Helenswood School Library
The main focus of the libraries at Helenswood is to promote reading for pleasure and to encourage the students to use all the resources in the libraries.
It is hoped that through their contact with the libraries during their time at Helenswood, students knowledge, skills and attitude to learning will develop and mature, preparing them for either further education or for the workplace.
** Library Events So Far 2009-2010 **
1066 School Book Award Winners Announced!
The winning books of the 1066 Schools Book Award 2010 were announced recently at the Video Conference between the participating schools. Over 100 pupils took part and wrote 170 reviews on the 1066sba website.
The winner of the 7-8 category was “The London Eye Mystery” by Siobhan Dowd and the winner of the 9-10 category was “The Carbon Diaries 2015” by Saci Lloyd in a closely contested vote.
Students and judges from 
William Parker Sports College joined Helenswood for the video conference for the first time. Everyone seemed to enjoy taking part in the award this year and are looking forward to next years award.
Both books are available for borrowing from either of the school libraries.
Click here to view the reviews and find out more about the award at www.1066sba.co.uk
Lower School Joins the Buzz!
Since September, SPELLING BEES have been taking place in the Lower School Library every month.
Lists of 40 words related to the curriculum are available before the BEE for girls to learn. Over 50 girls have taken part so far and the buzz is now certainly spreading!
Last term Jazmin Pook 9JD won the prize for being the top speller. Who will win it next term?
If you are interested in taking part and have fun improving your spelling, see either Mrs Kingwell or Miss Elliott.
1066 School Book Awards 2010 Launch
The 1066 Schools’ Book Award 2010 was launched in the Lower School Library.
Student readers from Bexhill High School, Claverham Community College, Filsham Valley School, Helenswood School, St. Richard’s Catholic College, The Grove and William Parker Sports College converged on the host school along with representatives from some of the sponsors and supporters, Kiley’s Karpet’s, Oompah Books, Sabina Brown Secretarial Services, Njbtech, Balloons for Events and Bexhill Rotary Club.
Last years winning author (of the 7/8 year group) with her book, Shadow of the Dragon, Kate O’Hearn, introduced the award. Helenswood pupils opened the event with a warm welcome, whilst Kate O’Hearn’s speech was followed by a pupil from each of the participating schools reading an excerpt from one of the shortlisted books.
An excited year 9 student, experiencing the launch for the first time said, ‘How interesting it was to hear the views and opinions of so many other pupils who are all reading the same books” and another said it was “fantastic.”
The next stage of the Award is in March when the pupils enjoy the voting process via Video Conference link between the schools and the winners are declared.
Read the reviews and find out more about the award at www.1066sba.co.uk
Year 7 Get 'Booked Up'
Last term, girls in Year 7 had the opportunity to order a free book as part of a national programme run by Booktrust and supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, called Booked Up. This initiative encourages and supports reading for pleasure and many of the girls are now busy reading their free books. We hope that girls at Helenswood will always enjoy reading for pleasure and this as well as other initiatives within the school endeavour to support them in this. To find out more about Booked Up go to www.bookedup.org
Upper School Library Revamp
Local award-winning author Kate O’Hearn has officially opened the newly refurbished Upper School Library.
The library undertook a make-over during the summer holidays and now boasts a quiet study area and a modern ICT suite as well as a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, newspapers, periodicals and careers information.
This fantastic improved facility enables Helenswood students, preparing for their GCSE’s and “A” Levels, to have a quiet place to work and read, keep up-to-date with coursework and homework, find out careers and further/higher education information and attend after school mentoring sessions. It is a great asset to the school and the Federal Sixth Form.
Lucy Monk, Headteacher said: ‘We know how important reading is in ensuring that all students make outstanding progress in their studies here at Helenswood. The newly refurbished library gives literacy the status it should have, and ensures that students are well prepared to use libraries as research tools when they progress on to university.’
Lauren Wins Reading Award!
Lauren Dunn, now in Year 8, has been awarded the "We Love To Read" Award for reading the most books in Year 7.
Lauren read over 80 books from September 2008 to June 2009. What an achievement!
It has been quite a feat trying to keep Lauren supplied with books she enjoys! Lauren enjoys ghost and horror stories.
Since the start of term she has already read the shortlisted books for the Southern Schools Book Award. Well done!
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