Maverick Minutes
Happy Februaryšš„°
Students, Parents, and Teachers,
I am so grateful to be back at Straus doing all things library for our students and teachers. We have been very busy in the library this month. Along with lessons, we have our 3D printer set up for use in the mornings only, we've got the stick together collaborative poster up, our puzzle table is ready for use among other makerspace items students are permitted to use while in the library.
The books you requested are mostly in. Please stop by the library to check them out.
6th Grade Scavenger Hunt
Since arriving at Straus, a few changes and policies were made to improve efficiency in the library. 6th grade students visited the library and were tasked with a scavenger hunt. They had loads of fun discovering where items are located in the library.
Holocaust Guest Speaker, Robin Long.
6th grade Social Studies students learned about the Holocaust with a variety of activities. Guest Speaker, Robin Long, from the Holocaust Museum of San Antonio visited with 6th graders to educate them on prejudice and empathy.
Holocaust Stations with 6th grade
Musical Chairs with 8th Grade
8th graders visited the library and got to play musical chairs with a twist. Students read a variety of book genres placed on chairs. As the the music stopped, they read a book located on the closest chair.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month! This year's theme is African Americans and the Arts. Please Click on the link below for Straus Library's Black History Month collection. You will find websites and books that highlight black excellence.
Books to Consider Reading
Can five overlooked kids make one big difference?
There's George: the brain
Sara: the loner
Dayara: the tough kid
Nico: the rich kid
And Miguel: the athlete
And they're stuck together when they're forced to complete their school's community service hours. Although they're sure they have nothing in common with one another, some people see them as all the same . . . just five Spanish-speaking kids.
Then they meet someone who truly needs their help, and they must decide whether they are each willing to expose their own secrets to help . . . or if remaining invisible is the only way to survive middle school.
From the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.
In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. Heās warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him āThere are things about the water you do not know. ā Like what? Kofi asks. āThe beasts.ā His brother answers.
One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofiās world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.
This spellbinding novel by the author of The Crossover and Booked will take you on an unforgettable adventure that will open your eyes and break your heart.
Ashish Patel didnāt know love could be soā¦sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.
The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girlāunder contract. Per subclause 1(a), heāll be taking his date on āfunā excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?
Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and sheās also fat. To Sweetieās traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.
Sweetie loves her parents, but sheās so tired of being told sheās lacking because sheās fat. She decides itās time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where sheāll show the world (and herself) what sheās really made of.
Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize thereās an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?
Flour Babies Visit the Library
Mrs. Collazo's PBS students stopped by the library to learn about child development and the importance of reading to their babies.
The Book Fair is Coming
The Book Fair is coming to Straus February 12-16. We will be open from 8:00-3:50 daily.
Mrs. Roxie will be raffling off prizes for students and teachers daily, so don't forget to stop by the library to enter the raffle.
If for any reason you cannot stop by the fair, you can shop online by clicking the photo to the left.
Library Palooza
Library Palooza is set to take place at Brandeis High School on February 24th. Click on the photo below to learn more about this exciting event.
January's Top Readers
Congratulations to our top readers for the month of January!
Emma Rodriguez 8th Grade
David Ngwana 7th Grade
Brylyn Martin 6th Grade
January Library Statistics
Class Visits: 127
Individual Student Visits: 250
Books Circulated: 1,335