LIBRARY NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 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, Sema:th and Ts’elxwéyeqw tribes.

This year, 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 collection.

celebration spotlight

~ LUNAR NEW YEAR ~

Lunar New Year 2024 begins on February 10 and is celebrated for multiple days by East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. The holiday is tied to the lunar calendar and began as a time for feasting and honoring household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors. The year 2024 is slated to be the year of the dragon. Each year in the Lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals. The holiday is celebrated with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance, and togetherness.

~ BLACK HISTORY MONTH ~

This February, our school library proudly observes Black History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the contributions of Black Canadians throughout history. It is an opportunity to learn about the struggles and achievements of Black people and to recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in our society. By acknowledging Black History Month, we can help our children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and foster a sense of empathy and respect for all people. Let’s take this opportunity to learn, grow, and celebrate together!

The Government of Canada has provided some resources for all: https://bit.ly/sd33bhm

STRATHCONA

~ PICTURE BOOK KNOCKOUT ~

This year, we're replacing One School One Book with Strathcona Picture Book Knockout! Each class, including PAC (parents), nominates a picture book for a thrilling knockout competition. In class, students read 2 books together with their teacher, vote for their favorite, and the winning book progresses to the next round, akin to March Madness basketball. Students can also enjoy reading the books at home as they'll be digitized and shared with families. Join us for this engaging reading event that promises fun, friendly competition, and a crowned champion picture book. Let the Strathcona Picture Book Knockout begin!

Strathcona Picture Book Knockout Challenge.mp4

KNOCKOUT MATCHES

Chosen books

~EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY PERSPECTIVES ~

Educational Pedagogical Perspectives, will provide 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 Easy Edtech Podcast titled Making the Most Of AI For the Second Half of the School Year

In this episode, Dr. Monica Burns chats with Educational Technology Director Alana Winnick about harnessing the power of AI for the rest of the academic year and into the future. You’ll also hear Alana share helpful tips for making the most of AI tools in the classroom and insights from her new book, The Generative Age.

~ New BOOKS ~

A small sample of new books added to the collection this month. See the full collection here.

Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas

by Aaron Blabey

Gumluck the Wizard

by Adam Rex

The Light She Feels Inside

by Gwendolyn Wallace

Fantastic frights: A beginner's guide to scary stories

by Evan Waterman

~ BOOK CARE: ELEMENTS ~

Books and other library materials all have archenemies. One of those just happens to be the mighty elements themselves. How you ask? Well, just watch this video. And remember, book care, it's good for everyone!

It is crucial to store and transport these books within a protective 'second skin,' such as a book bag (available for purchase at the library for just $1) or a similar water-resistant bag.

~ 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 facilitate the creation of an account for you, much like the process at a public library. This school library offers an excellent selection of chapter books suitable for family read-aloud sessions, as well as a diverse assortment of picture books perfect for nightly bedtime stories with your children.

~ Podcast Spotlight ~

THE STORY OF MY PET Podcast

The Story of My Pet Podcast is a show for animal lovers. It features heart-to-heart conversations about animals collected from amazing pet parents, animal supporters, and rescue advocates. The show shares stories of pets from around the world, from rescue dogs to foster kittens, street cats to wild horses, and everywhere in between. You can learn about animal adoption, fostering, rescue, and volunteerism, along with powerful discussions about animal welfare topics. Tune in to learn how to get involved in your local community and help animals in need.

View other podcast recommendations here

~ Book Review ~

Peter Lee's Notes From The Field written by Angela Ahn

Type: Chapter Book

Grades: 3+

Pages: 312

Published: 2021

In "Peter Lee's Notes from the Field", eleven-year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. But his summer falls apart when his real-life dinosaur expedition turns out to be a bust, and he watches his dreams go up in a cloud of asthma-inducing dust. Even worse, his grandmother, Hammy, is sick, and no one will talk to Peter or L.B. about it. Armed with notebooks and pens, Peter puts his observation and experimental skills to the test to see what he can do for Hammy.

~ PUZZLE NIGHT SUCCESS ~

Many thanks to all those who attended. Looking forward to next year.

~ COOL TOOLS & GAMES ~

FUNBRAIN

Kids Should See This

~ 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 Historic 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 2 of The Positivity Podcast. In anticipation of the new season please feel free to check out our first season that was recorded and released in June 2023, and is available wherever you get your podcasts.

~ POSITIVITY - INSPIRATION - JOY ~

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.

The Letters is a short about sharing and helping each other to make positive changes in our communities near and far.

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