootton (10 Briant)
Bianca Sagor (10 Garnier)
Katerina Mifsud (10 Garnier)
Isaac Carpenter (10 Morse)

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prizes.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next week!

Check out the blog again next week for a new competition and a chance to win!

For those who are curious the correct answers were:

Q1. What was the first feature film released by Pixar?
 A. Toy Story

Q2. Name the film
 A. The Incredibles

Q3. The short film "Presto" was released as the introductory clip before which feature film?
 A. WALL-E

Q4. Name the character
 A. Bruce

Q5. Which was the lowest rated Pixar film on Rotten Tomatoes? (i.e. people thought was the worst)
 A. Cars 2

Q6. Name the film
 A. Finding Dory

Q7. How many Pixar films have been nominated (so far) for an Academy Award, and how many have won at least one award?
 A. 13 nominated, with 9 films wining at least one award

Q8. Name the character
 A. Heimlich

Q9. From which Pixar short film did their desk lamp icon come from?
 A. Luxo Jr.

Q10. Name the character
 A. Young Macintosh

Student book reviews

Fangirl
by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl is about a girl named Cath going to college. She and her twin had always shared everything, they were a packed deal, but when they got to college it all changes.

Why I picked it up: My mum gave it to me as a present.

Why I finished it: It was really hard to put down. It always had me hooked.

I'd recommend it to: Anyone who is up for a book filed with love, adventure and fan fiction.

I rate it:


Year 8 student

Time Traveling with a Hamster

by Ross Welford


This book is about a kid named Al Chaudhury who lives with his mum, step-dad and step-sister. On his 12th birthday he gets a letter from his dead dad to go back in time to save him. Now Al, and his pet hamster, have to travel back and forward in time to save Al's dad.

Why I picked it up: My teacher recommended it to me.

I'd recommend it to: People who like adventure books

I rate it:


Emily Hurst (7 Carroll)

Google like a pro: Tip #6

Do a reverse image search

Looking for an image, but don't know how to describe it? Perhaps you have saved an image but now need to go back to the original website to get EasyBib details? Or maybe you have found a picture, but you don't know what it is, or how to find something similar.

Google lets you search by uploading an image. Simply click the camera icon in the search bar. Upload the image, paste it, or even drag and drop. Simple!

Calling all book reviewers

The ILC would love to start publishing YOUR book reviews. After all, the best way to find your next
great read is to ask a friend. So we want students to start recommending books for other students.

Book reviews don't have to be long, or hard to write. If you are not sure where to start try the following formula:

• What was it was about: No spoilers please! What sort of book was it, how did the plot start? (maybe about 50 words)
• Why I picked it up: what attracted you to the book? e.g good cover? genre? recommendation? (1-3 sentences)
• Why I finished it: what was good about it? characters? style of writing? action? (1-3 sentences)
• I'd recommend it to: a friend? people who enjoyed a particular book?  (1-3 sentences)

  Give it a star rating:
    1 star = Didn't like it
    2 stars = It was ok
    3 stars = I liked it
    4 stars = I really liked it
    5 stars = OMG it was amazing

We are happy to give you the credit, and publish your name. Or, if you are shy, you can remain anonymous - it is your choice (let us know).

email your book reviews to Mrs Kelleher (kelleherr@)

Pixar quiz

This fortnight's competition is all about Pixar cartoons. The movies, the shorts, the characters. The student who correctly answers the most questions will win the prize.

How well do you know Pixar?

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 28th of October.

Winners announced Monday 31st of October.

Small Things by Mel Tregonning

This is a great book with no words that tells the story of a young boy who feels overwhelmed by his worries and fears.

In the beginning of the story his worries make him feel isolated, no one else seems to notice or care that he feels like he is falling apart. But gradually he learns that there is help, and that he is not alone. In fact, that most people are being followed around by their own worries.

With amazing illustrations, many people will be able to find parts of themselves in the pages.

Writing vs. Typing

Did you know that writing things using a pen and paper makes you learn better and faster?

Did you know that students who use their laptop for all of their note taking usually end up taking more notes, but remember and understand far less?

Taking written notes when researching

• Removes the "cut and paste" temptation that can lead to plagiarism.
• Re-writing in your own words helps you check understanding.
• Makes things easier to remember.
• Forces you to make sure you are sticking to what is really important.

[Jessie S] . (2016). Note-taking: writing vs. typing notes. Retrieved September 5, 2016 from https://studyskills.com/students/note-taking/?inf_contact_key=827980b2a7905ed4e3db8f8485871ce23fb1f03adac1526f9af69afbbd787ec4 

Music Rocks quiz winners

There were 3 people that got every single question right in the quiz - including, for  the first time, a teacher!.

Congratulations...

Caine Gale (8 Owen)
Benjamin Robertson (9 Isore)
Mr Dainton

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prizes.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next week!

Check out the blog again next week for a new competition and a chance to win!

For those who are curious the correct answers were:

Q1. Name the artist
 A. Slash

Q2. Which band is Axl Rose doing a fill in for while on tour?
 A. AC/DC

Q3. What are the names of the brothers in AC/DC?
 A. Malcolm and Angus Young

Q4. What is the name of Def Leppard's drummer?
 A. Rick Allen

Q5.  How many parts on a rock drum kit?
 A. 8

Q6. How many strings on a guitar?
 A. 6

Q7. How many strings on a bass guitar?
 A. 4

Q8. Which Beatles band member got shot outside his house?
 A. John Lennon

Q9. Who did the first ever power slide in rock history?
 A. Led Zepplin

Q10. Which was the most successful band in history?
 A. The Beatles

Q11. Name the band
 A. Metallica

Q12. Which member of the Foo Fighters was also the drummer for Nirvana?
 A. Dave Grohl

Now in the Cinema

Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins



EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAYAnd then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good? [blurb from Goodreads.com]

Book Trailer: Extraordinary Means

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

If you love John Green books, try this.

Lane has been diagnosed with a new strain of tuberculosis that is totally drug resistant. TB is a lung disease that is pretty much a death sentence. Kids with the disease are sent to special country homes to recover with rest and fresh air. Sometimes people go home. Usually they don't.

Lane thinks that his life is over when he is sent to Latham house. But when he gets there he meets Sadie and her friends - a group of troublemakers that are determined not to measure their lives by their health charts. They will sneak phones into their rooms and steal internet time, and sneak into town for coffee just to feel normal.

But how real can love be when life seems so temporary?

Mrs Kelleher rates this read 3 1/2 stars

Google like a pro: Tip #4

Using site: to search within specific websites

You can use Google to search within a particular website using the site: function.

Let's say last week you saw a news article about Tasmanian devils on news.com, and now you want to find it again. You can search Google like this:

Tasmanian devils site:news.com



e.g.

This trick also works really well when you are watching a movie and want to know what other films one of the actors has been in search for the actors name, or film name and add site:imdb.com

Quiz - Music Rocks

This fortnight's competition was created by a student in 9 Faber. The person who correctly answers the most questions will win the prize.

How well do you know your Rock Music?

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 14th of October.

Winners announced Monday 17th of October.

Inky Award Winners Announced

These are the best books published last year, as voted by teenagers.

The GOLD Inky (written by an Australian author) goes to:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This is a book that will blow your mind. It is written in a series of emails, IM conversations, interview transcripts, public notices, web pages, and other odd and ends.

An ex-couple are, with the rest of their colony, on the run from an enemy spaceship. The AI on their battle cruiser has taken damage, and might, or might not, be insane. There seems to be a really nasty disease breaking out on one of the other ships, and there might be zombies involved along the way.

"I'm on a ****ing derelict warship, on the run from the psychotic crew and insane artificial intelligence trying to save my ****ing boyfriend. Damn right it's nuts."


The SILVER Inky (written by a non-Australian author) goes to:
I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

If you like John Green's book, try this one. It's a gorgeous story of love, loss, family and betrayal.

A pair of twins that were really close, until something drove them apart. What they don't realise is that they each have only half the story.

"The sun, stars, ocean, trees, everything, I gave it all up for you."

Google like a pro - Tip #3

Using minus to exclude words

Sometimes when you search Google you will be flooded with results that you are not interested in because they used the word in a different way to you.

Let's say you were looking for information on jaguars - the big cat, not the car. But the results seemed to be all about the car. You can re-do the search using -cars (no spaces between the minus and the word you want to exclude), so Google knows to leave those pages out.

e.g.

Pop Culture quiz winners!

Only one student was able to get every question right.

Congratulations...

Anthony Zanghi (9 Isore)
Benjamin Robertson (9 Isore)
Fraser Richards (12 Bobola)

You will need to come to the ILC to collect your prize.

Congratulations to the other students who had a go. Better luck next week!

Check out the blog again next week for a new competition and a chance to win!

For those that are curious the answers were:

Q1: The young rising star, Anton Yelchin, 27, was tragically killed in a freak accident with his car  before the release of the latest installment on Star Trek Beyond. Which film or TV show didn’t Yelchin appear in during his short career?
 A: Perks of Being a Wallflower

Q2: Pokemon Go was released on and has quickly broken all records. It has also led many humans into some unfortunate and downright bad situations. Which of the following incidents hasn’t happened (yet)?
 A: Rival teams of Pokemon Go players have a “dance-off” in a gym located on the moon.

Q3: Kesha’s lawsuit against Sony relating to her allegations of abuse by her producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, and the February ruling that Kesha cannot invalidate her contract caused an uproar inside the industry and, in particular, other female singers came to her defense. Which of the performers below didn’t publicly come to Kesha’s defense?
 A: Rihanna

Q4: Despite poor reviews and intense, widespread hatred for Ben Affleck, his movie has been raking in the dough. The film is also the debut of several other live-action depictions of other superheroes. Which of the following doesn’t make an appearance?
 A: Green Lantern

Q5: After taking the Internet by storm, which adorable cat has recently become a toy empire?
 A: Pusheen

Q6: Match the artist with their song:
 A: Calvin Harris (feat. Rihanna) --> “This Is What You Came For”
Justin Timberlake  --> “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
Sia (feat. Sean Paul) --> “Cheap Thrills”
Katy Perry --> "Rise"
The Chainsmokers (feat. Daya) --> “Don’t Let Me Down”
Kent Jones --> “Don’t Mind”
Drake (feat. WizKid & Kyla) --> “One Dance”

Quote of the Month

"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever."

- Walt Disney

New in the Library

There is a whole pile of books that have just arrived in the ILC. Check out the display TV for the full list. But in the meantime, maybe you want to check out some of these titles:

Skyfire by Michael Adams

This is the first book the Seven Signs series. Perfect for anyone who loved The Last Thirteen series or Conspiracy 365.

7 teenagers
7 signs
7 continents
7 days to avert disaster.

Fast paces, thrilling. This one will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

Looking for a book that will break your heart?

June is suffering at the hands her step-mother. It happens in ways that make is really hard for her to speak up. When June's dad is around Kathleen pretends to love her, so her dad thinks that June is just having trouble adjusting to having a new mum.

Then June meets Blister, a kid who is home schooled, who hangs out in some abandoned caravans. He, and their caravans, become her safe haven. Away from Kathleen. Away from her stepsister. Away from the bullies at school. Blister becomes the light in her dark world. She starts to dream of flying far away. But can you fly with broken wings?

Mrs Kelleher rates this read 3 and a half stars

Google like a pro: Tip #2

Using an asterisk within quotes when you are not sure of a word

You can still use quotation marks even when you are not certain of the exact wording of what you are looking for.

Let's say you and a friend are debating about a famous quote from a movie. You remember it differently to your friend, and neither of you can remember which film the quote came from. How do you work out who is right? Put the bit of the quote you both agree on, substituting any words you are not sure of with asterisks:

e.g.

Quiz - Pop Culture

This fortnight's competition is set in the world of popular culture. Test your knowledge of celebrities and Internet fads. The person who correctly answers the most questions will win the prize.

How well do you know your Pop Culture?

Go to the competition

Entries close on Friday 16th of September.

Winners announced Monday 3rd of October (first day of Term 4).

Short, exciting reads

Looking for a super-exciting super-shot read? Try something from James Patterson’s Bookshots series. None of the books is longer than 150 pages, and all are action/thrillers.

Private Royals by James Patterson

At a cocktail party the night before the Trooping thr Colour parade for the Queen’s 90th birthday, Jack receives a phone call from the Due of Aldershot saying that his daughter, Abbie, has been kidnapped. He needs Private on the case - one word to the police and Abbie will be killed.

Jack has to find Abbie before 11:00 a.m. the next day, or the kidnapping will turn to murder.

The Hostage by James Patterson

The grand opening of the world’s most exclusive hotel: forty floors of breathtaking luxury.

VIPs gather in London for the ultimate preview. But one uninvited guest plans to make this a day the city will never forget.

Global Head of Security, Jon Roscoe, confronts a killer with a deadly timetable.