Exciting times for Mary Immaculate students

Students with author Chris Milne and his latest book The Western Sydney Kid

Mary Immaculate students accept their award at Stanhope Village

The school won $10,000 in the Stanhope Village’s Activate Your School competition. Ten participating schools were asked to place receipts from the shopping centre’s stores into a barrel and the amount collected by each school was converted into points.

Principal Ian Jordan said the students really enjoyed collecting the receipts together as a team.

‘Schools are always in need of resources and now there is a lot of excitement about how we should spend the money,’ said Ian. ‘Staff will get together to determine priorities to ensure the money will be put to good use.’

A leader board was displayed each week, so that schools could track their progress. Local newspapers ran bonus coupons that could be attached to certain receipts to double the points attained.

The students assembled at the shopping centre on Thursday 1 July to hear the announcement and there were screams of joy when the school was announced as the winner.

Joanne Jones, Mary Immaculate’s leader of learning, said she was proud to see the show of unity amongst their school community.

‘I am extremely proud of the amazing school spirit and hard work our students showed over the 13 week competition,’ said Joanne. ‘The entire school, students, staff and parents have shown dedication to the project from day one. The level of energy was maintained for the duration and not a day went by without the students talking about our progress and wanting an update on our progress,’ she said.

On Thursday 24 June, actor and award-winning writer Christopher Milne spent time with the students reading from his books and telling them stories. Chris has written best-selling children's books for many years and his Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls series is a winner of The Young Australians Best Book Award. His books are regarded worldwide, as the perfect books for reluctant readers.

Chris has also scripted numerous episodes of the television series, Prisoner and Neighbours as well as appearing on the shows as a performer.

During the visit Chris read to the students from his Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls series and gave the students a sneak peak of his new novel, The Western Sydney Kid, which is based on the western Sydney AFL team. The school received a set of books for the library and students were able to purchase signed sets of Chris’ books and CD recordings.

The students from Year 2 to 6 giggled as Chris told them the story of Jason Grant from the book, The Upside Down Boy. Students were then able to ask the author questions ranging from his experiences in television, to how he created his ‘revolting’ stories.

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