GCS School Library Media News
November 2017
Libraries Just Wanna Have FUNDS
York Chester Middle School was chosen as one of only four schools in the state to participate in a pilot crowd-funding project in collaboration with NCLA. NCLA has created a GoFundMe for our school library program and is sending it out far and wide, along with an Amazon Wish List from our school. If this goes well, they intend to make this a yearly event that could benefit more schools each year! Please consider sharing these links or posting a flyer around your community and encourage the success of the program. It's a great opportunity for our school's collection, which we have $0 to update this year, and to support a program that you may be a part of someday if it goes well. For a flyer for to print email: fdhuff@gaston.k12.nc.us
Faith Huff, York Chester Middle School SLMC
Kiser Happenings
We are flashlight reading in the library! Building reading stamina.
Books A Million Book Drive
We were the recipient of 332 books from customers of Books-a-Million. Books-a-Million held a summer book drive and our school received 332 books!
Book Commericals
School Fun!
Kiser held it's annual Fall Carnival to raise money for our school.
Tracy McLean: Kiser Elementary, SLMC
Problem Solving at Woodhill
The Woodhill Media Center has two window display boxes. However, they aren't very useful for students or staff. When the book covers are showing out of the display, then students see the back of the books. The students also can't reach the books if they are interested in checking them out. These display windows are located where there isn't much hallway traffic passing by to see them. I thought it would be a great idea to transform the display boxes into bulletin boards. These bulletin boards are now showcasing popular titles and are easily accessible for students.
Nicole Hallman, Woodhill Elementary SLMC
Writers & Illustrators Club
There's a new club at Sherwood Elementary! The librarian and art teacher have joined forces to host a Writers & Illustrators Club. The club meets once a week after school. It is a year-long commitment for students. They are going to collaborate on one original story that will be published through Scholastic. So far, the students have made decisions on the type of story, the title, and they are currently creating the characters for the story.
Submitted by:
Deborah Hastings, Sherwood Elementary SLMC
Book Fairs Around GCS
Reading Rocks as we "Saddled Up to Read" at JB Page Primary's Fall Book Fair!
Submitted by:
Beverly Cook, Page Primary SLMC
Laura Pekarek, Springfield Elementary, SLMC
One Thankful SLMC!
November, the month of thankfulness, family, and turkey. Just recently I have discovered just how thankful I am for my media assistants. This past Wednesday, we had an assembly for all grade levels during Encore and all students were required to attend. I had three sixth grades classes scheduled with the lesson on teaching them how to use their WoW card numbers and completing their book exchange. I love our sixth graders but they can be rather, shall I say, needy? It was very difficult to keep them all together logging onto a desktop rather than a chromebook, on each step of the WoW process, and helping those whose number would not work. Who knew someone would copy my example down instead of their own number? Bless her. Once the teacher got the hang of what was going on, she stepped in to help. Bless HER. Once we got everyone through that process it was time to exchange books. I am normally with the students helping them find books and keeping order in the ranks! This time, I was at the circulation desk checking out books, jumping up to help when I could, looking up books for kids, and realizing how much I missed my assistants! It was an exhausting day. I do however, think is was good for me to have a day like this to be reminded of those who help me get through my day. Our teachers who jump in when needed, our students who try but sometimes just cannot contain their enthusiasm, but especially my assistants. Before I went home that evening, I ran by the store and bought them a little thank you treat for the next day. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and take a moment to thank those who help you get through your school day!
Submitted by:
Terri Hoyle: Chavis Middle, SLMC
Picture Book Month
Submitted by:
Sarah Putnam, Bessemer City Primary SLMC
Gaston County Schools’ Libraries: “Our Future’s So Bright, We Gotta Wear Shades!”
Pardon the reference to a 1980’s song by Timbuk3, but I just couldn’t resist. This year’s NCLSMA annual conference has come and gone too quickly and, while reflecting on the sessions and what to write for this newsletter, I kept thinking about how each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to move our libraries forward to impact student learning and to build the foundation for lifelong readers and learners.
Here are a couple of hot library topics to help us fully realize what our library programming is and can be for our patrons.
#1 - Are our libraries FUTURE READY? Take a moment to review the Future Ready wheel and REFLECT on your school library and library programming. Use the link below to review the Future Ready website resources that are so helpful. How are you moving toward realizing the reality of a future ready library?
http://futureready.org/program-overview/librarians/
#2 -SET GOALS for your library programming that reflect the future of your library. Shannon Miller, Future Ready Librarian spokesperson, took time out of her schedule to join a session at NCSLMA that I helped facilitate. I had the pleasure of sharing with ten “Emerging Leaders” from across the state about the future of our libraries. Shannon shared a goal setting form that I think is awesome! Use this link to take a look! You should be prompted to make a copy so you can create your own goals for your library.
#3 - GET CONNECTED I cannot stress enough how important it is to get involved, get plugged-in and participate in our district PLC, NCSLMA and online for your own professional learning networks. Of course going away to NCSLMA is a retreat and often one of the “mountain top” experiences, but it is so important to build those professional relationships and friendships! Our PLC meetings are wonderful opportunities for sharing, support and professional development. May I encourage each of us to be active participants and contribute as much as possible. We certainly can learn from each other! As your NCSLMA regional director, I also want to encourage you to get involved in our state organization! Y’all, there are amazing, dynamic school librarians in our district and across the state who are impacting student learning and making a difference every day! If you are not a member, may I encourage you to see Robin Jordan (North Gaston High School) or catch up with me about how you can join and get involved in NCSLMA! You won’t regret it! Oh, and mark your calendars for Friday, March 9, 2018. It is an optional teacher workday and we will host a NCLSMA regional professional development day here in Gaston County! I will certainly have more information in the weeks to come about this wonderful way YOU can get connected!
So, as we move into the season of Thanksgiving, I am thoroughly aware of how fortunate we are as a district to have strong PLC groups and each other to learn from and grow with! Take a moment or two to reflect on your library programming, work toward Future Ready goal-setting, and get connected! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions! I am on Twitter @laurablong or reach me via email at lalong@gaston.k12.nc.us. I always love to collaborate and share!
Highland School of Technology´s Parisian inspired Book Cafe
I worked with 11th grade English teacher Jamee Webb and we transformed the library into a Parisian book cafe for the day on October 18th. Ms. Webb and I served the students and they not only ´´tasted´´ a variety of books, but they also practiced their manners with some etiquette lessons and enjoyed some refreshments.
Laura Long, Highland School of Technology SLMC
New Website
Great news! The Office of Professional Learning is excited to announce the launch of its new website. Visit the new website at tinyurl.com/gcsprof.
National Board Certification
Invest in yourself! For information about the National Board Certification support sessions for initial and renewal candidates, click here. Please note that the GCS National Board Certification Information website has been updated!
Truenorthlogic & CEUs
GCS’s Truenorthlogic Guidelines have been updated for the 2017-2018 school year. Visit bit.ly/tnlgl to view the updated guidelines. Interested in learning about the new Digital Learning Competencies? Click here.
2018 Teaching & Learning Conference
The great news keeps on coming! We are excited to share our 2018 Teaching & Learning Conference will be held on August 6 - 7, 2018 at the Dallas campus of Gaston College. Save the dates!
DON'T MISS A MINUTE . . .
Missed any of the monthly highlight? Check out past issues to see what has been going on in the media centers in Gaston County: