Highcliffe School Library

Where reading comes to life!

This academic year has seen a drive to encourage our students to spend more time reading for pleasure. To achieve this, our fiction section has been recently expanded, with greater shelving space enabling our eye-catching new titles to be displayed.  More comfortable seating areas give space for students to relax and enjoy their reading.  A request list near the entrance invites students to request the new books they would like, which can then be ordered.  Extra copies of our most popular titles have been added to our collection, to keep up with demand.  Those with an interest in Science or Maths will also find a growing selection of new fiction books to appeal to them and extend their interest.

Newly upgraded library software Eclipse.net offers staff and students the opportunity to access a powerful library database of approximately 25,000 books, DVDs, CDs, periodicals and catalogued websites from anywhere in the school, via the ‘my Highcliffe’ system.  It is possible to reserve, review and request items through this.

We are about to embark on an exciting new reading initiative with Years 7 & 8, called Accelerated Reader.  This will help students monitor their own reading and choose books at the right level for them, with a balance of challenge and enjoyment to enable them to progress rapidly.  It should give extra impetus and structure to students’ reading habits and there will be the added incentive of inter-class competition.

Daily lunchtime activities mean that the library is enjoyed in a variety of different ways.  Several new clubs have been started, so there should be something to appeal to most students.  Everyone is welcome to attend, so there is always the opportunity to try something new.

Mondays: Lego club.  Bring your own or use ours.
Tuesdays: ‘Horrible’ Tuesdays.  Activities based around the ‘Horrible Histories’ TV show.
Wednesdays Wk A: ‘Bookies’.  A relaxed group to share your favourite books, discuss genres and authors.
Wk B: ‘Big Quiet Read’.  An opportunity to enjoy reading in complete peace and quiet!
Thursdays:  Magazine Day.  Browse our selection and request your favourite titles.
Fridays: Board Games.  From Scrabble to Yahtzee, over 30 games to choose from!

In addition to the above activities, there have been many other events so far this year and more still to come.  Autumn term saw a chance to share a favourite read with others through the Book Review competition.  Top prize went to a student who surpassed himself by reviewing every book of a five-book series – certainly a convincing recommendation!

The appearance of the (very purple!) Christmas tree signalled the start of the festive season, which we celebrated with a Christmas Quiz.  This was very popular and the Library was busy with students pondering questions such as ‘how many sides does a snowflake have?’ and which would be the best way to find out!  Five lucky entrants won a selection pack.  The year ended with a Christmas party for ‘Bookies’ book club, with lots of food and an enormous ‘pass the parcel’!

This term brings much to look forward to.  During the week of Valentine’s Day students will be invited to try a ‘Blind Date with a Book’ and can choose from a selection of mysteriously wrapped books.  Hopefully, this will lead to students trying something different to their usual choices, as curiosity gets the better of them!

World Book Day (Thursday 7th March) will undoubtedly be an eventful day, with a ‘Book Swap’ at break time and a ‘Guess the Book Character’ competition.  Reading activities will take place in many classes throughout the day and students will be able to take home a £1 book voucher, which can be used in local bookshops.

At the heart of the school, the Library is striving continually to be a vibrant hub of reading and learning.  With our excellent resources and many activities, hopefully everyone will find something to enjoy.  Come along and see what we have to offer.

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Owned by: | Last Published: 14/02/2013 11:17:13 | Next Update: N/A