SLS Newsletter
November 8, 2021
Sora Summer Reads Contest Winners
First Place - Lake George Elementary
Second Place - Hartford Elementary
Third Place - Gordon Creek Elementary, Ballston Spa
Secondary:
First Place - Ballston Spa Middle School
Second Place - Mechanicville MS/HS
Third Place - Glens Falls Middle School
professional news
Copyright Teaching Tool Available
Upcoming Professional Development
Navigating Purchasing, NY Reads, and more in Sora
Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=3967433
Thursday, Nov 18, 2021, 12:00 PM
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Providing Support in the School Library (2nd Date Due to Popular Demand)
This is the same workshop as is being held on December 2nd. Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=3962472
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021, 08:30 AM
267 Ballard Road, Gansevoort, Wilton, NY, USA
Library Policies: Creating Equity through Action (SERIES)
This is a four part series that will take place from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm each date:
January 5th
January 12th
January 19th
January 26th
Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=3973362
Teaching for Truth - Librarians as Leaders for Media Literacy (Communication Coordinator Meeting #3)
Register: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=18589&I=3972949
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2022, 08:30 AM
Capital Region BOCES, Watervliet Shaker Road, Albany, NY, USA
Sora
Sora "Big Library Read" Going on now (middle school on up)
OPALS/ILLs
SLS is running Mitinet updates right now and updating the union catalog
Professional Book Collection
The Encyclopedia of Misinformation
Available on Sora
All Learning is Social and Emotional
From Amazon: While social and emotional learning (SEL) is most familiar as compartmentalized programs separate from academics, the truth is, all learning is social and emotional. What teachers say, the values we express, the materials and activities we choose, and the skills we prioritize all influence how students think, see themselves, and interact with content and with others.
If you teach kids rather than standards, and if you want all kids to get what they need to thrive, Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Dominique Smith offer a solution: a comprehensive, five-part model of SEL that's easy to integrate into everyday content instruction, no matter what subject or grade level you teach. You'll learn the hows and whys of
WSWHE "RISING STAR" School Librarian
Kelly Heath, Hudson Falls High School
This month's Rising Star Librarian is Kelly Heath from Hudson Falls High School. She was chosen because she shows innovation, creativity, and leadership in her position. She is doing amazing things already! Read what she has to say about her journey to becoming a school librarian:
After two decades as a Middle School Music teacher at Hudson Falls Middle School, I felt a calling to enroll in a Masters program to work on becoming certified in Library Media. I figured I would take my classes, and eventually, maybe, I might want to switch gears for a bit of a change. Little did I know that the stars would align for me to become an LMS much sooner than expected, and I couldn’t be happier with this life and career change, as the Library Media Specialist at Hudson Falls High School. After this semester, I have 2 classes plus my practicum left to complete my second Masters degree. I currently have my Supplementary certificate as I work towards receiving my Professional certificate.
I truly love life in the library. Every day is different, with new challenges, successes, and opportunities to grow into this profession. Working with teachers to coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate has been an incredible experience. I am particularly proud of the work we are doing involving Book Clubs in Social Studies classes. Using historical fiction, graphic novel adaptations, and high interest texts, students are making connections to the curriculum through reading! The atmosphere in the room is electric. Students who typically don’t care to read books are, in fact, reading! We simply couldn’t have such successful book clubs without the assistance of all schools in our BOCES region. I am continuously amazed at the network of librarians in our area. From the strong ILL system, to the listservs, to the constant support offered by Kerrie Burch, Karin Howansky, Alicia Makenzie, and all the amazing folks at BOCES… I am so proud and grateful to work with so many incredibly helpful people.
Another aspect of this job I love is connecting students with the perfect book for them. Nothing makes me happier than passing a student in the hall only to have them say, “Mrs. Heath, I am loving the book you recommended. It is soooooo good!” It’s particularly satisfying when a student professes they do NOT read and they’re sure I won’t be able to get them to read. Challenge accepted! Our English teachers are supportive of a strong library/classroom partnership, and a portion of every English class is devoted to Independent Reading. Given the opportunity to read anything they want, most students look forward to that time to continue reading a book that most interests them. I am happy to provide reading inspiration to all of our students.
Perhaps the most exciting thing happening this spring/summer is a complete renovation of the High School library. From floor to ceiling, wall to wall, the space is being completely reimagined! We’ve gathered plenty of feedback from all stakeholders, have had multiple meetings with the architect and designers, and have a solid plan in place. We are all so excited for this next chapter in the Hudson Falls High School Library. I am proud and honored to be a part of it all.
School Library System Staff
Karin Howansky, School Library Media Specialist
Amy Brennan-Strack, Databases, Budgets, General Information
Deb Massa, Information Processing Specialist
Email: libraryservices@wswheboces.org
Website: https://www.wswheboces.org/apps/pages/SchoolLibraryServices
Location: 267 Ballard Road, Gansevoort, NY, USA
Phone: 518-581-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WSWHE-BOCES-School-Library-System-103830155380276
Twitter: @WSWHEBOCES_SLS