It's show time! The Virtual Talent Show will open next Sunday, so THIS WEEKEND is the time to upload your student's video performance. All students are able to participate and need only to ensure their performance is well-planned and appropriate for our young audience.

This year, our show will be virtual via FlipGrid. Students will use Flipgrid (an app on their iPad) to upload a video of their act between February 10 and February 16. Mrs. Stanger will contact students if any revisions need to be made before the event. Video uploads must be .MOV, MP4 or .WEBM files. (We do recommend preparing the videos with iMovie, or AppSmashing with apps like Chatterpix, Screencastify, or Adobe Spark BEFORE uploading them to Flipgrid.)

On Sunday, February 21, we will open the FlipGrid Talent Show for the entire school family to enjoy. Next week's Leaf will include the login information.

Please follow these guidelines to submit an act:

· Students may appear in only one individual or group act. Accompaniment may be provided by those in your home.

· Joint acts with those outside your home can be done by editing separate videos into one.

· Acts are limited to 3 minutes maximum.

· All acts (lyrics, background music, spoken material, movement, dress, etc.) must be appropriate for elementary aged students.

· Parents will need to provide permission for students to submit a video.

Click here for an information sheet with a link to download the fillable permission slip.

Join our PH community as we welcome children’s book author, illustrator, and former Sycamore parent, Naomi Howland.

Naomi Howland is an author and illustrator of books for children. The books she has written and illustrated are the kinds of books she loved best as a child. She was a big fan of Cinderella and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and poured over the pictures, the dresses, and shoes. In Naomi’s own illustrations, she tries to include the kind of details children will get lost in as they listen to the story being read. Some of her books include: ABCDrive!, Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, and Princess Says Goodnight. During this talk, Naomi will share her experiences creating the story Better-Than-Best Purim as we draw near the Purim holiday, which takes place on Thursday, February 25th.

Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Publishing House Canvas page.

Students who have signed up as this year's Publishing House authors will have PH author support time Tuesdays/Thursdays from 12:30-2:30pm on Zoom, during WIN (What I Need time). The Zoom link for WIN time is on the Sycamore Students Canvas page.

Upcoming PH Speakers:

Mar 3rd - Liz Thomas (Professional Hiker & Author)
Mar 17th - Lina Patel (Writer & Actress)

Mar 24th - Kreffan Bunker (Writer and former Sycamore student)

To begin, sign in at https://syclibrary.goalexandria.com. Students' seven-digit Student ID serves as their Username (the number starts with 15 and is listed in Parent Connect and on your student's data sheet provided at the start of the year) and their last name will be the Password. Students may search for books by author, title, subject, etc. An icon of a book with a hand on it is used for HOLD requests. The program will walk you through the steps of placing a hold. Students may borrow 2 books at a time for up to two weeks. Renewals are permitted if there are no pending holds or reservations. Replacement costs are the responsibility of the student and family if books are lost or damaged.

Watch this video for more information on borrowing books. https://www.youtube.com/embed/BLBpNd1NqHw?feature=youtu.be. Feel free to contact the school office or our Librarian, Lis DesCombes, at edescombes@cusd.claremont.edu as you have questions.