LIBRARY NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2024
Indigenous land acknowledgement
Éy swáyel
Strathcona Elementary School's library and those who use it are proud to live, work, play and read on the Stó:lō unceded traditional territory of the Pilalt tribe.
My journey towards reconciliation involves broadening my own knowledge and understanding of the Halq'emeylem language, incorporating local Stó:lō stories into library time, introducing traditional language to students, and elevating the visibility and accessibility of indigenous books in the library collection.
teacher-librarianship PHILOSoPHY
My educational philosophy is deeply rooted in the Constructivist Learning Theory, believing that students build knowledge through experiences and reflection. I also attempt to foster a growth mindset and nurture curiosity when I am designing library programming. I prioritize hands-on learning experiences, allowing children to explore, discover, and construct their own understanding.
I embrace a “freedom to read” attitude, encouraging students to explore a diverse range of books that ignite their passion for reading, rather than limiting choice based on reading ability. This approach helps cultivate a genuine love for reading and lifelong learning.
Our library is a place where students can discover books that reflect their own experiences and open windows to new perspectives. Strathcona's school library is committed to offering a collection representing diverse perspectives, that includes voices from all backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, ensuring that every student can find something that resonates with them. This exposure nurtures empathy, understanding, and a global outlook.
Finally, I envision our Library Learning Commons as a vibrant hub of creativity, play, storytelling, and innovation - a space where students feel empowered to explore ideas, collaborate with peers, and develop critical thinking skills. By providing a rich, diverse, and inclusive environment, I aim to inspire learners to become confident, independent thinkers who are well-equipped to navigate an ever-changing world.
LITERACY TALK
Literacy Talk is a section dedicated to literacy development, offering tips, research,
and strategies to enhance a variety of literacy skills.
TipsforFamilies_AtHome.pdfGARDE 5 3D Printer Club
The library is hosting an after-school 3D printer club for 8 sessions from 2:20-3:20 PM on Thursdays during Term 2.
If your child is interested in signing up, please complete the form below.
There are 16 spots available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/pECrDSL2V8
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
🌟 Grateful for Tycrop’s Generosity! 🌟
We’re sending a huge thank-you to Tycrop in Rosedale for their incredible generosity in supporting STEM learning at our school!
Tycrop donated 20 Micro:bits and a Climate Action Kit, giving our teachers and students exciting tools to explore coding, technology, and environmental action.
Tycrop's support is helping us inspire the innovators of tomorrow—thank you for making a difference in our classrooms! 💻🌱✨
DECEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
This section highlights important events, social justice moments, and cultural celebrations,
ensuring they are recognized and appreciated.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
📚🌍 Human Rights Day – December 10th 🌍📚
Human Rights Day is a global celebration of equality, dignity, and freedom for all! In the library, we’ll be exploring inspiring stories of kindness, courage, and fairness through books and activities. Let’s celebrate how we can make a difference in our world—one thoughtful action at a time. Together, we can stand up for human rights! ❤️📖
SOCKVEMBER Update
Thank you for helping grade 4-5 students lead this important service-learning initiative.
We are looking forward to expanding this next year. The items have now been delivered to Ruth and Naomi's Outreach Team.
LIBRARY INFORMATION
EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY PERSPECTIVES
The Educational Pedagogical Perspectives section of the newsletter offers a diverse range of viewpoints on education, schools, and learning. It will offer insights from experts in the field, including teachers, researchers, and policymakers. The section aims to foster a deeper understanding of the complex issues surrounding education and to encourage critical thinking about the future of learning.
This month, I'd like to share a podcast from the Screen Deep podcast titled, Screen Time and Sleep - Quality, Quantity and Context with Lauren hale PhD.
Sleep is an essential part of life, and the quality and quantity of a person’s nightly sleep has wide-ranging impacts on cognition, behaviour, and health. On this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry discusses children and teens’ sleep and its relationship to digital media with Dr. Lauren Hale, Professor of Family, Population, and Preventative Medicine at Stony Brook University and Founding Editor in Chief of the Sleep Health Journal.
In this episode you'll learn:
Why sleep is important for cognitive and overall health - and why sleep regularity may be as important as duration
Which populations are getting less sleep and possible consequences
What the latest research tells us about technology use and sleep - delayed sleep, sleep duration, impaired sleep quality, digital sleep interruption, and blue light
What types of screen use and media content are associated with poorer sleep quality for youth
Why abolishing Daylight Savings Time and changing school start times may positively impact youth sleep health
New BOOKS
A small sample of new books added to the collection this month. See the full collection here.
by Thomas Flintham
by Mojang AB
by K. C. Kelley
COMMUNITY LITERACY EVENTS
Below is a list of local upcoming literacy events.
CHILLIWACK CULTURAL CENTRE
ART CLASSES - Intro to Anime
Location: Arts & Crafts Studio
Price: $119 – 6 sessions
Dates & Times: Wednesday, January 15 tO February 19, 2025 – 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Instructor: Colin Hofmann
Ages 8 to 11, Beginner
Details:
Dive into the world of anime art with this beginner’s class that teaches students how to draw in the popular Japanese animation style. You’ll learn the key features of anime characters, including large expressive eyes, exaggerated expressions, and dynamic poses. The class also covers basic anatomy and proportion, helping you create characters that move and interact in a believable way. Whether you’re a fan of anime or interested in learning a new drawing style, this class offers a fun and creative introduction to the art form. Register here.
STO:LO STORYTELLING
An evening of Sxwō:xwiyám origin stories presented by Ch’íyáqtel First Nation during ‘A Stó:lō New Year Celebration’ on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Vineyard Centre (45892 Wellington Ave.) at 7 p.m.
Carrielynn Victor will speak about the history of the Xwchíyò:m (Cheam) people and the importance of understanding that all of us have a relationship to nurture with the mountain goat of Mt. Cheam. There will also be local Indigenous artistic performances.
This is an all-ages event. Tickets: checkout.eventcreate.com/stolonewyear/select-buy.
ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK
Exciting News: One School, One Book is Coming in January!
We are thrilled to announce that our school will be participating in the One School, One Book program starting this January! This wonderful initiative aims to foster a love of reading and build a strong sense of community within our school.
What is One School, One Book?
For our new families, One School, One Book is a literacy program where the entire school community reads the same book at the same time. Here’s how it works:
Book Selection: A single book is chosen for all students, from kindergarten through fifth grade.
Family Involvement: Each family receives a copy of the book to read at home with their families.
Reading Schedule: We will provide a reading schedule so everyone can follow along together.
Engaging Activities: Throughout the program, we will have various activities and discussions to enhance the reading experience.
This program not only promotes literacy but also encourages family involvement and strengthens our school community. We can't wait to embark on this reading adventure with you!
Stay tuned for more details and happy reading!
THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS FOR GROWN UPS TOO
Besides serving as an invaluable resource for students, the school library extends its welcoming doors to adults as well. Should you intend to frequent the library, I can create an account for you, much like the process at a public library. Our library has an excellent selection of chapter books suitable for family read-alouds, as well as a diverse assortment of picture books perfect for nightly bedtime stories with your children.
When does my child visit the library?
KIDS Podcast Spotlight
The Dinosaur George Kids Podcast is an exceptional audio resource designed specifically for children who are fascinated by dinosaurs and the prehistoric world. This free podcast, accessible on any podcast-streaming platform, offers an exciting and educational experience that ignites young minds.
View other podcast recommendations here
FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION
Disaster Squad - Wildfire Rescue
(written by Rekha S. Rajan and illustrated by Courtney Lovett)
Type: Chapter Book
Grades: grade 1+
Pages: 90
Published: 2024
The Disaster Squad is ready to save the day in this action-packed early chapter book series perfect for fans of the Magic Tree House series, or for kids who aren’t quite ready to read I Survived!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
TOOL/APP OF THE MONTH
BOOK DONATIONS
The school library will gladly take any children's books you would like to donate only if they are in excellent used condition.
Feeling philanthropic? The school library would love to receive any hardcover book on this list.
The Book Man, our very own family-run locally-owned used bookstore in downtown Chilliwack, would be more than happy to help you purchase books on this list. You can find their contact information here.
If the Book Man cannot find a copy then you can find it on the school library's Amazon Wish List
The positivity podcast
Grade 5 students are currently working on Season 3 of The Positivity Podcast. In anticipation of the new season please feel free to check out our first 2 seasons wherever you get your podcasts.
POSITIVITY - INSPIRATION - JOY - INQUIRY - INFORMATION
There’s an oft-repeated question, a conversational game of sorts, that asks, “If you could go back in time and change one thing in the history of the world, what would you change?” We sometimes forget that one thing can be done right now to positively impact the future.
Not normal: Lions are climbing trees in Botswana
What’s making these majestic predators climb trees? In this Big Cats Unleashed short from Big Cats 24/7 on PBS, wildlife cinematographers in Botswana document this remarkable behaviour.