PSMS Library
April 2017
Library Calendar
April 7 Library Closed after school
April 8 Kansas Association of School Librarians workshop at PSMS — looking for 3-4 student volunteers from 7:30 am – 12:00 pm email ltnocita@buevalleyk12.org if interested in helping!
April 10 Creative Writing Club 3-4 pm
April 17 Creative Writing Club 3-4 pm
April 21 Reading Takes the Cake and Put up Your Feet and Read fundraisers!
April 21 BVEF Night of Lights — support the BV Ed Foundation — our grant makers!
April 24 No school Professional Learning
May 8 All library materials are due back to the library!
May 9 TAG & Trendy 12 Celebration! Chocolate Fountain Party 2 pm by invitation
May 10-12 Summer Checkout available
May 12 The library closes for the semester all items must returned or paid for by this date
Saturday, April 8 Volunteer Opportunity
April is National School Library Month!
Library Media Specialists fulfill the triple roles of teacher, information specialist, and instructional consultant. Exemplary teacher-librarians are energetic and enthusiastic; show leadership abilities; have theoretical understanding of resource-based learning; have the ability to translate theory into effective instructional plans; and are knowledgeable about specific learning resources. Effective teacher-librarians are admired for their interpersonal and collaborative skills and valued as being both expert teachers and a pleasure to work with. Good teacher-librarians are good teachers with excellent classroom management and innovative techniques. Exemplary teacher-librarians view our profession as multifaceted and dynamic and are skilled at public relations. Our learning space provides support and sanctuary for our students.
Library renovations are underway. We are excited by the changes and all that it will bring for students next fall! The library will be transformed into a truly student-centered learning commons! Many grateful thanks to the members of the Blue Valley community for passing the bond issue that made this transformation a reality!
During the month of April we celebrate National School Library month, recognizing the importance and value of school libraries and library programming. School libraries provide students with unparalleled opportunities to develop and grow digital, visual, print and media, and technological literacies. The Blue Valley school district leads the state in its support for and insistence upon high quality library programs for every school. The library staff is highly committed to providing a warm, friendly, and engaging learning environment that helps each student identify and pursue their informational needs whether through recreational reading, research, or fellowship. So, April seems like a great time to say a resounding thank you to you, our school community, for all that you do to support us and the work that we do. We have terrific students and outstanding school support. We feel very fortunate and gratified to work at PSMS!!I
Put up Your Feet and Read with Reading Takes the Cake on Friday, April 21st
Save the Date! April 21st! Reading Takes the Cake! This is the most fun and delectable event of the year!
“Reading Takes the Cake,” a PSMS tradition, is a cake decorating contest held in conjunction with our Put up Your Feet and Read "fun"raiser and National School Library monthly recognition. It is a one day event with a cake auction that ends at 2:15 p.m.
All Prairie Star families are invited to bake and decorate a cake to celebrate the importance of reading and school libraries. Students may enter individually or as teams of 3 or less and may have outside help! Cakes will be awarded prizes in three different categories: GRAND PRIZE, CAKE DECORATED AS A SPECIFIC middle school BOOK, and CAKE DECORATED with A READING THEME.
Bakers! Put on your thinking caps and form your decorating team! Please be sure to read all the guidelines for participation on the library website. Cakes should be brought to the library before school on Friday, April 21st. All cake entries should be on disposable platters and considered donated to the cake auction. Boxes are optional but helpful for end of day transportation!
Students will have the chance to preview the cakes throughout the day and bid on cakes. Bids will begin at $10 and each cake will go to the highest bidder. Cakes must be paid for and picked up immediately after school.
And the last “Put up Your Feet and Read” fun-raiser will be Friday, April 21st -- Lemonade and Donuts! $3 for admission which includes lemonade and 2 donuts, $1 per additional donut. If you would like to order an extra dozen, the cost is just $10 but you will need to pre-order.
Guinea Pigs
The library guinea pigs are looking for a new forever home! There are 2 pigs (one of our three recently passed away), Captain Marvel and Storm. The library is undergoing extensive remodeling and renovation this summer and Mrs. Nocita will be away much of the summer so they need caretakers! If you would be interested in adopting our furry library family members, or know of a classroom teacher who might delight to have some new hairy students, please email ltnocita@bluevalleyk12.org
Spring Cleaning?! MAY 8 is the due date for ALL library items!
April 27 is National Poem in Your Pocket Day!
Every April, on Poem in Your Pocket Day, people throughout the United States celebrate by selecting a poem, carrying it with them, and sharing it with others throughout the day. Join the celebration by printing the downloadable Poem in Your Pocket Day PDF.
National Student Poetry Contest
Selection: Poems are judged based on originality, creativity, and artistic quality. Each entrant may submit one poem of no more than 20 lines on any subject, and in any style except concrete (shape poems). Poems not meeting the requirements for line limitation are automatically disqualified. Poems containing profanity, vulgarity or offensive material are automatically disqualified. All submissions become the property of The America Library of Poetry and will be considered for publication in a forthcoming anthology and may appear on their website. Entrants retain copyright on his/her own individual work. All entries must include completed entry form. Entrants must complete the entry form in its entirety to qualify for the contest and may submit no more than one poem.
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners are selected in each of four divisions (Division 1 - Grades 3-5, Division 2 - Grades 6-7, Division 3 - Grades 8-9, and Division 4 - Grades 10-12). Each winner will receive a cash prize and Certificate of Achievement. The writer who places first overall receives the Editor's Choice Award, and a $500.00 cash Grand Prize. Prizes are also awarded by random drawing, based on participation and not artistic ability, to encourage all students to pursue literary endeavors. These awards consist of a new Laptop Computer, Tablet, or iPod Touch, a "School's Out" Shopping Spree, one of ten VISA Gift Cards. Top Educator Awards are one of ten Laptop Computers or Tablets. Spirit of Education Award winning school will receive a new computer package and a trophy suitable for the school's display case. In the event of a tie, duplicate prizes will be distributed. Decisions: The panel of judges consists of members of The America Library of Poetry Review Committee. All decisions made by the judges are final.
Fees: There are no entry fees for any of the contests. No purchase necessary. No financial obligation to enter or win the contests. Copyrights: The author retains all copyrights to the submitted poem. Winning poems will appear on this website with the copyright notice intact and may be published in a forthcoming anthology. By entering the contest, you consent to the publication of your poem if it is selected as a winning entry for the grade division. Notification: Winners are announced every September 30th. Winners are notified by phone, email, or standard mail. Names of the winners and their respective poems may appear on this website.
Privacy Policy: The America Library of Poetry collects personal information for the purpose of notifying contest winners. All information submitted is kept in confidence, and used solely for notification purposes and shall not be made public by The America Library of Poetry. The America Library of Poetry does not lease, sell, or share personal information collected. Minor children must have parental permission to enter the contest.
PSMS Library
Lisa Nocita, NBCT School Library Media
Meryl Mayer, 7 am - 3 pm library paraprofessional
Kristin Brzon 8 am - 4 pm library paraprofessional
Email: ltnocita@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: http://prairiestarms.libguides.com/psms
Location: 14201 Mission Road, Leawood, KS, United States
Phone: (913) 239-5610
Twitter: @librarygoddessz