Welcome back to 2013

Term 1 is now underway for everyone, and I know we're all heads down, meeting new staff, getting classes organised, starting orientation, selecting and training student librarians, creating displays, identifying curriculum areas to support - the holidays feel like such a long time ago already...

I spent a glorious 12 days up north, camping with my family, and thought I had taken enough books, but ran out with three days to go! As I was driving to Whangarei on a book buying mission, I noticed the sign outside Parua Bay School, and just had to stop. I met Janet Hill, who works in the office and library, and who decided that she would support her students' literacy levels over the summer break by opening the library and encouraging students to take reading material for the summer.  Janet said that lots of families had taken advantage of the library being open, and several of those families were new to the school for 2013, so it served as a great introduction to the area. Parua Bay School has a lovely, well stocked library, and congratulations to Janet for joining the summer reading revolution, and to the senior management of the school for seeing what a positive difference it could make. How did your summer reading programme go? At St Cuthbert's, we issued about 2800 items to Y3-12 girls and staff for the holidays and the books are pouring in right now! The returns bin keeps on overflowing, but it is worth it when a Y11 girl told me today that 'Room (by Emma Donohue) was the best thing I've ever read!'

The National Executive is delighted to announce that Carole Gardiner, from Queens' High in Dunedin, has accepted the Administrator role for SLANZA. Carole is currently getting up to speed with the start of year procedures, as the first task is membership renewals, which will be coming out to you very soon. If you have changed school, or your email address, we'd really appreciate you letting  us know via slanza@xtra.co.nz. Thank you to those who have already contacted us with information re contact details as it makes things much easier for us. The renewal form does ask for an alternate email address, as we know school details often change, so a personal email address means you don't miss out at all.

I'd like to thank the National Executive, especially Lisa Salter, Bharathi Char, Bridget Schaumann and Miriam Tuohy, for all the extra work they have done over the last few months. Their efforts have meant that SLANZA as an organisation has continued to function, and I am very grateful that they have put in the extra time and dedication, which will benefit us all.

Although it is super sunny and warm right now, my thoughts are drifting towards the July holidays and the upcoming SLANZA conference. The conference committee are doing a sterling job of putting it together, so keep an eye out for further announcements, as those Winds of Change are going to blow any cobwebs away!

Hope to see you at conference,
Fiona.

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