THE HALLOWEEN ESCAPE ROOM

On Wednesday, October 23rd, something terrible happened in the library. As if awakened by the approaching date of Halloween, the library’s infamous ghost appeared to

Ms Fennelly and Ms Bennasser. Brutally squashed many years ago under a heavy bookcase, the ghost demanded the best readers of Mount St Mary’s as vengeance for her literary demise. Under the ruse of a celebration, she trapped MSM’s top 34 readers in the library, threatening to absorb their reading skills if they did not find the four-digit code that would release them in under forty minutes. The task to be able to do so, however, proved itself to be quite arduous.

A great deal of clues were hidden everywhere in the library on that menacing day: keys delivering half messages resting on the bookshelves of the Horror and Fantasy sections; hieroglyphic codes to decipher; a code breaking sheet stuck between pages of a romance book; a mysterious letter written in invisible ink and requiring cranberry potion to be readable by human eyes; hints in the forms of book covers concealed in cups of jelly-like substance you would, trust me, rather not know the real origin of; a sentence written in various foreign languages right where Mount St Mary’s is on a map of England and underneath some library chairs, a sentence leading to numbers of major importance.

Under the perilous ghostly threat and the ominous ticking of the clock, the gathered remarkable readers had to use their brains, shared teamwork and cross-curricular knowledge to escape in time. All the remarkable readers demonstrated exceptional logical skills and notable enthusiasm.

Once the code was cracked the library doors reopened, to the great relief of all. Following this was the consumption of delicious treats, cheering and, in one group, exuberant celebratory dancing!

One of the three teams was particularly fast and efficient, getting out of the library with 11 minutes and 58 seconds to spare. The key to their success? Epic teamwork, patience and listening to one another. Well done to every remarkable reader who escaped the clutches of the library ghost … for now!

If you want to come to our next celebration, collect fifteen remarkable reader stamps by reading books and quizzing. You have until 12th December to earn your invitation!

Library Clubs

Since the beginning of the school year Chess Club has been popular among our students, so popular in fact, that Ms Fennelly and Ms Bennasser have now started to take things slightly more seriously … by making a display wall with the players’ names on it. The goal being to get your name to the top of the list.

Do you like playing chess? Do you enjoy competition as well as challenging yourself? Join us on Wednesdays at lunchtime and test yourself. You can also simply learn how to play: everyone is welcome and the Simpsons chess set is a fun way to get acquainted with the game. Who knows? You might become an expert by the end of the year!

Chess, however, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s fine. Perhaps your brain has a different, fantastic way to shine: you might be a dreamer, have a creative mind.

At Mount St Mary’s, we know how essential reading is. We know it and we promote it. We are readers and some of us are also budding writers and creative poets—perhaps the authors of tomorrow. This is what Ms Fennelly and Ms Bennasser believe in and encourage and is why Writers’ Club was born and takes place in the library, each Thursday after school, from 3.10pm to 4pm. If your head is full of stories and characters, or if you simply enjoy writing and inventing plots, why don’t you join us, savour some biscuits, practise your writing skills and share your work and ideas with us?

We can’t wait to see you!

Remarkable Readers

Congratulations to the 91 students that were recently celebrated as MSM ‘Remarkable Readers’ at the library cinema event. This event celebrated those students who are reading, quizzing and visiting the library the most. It was incredible to have 10% of the school community there to celebrate our incredible reading habits. To mark the occasion, we turned the school hall into our very own cinema where we watched the first episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which is one of our most borrowed book series from the library.

Students munched their way through their treats whilst watching Percy discover the world of ancient Greek myths, minotaurs and monsters. The 91 students represent a record breaking year in our library, a whole lot of books read and an ever increasing amount of reward stamps earnt.

We are so proud of everyone who is managing to continue their excellent reading habits, and we already have 39 students who have completed enough reading to attend our May event.

MSM students are showing they are ‘Remarkable Readers’ and each quiz completed and each book read (from the library or at home) equals one remarkable reader stamp!

We can’t wait to see you at our next reward event themed on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

World Book Day 2024

The day began with over 100 students from Year 7 and 8 arriving as Mr Men and Little Miss characters. Many teachers joined the theme, as well as the characters from ‘An Inspector Calls’, and even a stormtrooper from Star Wars!

Across school, students took part in a Kahoot quiz all about the library and popular books – congratulations to 7DAD who won – and during form period classes had the choice of a range of reading activities.

Our guest for the day was poet and rapper Testament. Year 7 had an assembly where he shared his experiences and achievements, which ended in him performing one of his raps.

Selected students from Year 7, 8 and 9 were invited to a workshop where Testament linked his love of words and vocabulary to the importance of reading. We were told many times throughout the day ‘Every time you read a book, you’re getting a super power!’ As a group the students then chose a random word on a random page in 5 random books. From these words ideas were developed into a story, which culminated in Testament rapping the story back to us. The students were amazed at his talent, being able to turn simple words into such an entertaining rap story!

A small group of Year 10 and 11 students were invited to have lunch with Testament and find out how he has made a career out of his passion. We are now the proud owners of his published playbook.

It was a great day for all and we continue to celebrate the amazing powers reading can give!

For more photo’s of the event please click here to go to our photo gallery

Library Tea Party

On Thursday 21st December we had a wonderful celebration in the library with 35 students from Years 7 – 10, to reward the fantastic amount of reading that has been done this term.

Students invited to the tea party had completed their remarkable reading sticker – where they earned 15 stamps! To get a stamp, students must read a book or pass a quiz on Accelerated Reader.

We shared cakes, sweet treats and drinks, as well as Christmas music and it was lovely to see the students celebrating together.

Well done to these students who have shown dedication to their reading practice and for earning their reading stamps.

Keep up the brilliant reading!

Thank you for making my time here so wonderful,

Miss Reuben.

Brown Girls Book Club

On Thursday 22nd June, we invited New York-based author Daphne Palasi Andreades to Mount St Mary’s, for a virtual Q&A with girls in Years 7 to 10. Some of the girls had been reading Brown Girls, Daphne’s novel, prior to the session, while others picked up their free copy of the book on the day. The novel was selected because it explores the intersection of immigration and adolescence – themes particularly pertinent to our community. The students asked the author insightful questions relating to the writing process and her background, which mirrored many of their own.

Daphne sent the school a follow up email, thanking our ‘bright and curious’ students for their thoughtful questions, and the staff for ‘facilitating a smooth and organised conversation.’

Special mention goes to Lavana Yemene in Year 10, who was instrumental in the run-up to the event, and who impressed us deeply with her close reading of the novel!

Here’s what some of the girls said about the experience;

Waterstones Rewards Trip

During World Book Day students were asked to create their own book in teams, and present their book idea and design. After presenting to the entire year, the winning team was voted for by everyone in Year 7.

As a reward the winning team visited Waterstones in Leeds City Centre and were given a £10 voucher to spend in the store.

We walked to the bookshop through the blustering rain and were so happy to arrive in the heavenly, cosy atmosphere of the bookshop!

We were spoilt for choice and spent a long while looking at all the amazing books that were there and after much deliberation, students picked the book that they wanted.

The experience was a great one and a real treat for the Year 7s who now cannot wait to get stuck into their new books.

Huge thanks to Mrs Wylam, Miss Reuben and Miss Evans

Library Tea Party Reward

Each half term, we host a tea party in the library at break time, to celebrate all the brilliant reading taking place in school.

Every student who completes their StarBooks card in a half term is invited to attend.

This means each time you read a book, you get a stamp.

5 stamps = a completed card!

To show that you have read the book, also complete your quiz on Accelerated Reader OR complete a worksheet from the library about your book.

The students who have already attend enjoyed delicious cupcakes, biscuits, juice, hot chocolate and music.

Remember to get your card stamped each time you finish a book and you can come too!

Well done to everyone for your excellent reading, it is lovely to celebrate this with you.

“Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.”

Library Tea Party Reward!

To celebrate all of their reading this half term, we held a tea party in the library, with special party food and music.

Well done to all students who completed their StarBooks card.

All students are welcome to collect one from the library, and get a stamp every time they read and quiz on a book.

5 stamps = a completed loyalty card.

This means you will have an exclusive invite to our half-termly break time treat mornings, with hot chocolate or afternoon tea.

Keep collecting your stamps to get an invite next half term.

Happy reading everyone!

World Book Day 2023

We celebrated the day by coming into school dressed as a book character we love, or as a character we invented for our own book.

This year the theme was ‘Personal Relationships’, where Year 7 worked on developing their ability to work with other people that they did not know.

Working together in groups, everyone was assigned a role which enabled them to create the components of a book. The 3 parts of creating a book were cover design, character design and plotting the story. The groups split up to work on their roles and then met up again to put the book together into a presentation.

After a morning of invention, imagination and working hard, the Year 7 students presented their wonderful books to an audience. It was fantastic to see them letting their creativity shine and such strong presenting skills.

The winning team, voted for by Year 7 students, presented again to the entire year group. They will take a trip to Waterstones with a gift card each to buy a book of their choice.

Other activities included bookmark crafting, reading wrapped up books to experience a book without the cover, and a tea party for the best dressed students.

Well done to all Year 7 students for taking part in this wonderful day, it was lovely to see your costumes and the interesting books that you came up with.