LIBRARY DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER

Minisink Valley Central School District

RESEARCH PROJECTS, BOOK CHECKOUTS, READING AND MORE AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL!

WINTER 2015

The MS library has been abuzz with learning! Mrs. Kowal’s classes were in the library conducting research for their immigration projects, Mrs. Sicina’s classes were in to study scientists, both Ms. Ringanese and Mrs. Johnson’s students were researching elements and Mr. Moyles and Mrs. Keppler’s classes used library resources to carry out group research projects on the 13 colonies. These are just some of the educational activities that have occurred in the MS library this year. Students have also been in the library checking out books and taking advantage of any free time available to relax and read!

STUDENT DISPLAYS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL! THE ELEMENTARY LIBRARY IS BUSY! It has been a busy fall in the Minisink Elementary Library! Second graders have been practicing alphabetical order using an online game and the kindergarten students have been studying fiction and nonfiction books about sheep and sheep's wool. There are great new book additions to the library including a Birthday Book donated by Mitchell Demberg about the Avengers! Expect exciting events like author visits, Read Across America, and National Poetry Month in the Spring! Below are some fabulous1st graders re-enacting the story The Mitten by Jan Brett.

Who Needs TeenReads When We Have Our Students’ Picks? This year, students are invited to sign up to create a display of their favorite books in the library. Taisha Santiago created a display in the library highlighting some of her favorite books. She loves to read and is excited to share her top book picks with her fellow students. Students are really enjoying her recommendations!

READING AWARDS FOR INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS! Congratulations to the Intermediate students for helping Scholastic break a world record of minutes read over the summer. They contributed over 28,000 minutes. Some of our students were presented with The New York State Excellence in Reading certificate by the New York Assembly for their commitment to read over the summer. One student who received the award was Isabella Delo. Keep reading, Isabella! A big congratulations also goes out to the winner of WHUD's Joke Contest, Sarah Addo, who received passes to Hershey Park, free nights in the Hershey Lodge and $100.00 in spending money.

OTISVILLE LIBRARY LEARNING HIGHLIGHTS! Kindergarteners are learning the difference between fiction/nonfiction & author/ illustrator. First graders are quickly becoming fairy tale experts and will explore trickster tales next. As for second graders, they know all about Pourquoi Tales (just-so stories, grandmother stories, etc.) Next up, learning about fables! Third graders should get their passports ready because Ms. Sheerer is taking them around the world by studying folk tales and using Culturegrams (a database with information on countries and cultures around the world). Fourth graders are being introduced to and sampling genre fiction. They have already read and written realistic fiction and mystery stories and are now beginning their journey into science fiction. Soon the fourth graders will start touching on poetry, historical fiction, horror and a smidgeon of romance. Fifth graders have been delving into the academic world of research. They know the difference between primary and secondary sources; they are learning the dangers of plagiarizing and how to avoid it; and are also honing their note taking and citation skills to be ready for the MS. Bravo Otisville students! Keep up the good work!

THE GREAT OTISVILLE READ ALOUD!

THE MS LEGO WALL!

The Great Otisville Read Aloud will be held the week of March 7-11. This year the event focuses on reading and being a team member.

THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL LIBRARY CELEBRATES 25 YEARS! It's hard to believe that the Intermediate School Library opened it’s doors for the 25th year this September!!! Thousands of students have passed through since 1991 and all of these students, past and present, will be honored in the spring.

AUDIOBOOKS AT THE HS!

The Middle School Library’s Lego Wall has sparked the imaginations of many students! There have been some very creative designs and will surely be many more. A big thank you to SLMSSENY for funding the grant that Mrs. Spicehandler applied for in order to have the Lego Wall built! Lots of gratitude also goes out to the families who have and continue to donate their gently used Legos for our students to use.

THE HS IS GENRE-FIED! Where are your Fantasy Books? There is a big change in the high school library! Throughout the day, many students rush in and ask where they can find science fiction, fantasy, romance etc. Now it is easy to direct students to the section filled with books of their favorite genre because the fiction books have been genre-fied! Browsing the HS fiction has never been more fun!

Have You Heard Any Good Books Lately? High School students are really enjoying NEVER A DULL MOMENT IN OTISVILLE! all of the audiobooks now available to them. All of the required readings for During browsing time students have 5 Chromebooks to search the their English classes are now available as catalog, they can help complete a school-wide puzzle, play dreidel, use the downloadable MP3 audio files that they listening center, play Brainquest, use various flashcards or read a book. can download onto their personal devices! Check out the high school library NEW DATABASES AND A COOL PROJECT AT THE IS! website for links to the apps. The Intermediate School is enjoying many new databases. While using the new resources they were inspired to create an Ances"tree" is Cool! tree that can be found outside the main office. The students have much to be RECREATIONAL TIME AT proud of in their heritage! THE INTERMEDIATE

SCHOOL! Students are enjoying reading, playing checkers or chess, building with Legos, etc. in the Intermediate Library's newly redesigned relaxing area.

UNICEF FUNDRAISER AT THE OTISVILLE LIBRARY The entire Otisville Elementary School joined forces to collect $1,600 for UNICEF! This amazing program was facilitated by the library department. Kudos to everyone for their efforts with this worthwhile fundraiser!

HS STUDENTS USE QR CODES!

QR Codes : Quick and Easy Connections to All of Your Favorite Books! High School Students are using QR codes to connect to book reviews, author interviews and more! With the download of a QR Code Reader app, our students are able to instantly link to information for some of the newest books in our library. Check out the high school library website for links to the qr code reader apps!

WELCOME MRS. SCHIELE, OUR NEW IS LIBRARY CLERK! MS POETRY CONTEST! The annual MS Halloween poetry contest was a hit once again! There was a slew of amazing entries. It was a difficult decision but 5 winners were chosen. They are pictured to the right: Best Artistic Design– Antonella Lombardo Scariest– Abigail Povill Funniest– Grace McDermott Grand Prize Winner– Grady Brunelle Most Thoughtful– Hannah Veety– Not in picture