J. A. Vitovsky Library
2016 - 2017 Summary
2016 Sizzling Summer Reading Progam
Vitovsky students left school in June, but many of them returned for the 2016 JAV Sizzling Summer Reading program. The library was open most Tuesdays in June, July and August so students could listen to stories, guest speakers, enjoy a snack, and hang out with parents, friends, and families.
Officer Ray Hall
Officer Hall stopped by to share R is for Rocket: An ABC Book by Tad Hills.
Mrs. Hollye Walker
Students listen as Mrs. Walker, JAV principal, talks about one of her favorite books, Chrysanthemum, by Kevin Henkes.
Mrs. Walker Meets JAV Students
Vitovsky students presented Mrs. Walker with a yellow banner welcoming her to our school.
Gears, Gears, Gears!
Davan and Hudson create a project with gears.
Do Not Disturb!
Salma and Elizabeth make door hangers after reading Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues.
Osmo Tangrams
Andy and Ezra explore Osmo Tangrams.
Summer Reading Program Challenge
Students were challenged to read 600 minutes over the summer. Over 400 books were checked out from the JAV library, and 80 students qualified to attend the Sizzling Summer Reading field trip to Kimmel Park to enjoy a day of pizza and play!
Graphic Novels Have Been Reclassified!
Many graphic novels in libraries have the Dewey Decimal designation "741.5" before the author's name. Some students have asked why graphic novels have a "nonfiction" label since most of them are fiction.
To eliminate the confusion, graphic novels in the Vitovsky library now have "GRA" as the prefix and are shelved apart from other nonfiction books. Keep reading, JAV!
Student Authors
Matthew and Cooper wrote and illustrated Metallic Mushroom and published it by placing it in the JAV library for other students to enjoy. All JAV authors copyright their work to prevent plagiarism!
Cooper's Copyright
Student Authors Abound!
Metallic Mushroom #2
2017 MISD Bluebonnet Book Bowl
On Thursday, March 2, 2017, Frank Seale Middle School hosted the Bluebonnet Book Bowl. Teams from each elementary school and one from each of the MISD middle schools arrived to show their knowledge of the 20 nominated books. Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends arrived to cheer on their students.
JAV Bluebonnet Team
Alice, Jack, Kaitlyn, Annevay, Ezra and Ashlynn represented Vitovsky Elementary in the 2017 Bluebonnet Book Bowl.
The team is ready!
Parents got a quick picture of the team with sponsor Mrs. Jones before the competition gets started.
Jack casts the team's vote.
Team captain Jack holds up the team's answer choice so the judges can record their selection.
Thank you, Holcim Cement Company!
The JAV library was the recipient of a Holcim Cement mini-grant. LittleBits electronic components were purchased with grant money. Students will be able to create projects that demonstrate how circuits work.
JAV Makerspace Engages All Grade Levels
First grade students enjoy creating and working together in the JAV library. They use a variety of materials to show off their imaginations.
First Grade
Mouse Coding
Fifth-grade students program the mouse to find the cheese!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ4HV4TF7P0&feature=em-upload_owner
2016 - 2017 Statistics
Summer Checkouts: 416
Checkouts for August 22, 2016, to May 25, 2017: 27,732
YTD Interlibrary Loans: 120
Class visits to JAV library for lessons/book checkout - 525
Class/group visits to JAV library for Makerspace activities - 238