Waterloo School Library Blog

ENEMY AT THE GATE by PHILIPPA WERRY Review *** 3.5 stars Age Level   I think that this book is suitable for 10 year old children and up This book is a heartwarming tale about a 13 year old boy whose family/life got caught by the fear and confusion of a deadly disease called Infantile Paralysis (Polio).  This disease attacks the nervous system so you are unable to control your body.  While struggling to achieve his dreams of running Tom's sister, Flo, suddenly catches the deadly disease.  Aimlessly continuing with his everyday life, it gets flipped upside down and everything is just getting worse.  With only a slither of hope left a miracle finally happens, and things are actually not that bad after all. From Laurina - Enemy at the Gate is set in Lyall Bay, December 1936, during the Polio epidemic.  When I read this book some years ago I happened to meet a woman who had actually caught the disease during her teen years, and it was so interesting to connect what I had read

Matariki - the Maori New Year - is rich with tradition, and there will be plenty of wonderful events happening within Wellington to celebrate.  This is a time to spend with whanau, reflecting on the year, and remembering ancestors.  Matariki is celebrated with family and friends, sharing food, music, dance and stories. Click here to check out what the Wellington City Council have planned for Matariki Te Papa have some fantastic events happening -  click here  to check them out And don't forget, we will be celebrating here at school in week 8 (Thursday and Friday) with tons of cool classroom activities and a school kite festival!

Click HERE to see all the finalists for the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

It's time to show our appreciation of trees!  Hug a tree, climb a strong tree, plant a tree, visit a place with lots of trees and have a picnic (Percy's Reserve, the Hutt Riverbank, the Wellington Botanical Gardens), go for a bush walk. Go to  www.inaturalist.org/projects/be-with-a-tree-week  to log in and make a record of all the trees visited around New Zealand this week. Click here to be taken to the Kiwi Conservation Club for more info Visit the Waterloo School Library to see the small scale tree that is being made over the week as a display!