Report on the new Library

This is what the old library was like: small, cramped and right up in the top corner of the school. The tables took up most of the space and the book shelves were lined along the left hand side wall. There was no proper area to read in and it got so crowded.

The old library

This is the wonderful new library!

It opened on the 9th July 2008. There is so much difference in this library - more people come and join in all the activities, it is extremely spacious and everyone can now get out a book without the worry of getting squashed!

Also, it is air-conditioned in the summer, has under-floor heating for the winter and constant, energy-saving lighting levels.

The transformation

Phyillida, Matthew and Jason read poems to celebrate the opening of the library.

The Grand opening

Author Alison Baverstock made a speech at the opening and donated books to our library.

This is the Buckingham primary school visit to HCC library. They had so much fun browsing our brilliant books. Headteacher, Mrs Boyle donated some book tokens and ex-Buckingham students helped Mrs Duane choose some books.

Buckingham School visit HCC

library

Hampton Juniors school came to visit HCC’s library. They also loved browsing our books and completed a quiz using the OPAC to find books in the library. Then Mrs Duane read to them from Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce for a little treat.

Hampton Juniors visit

The library also saw some fancy dress for Comic Relief!

Comic Relief 2009

Jamaican poet, Valerie Bloom, came to talk to all of Year 7 in June. She taught them how to speak ‘patois’ and had them acting out a scene from a Jamaican market. Valerie also led a poetry workshop with 30 gifted and talented Year 7 students who wrote some kennings*.

*A much compressed metaphor

Valerie Bloom visit

Tail waggerStick baggerBone cruncherBiscuit muncherFace lickerSaliva flickerNight barkerTree markerHair shakerMess makerPlant diggerCat triggerThief chaserCar racerHomework eaterFox beaterStreet fighterPostman biterFlea horseDog, of course

Cotton stinkerNon blinkerPuppet makerShoe breakerStripe bearerHappy wearerFoot holderAlways olderSkin warmerAir harmerStay a pairNever shareWorn outWithout a doubt Purple, redBeside your bedFoot’s friendTill the end

(A sock!)

Some kennings byYear 7

This is the Carnegie shadowing group. Everyone had so much fun in this activity. Staff and students from all years were involved: Leila, Emily, Serena, Jessica, Zoë, Alice, Peter, Emily, Greta, Alex, Jagoda, Abigail, Katherine, Alexia, David, Holly, Kirsty, Jason, Isabelle, Amber, Mrs O'Brien, Mrs Martin, Mrs Wade, Mrs Clark, Mrs Titchener and Mrs Duane. We all read the shortlisted books and posted our reviews on the website.

Carnegie shadowing

group

The shadowing groups from Hampton, LEH and HCC met up in each other’s school libraries to talk about the books. We all made new friends. The last meeting was at Hampton to vote for the ‘Hanworth Road’ favourite of the seven fantastic books. We voted for The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. The Carnegie judges voted Siobhan Dowd the winner with Bog Child.

The Final of Carnegie

The Battle of the Books, held in the library and the theatre at HCC, was a great success. Year 8 teams from six schools participated -Waldegrave, Sheen, Teddington, Christs, and Grey Court and HCC. In the first activities all of the schools had a chance to work together in different teams. All the schools made their presentations in the theatre and the winner was Christs. HCC won the media campaign prize and Zahira, 8BH won a set of signed books from visiting author, Linda Buckley-Archer.

Battle of the Books

Students can use the library every day after school for study support. There are always staff here to help.

Study support club

The knitting club was a huge bonus for the library, as lots of students got involved and learned not only knitting skills but listening skills too. Mrs Tarry had great fun with the students and teachers learning to knit. Well done everyone!

Knitting Club

A grant from the Foyle Foundation means that the library can continue to expand and the exciting Accelerated Reader programme can be implemented. More and more students are borrowing books and enjoy reading for pleasure.

What a great year!