Check It Out!
MTRSD Elementary Libraries- May 2023
News from the BSE Library!
31 BSE students were eligible to vote for the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award this year, and the statewide winner was just announced - Alone by Megan E. Freeman! This is a novel-in-verse about a girl who wakes up one day only to find herself all alone in her small Colorado town. While this book was not initially a top choice among BSE voters, our library has two copies, and there is already a waiting list to check out this survival story! Many students are already eager to see next year’s list of nominees!
A highlight of April’s National Poetry Month in the BSE library was creating class poems modeled after the lyrical Green on Green by Dianne White. Using all five senses, first grade students came up with descriptive lines together, then created illustrations for each line before taking copies of their self-published book home!
As you’ve been hearing all year, our district libraries are not only just a place for enjoying books, but are now also hubs for computer science learning. Earlier this year, BSE received a generous grant from the Rural Technology Fund to purchase a ‘hive’ of six ‘Bee-Bots’. These programmable floor robots were introduced to students in grades K-3 over the last couple of weeks, and the excitement was palpable! In grades 4-6, students were introduced to ‘Sphero BOLTs’, app-enabled robotic balls that let kids learn coding skills through play. Students engaged in creative problem-solving and practiced beginning programming skills through hands-on play - so much fun!
Coming Up
We are thrilled to announce that local author/illustrator Astrid Sheckels, author of the Hector Fox & Friends series, will be visiting BSE later this month! On Friday, May 26, Astrid will present to students in grades K-3 here in our very own library. We will be reading her books in advance of her visit so that we can be ready with questions and ideas. Look for a full report of this exciting event in the next library newsletter.
Colrain Central Library and Service Learning Update
April Showers bring May Flowers and the end of poetry month. To mark the end of the month, we celebrated Poem in Your Pocket Day. Sixth graders delivered poems to students to enjoy and trade with each other. The start of May leads us into two other literary celebrations. The first week of May is known as Children’s Book Week and the month of May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. To mark these special themes, students have been diving into picture books, participating in a book scavenger hunt, and learning about Asian/Pacific American authors and books in our library.
The special books we have that can read to you are called Playaways and Wonderbooks. These books have been very popular and are almost always checked out. If your child borrows one, take a look at it and ask them what the story is about. Please also reinforce the importance of taking care of all of our library resources, especially these special books. If you’re doing any spring cleaning, see if you can round up any forgotten library books. If your child brings home a book scavenger hunt join in with them and see what you can find. Taking a look at books with a loving adult goes a long way to helping to make your child a life-long reader.
News from the Sanderson Library
POETRY, POETRY, POETRY!
We are wrapping up our month-long celebration of poetry in the library. Last Friday, sixth graders hosted Poem in Your Pocket day. Sixth graders presented to each lunch period about the history and purpose of Poem in Your Pocket Day, and then they passed out poems to all the students and teachers in the room. Can you imagine a room full of students reading, listening, and trading poetry? It was a joyful sight to behold, and sixth graders were fantastic leaders and role models. Sixth graders also just put the finishing touches on their “Where I’m From” poetry lines (based on the poem by George Ella Lyon) which they will share at our next All School meeting. Other poetry highlights have included found poetry collages with fourth grade, investigative research of Massachusetts poets with third grade, outdoor haiku poetry with second grade, and collaborative poetry writing with first grade. Sanderson has no shortage of creative thinkers!
FUNDRAISER NEWS:
For two weeks in April, the Sanderson Library sold bookplates to raise funds for new furniture in the library. A bookplate is a label that is placed on the inside cover of a book. If a family purchased a bookplate, the student could sign their name on the bookplate and place it in their favorite library book. The fundraiser made enough to purchase two new cushy chairs for the library! Thank you again to everyone that participated!
COMING UP THIS MONTH:
This May is Asian/Pacific Heritage Month as well as Jewish American Heritage month, which will be the focus of our read aloud books this month. We will also focus on Digital Citizenship and explore robots this month! Older grades will learn to use Sphero Robots while the younger grades experiment with Bee Bot Robots. I look forward to learning right alongside the students!
Local Public Library Events
Events at Ashfield's Belding Library
Experimenting with set design and costuming.
Mindful Movement with Ms. Sue May 8th 4-4:45 PM
Mindful movement allows children to experience and understand how to be present and mindful throughout their day.
Eco Printing with artist Tony Lemos May 17 6-8 PM
Learn how to capture the beauty of natural plant material on paper.
Registration required: email bmlashfield@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ Stories
Book Discussion & Hangout for Kids 8-13
Monday May 22 4P.M. to 4:45P.M.
Book discussion & hangout for kids ages 8-13. We read books that center LGBTQ+ identities & experiences. We'll be meeting after school on Monday May 22 to discuss Tell No Tales by Sam Maggs. Pick up a copy at the front desk! We'll eat pizza and talk about the book!
Events at the ARMS Library!
Craft Corner - Every Saturday
Saturdays1 - 2:30 p.m.
We will be offering a set time and place for anyone who wants to craft. Any age is welcome. The way it will work is that multiple crafts materials will be on hand, as well as someone to help or show how to do the crafts.
Upcoming Events at Buckland Public Library!
LEGOS in the Community Room
Every Friday from 4 - 6 pm our new LEGO collection is ready for builders with creative minds! Come and enjoy the newest addition to our assortment of toys and games.
"Crafternoons" Continue Every Tuesday
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.Fiber Group Every Saturday
All fiber folks of any level are welcome. We have yarn to share donated by Webs and some of our generous neighbors and some needles you may borrow. New knitters will have the opportunity to learn to knit a scarf. Established makers can work on any projects they please. Every Saturday from 10 - 11 am
Events at Colrain's Griswold Public Library
Walking and Movement with Kathy Steinem
An outdoor program for all ages, beginning with a walk from 9:00-9:45 and continuing with movement from 10:00-11:00 on the library lawn. All ages are welcome! Please wear loose-fitting clothing and sneakers, and be sure to bring plenty of water. All ages welcome!
Also, be sure to join the Walk Challenge! Log your walking to win prizes, May 1st to October 31st. visit walkmachallenge.com to register, and be sure to name the Colrain Council of Aging when registering!