Check It Out!
MTRSD Elementary Libraries- November 2022
Happy November!
Hello everyone!
In this newsletter we include featured books, updates and information from our elementary libraries, public libraries, and other community events.
Enjoy!
Your MTRSD Library Staff
Author/illustrator of the month: Julie Flett
News from the BSE Library!
As we move further into the school year, BSE students are busier than ever in library classes. A recent highlight for students in grades K/1 was reading The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger, and creating art inspired by her collage illustrations. Check out our autumn scene below!
Students in the lower grades continue to explore different genres, especially nonfiction titles, including topical books like I Voted: Making a Choices Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman. We’ve decided to conduct our own election here in the library. Students are casting their ballots to decide which character stuffed animal will join our library crew! In the upper grades, classes have been practicing searching for books using our online catalog, Destiny. They have also been introduced to the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students in Massachusetts can read five or more books on the list of nominated books to be eligible to vote for the winner in the spring of 2023. What a fun challenge! Check out the 2022-23 MCBA book list here. Coming up next: Native American Heritage Month, Digital Citizenship lessons, and more!
Colrain Central Library Update
The students at Colrain Central School are almost finished with their service-learning projects to improve the library. In the next few weeks more comfortable seating and new books will be arriving. We have hard working and generous readers! Some ways that the students have been thinking of others: the third grade wanted to spend part of their mini-grant to get books for preschoolers to enjoy in the library. The fourth grade wanted to conduct a survey to make sure that all student voices were taken into account when they picked one new book series for younger students and one new book series for older students. The winners were: Dog Man by Dav Pilkey for younger students and My Dead Zombie Goldfish for older students.
You can help the students' visions for the library become a reality. We've had generous support from FRCOG and the Mary Lyon Foundation and now we need your help. Please consider donating to our Donors Choose project to help us purchase the last items on the list of student ideas for the library. Here is a link to our project: Library Reading Zone with Comfort.
In the coming weeks, the students will be learning how to find books in the newly organized library and will start a unit to examine books that act as mirrors into our own lives as well as books that are like windows into the lives of those who may appear different from us. Please look around for any forgotten library books at home so that they can be returned soon!
Updates from Sanderson Library!
Sanderson students watched their library transform into a bookstore last week, as the library kicked off its annual fall book fair. The fair was a success, and will add many new resources to the library (as well as teacher's classrooms) for students to enjoy. Thank you to all who supported the fair, and a huge shout-out to the volunteers that made the fair run smoothly!
In the library classroom, students are learning to navigate our nonfiction section using the Dewey Decimal classification system. I am impressed by how quickly students are catching on, even students as young as second grade! It's wonderful to watch students bustling about the library, helping each other to find what they're looking for. The Dewey Decimal System was invented in 1873, and many librarians are beginning to question whether or not it is too antiquated for 2022. I am eager to bring this question to our students!
Students are also learning how to use the online catalog to find what they need in the library. Ask your child to show you around the catalog at home!
Local events!
Upcoming Events at Buckland Public Library!
All Ages Game Nights
All Ages Game Nights continue throughout the winter from 5 to 7 pm every third Friday of the month. Bring a game to share or donate.Tuesday "Crafternoons"
Crafternoons with Ms. Amy will be every Tuesday from 4:30-6:00 pm. Bring your 3-11 year old for crafts, friendship, and stories. Come for all or part of the time. Age bracket is flexible.Events at the ARMS Library!
Jewelry-Making Class Two-in-one
Laura Porter will show us how to make beaded bracelets and necklaces. She will bring materials, from years of professional jewelry-making that she will be bringing for use in the class. The clasps used will be made of non-precious metals.
We will have a separate section and techniques for children,creating easy, bright jewelry, taught separately by Laurie.
Find us in the upstairs meeting room. Tables will be distanced from each other. Masks are requested during this class.
Make Felted Ornaments - Cookie Cutter Style!
Dec. 3, at 4 p.m. in the upstairs reading room at the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls, MA.
Again, this is suitable and fun, for families and all ages.
We last did this a few Februaries ago, and made sweet, heart ornaments.
Do join us.
Upcoming Events at the Colrain Public Library!
Ms. Betty's November Take & Make Craft is here!
Join Ms. Betty in making these cute coffee filter turkeys! Craft kits are available at GML while supplies last. Gobble gobble!Watch the video here!