LIBRARY NEWSLETTER - June 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.
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 library collection.
CELEBRATION SPOTLIGHT
Pride Month is an annual celebration that honours the significant contributions made by the LGBTQ+ community to history, society, and cultures worldwide. It typically takes place throughout June each year. The origins of Pride Month trace back to the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 in New York City. During these riots, members of the LGBTQ+ community protested against police raids at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. The events at Stonewall marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality. Schools celebrate Pride Month to foster inclusivity, educate on LGBTQ+ history, and support LGBTQ+ students, combating bullying and fostering acceptance. It's a vital opportunity for dialogue, promoting empathy, understanding, and creating safer, more supportive environments for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
~END OF YEAR LIBRARY BOOK RETURN~
As an incentive to locate and return all outstanding books, students who return all their books by the end of the day on Monday, June 17th or sooner can claim a free sucker from the library.
~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 Adult Ish titled, Standing Up For Banned Books.
In March, the American Library Association (ALA) announced 4,240 unique book titles were requested to be banned from schools and libraries last year. The latest number of attempted book bans sets a new record, by a 65-percent increase over 2022’s previous highpoint (since the ALA has been tracking book censorship statistics). Nearly half of the books targeted are written by or about people of color and/or on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Adult ISH hosts Nyge Turner and Dominique “Dom” French kick off season 11 by speaking to Traci Thomas, host of “The Stacks” podcast, and Scott Stuart, author of “My Shadow is Purple,” about how removing access to books can cause harm.
~ Year end books for students ~
As the school year ends, the PAC and the school have again committed to purchasing a summer reading book for each student.
Reading is a personal experience, so we want to give students as much choice as possible. You and your child/children can select their own book from www.bookdepot.ca. The video below explains how to use the filters to narrow your choices and stay within the $4.00 maximum price limit.
For your convenience, here are clickable links for popular genres:
We ask that you choose two books in case your first choice sells out before we order.
Please email your choices (#1 and #2) to christopher_lister@sd33.bc.ca by the deadline on Tuesday, June 4th at 3:00 pm.
In your email, please include your child's name and teacher.
If you cannot select a book by the deadline, the school will choose a book for your child. Books will be included in the final report card package at the end of June.
Lastly, if your child is withdrawing from the school before the end of the school year, please let us know. Instead of ordering a book they won't receive, the school will select a book for them from our existing stock.
Year-End Books for Students 2023-2024 Tutorial.mp4~ New BOOKS ~
A small sample of new books added to the collection this month. See the full collection here.
by Monique Grey Smith
by Christopher Denise
Mr. Gum and the Power Crystals
by Andy Stanton
by Taylor Rouanzion
~ 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.
~ COMMUNITY LITERACY EVENTS ~
FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
The theme for Summer 2024 is World of Curiosities.
~ 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.
~ KIDS Podcast Spotlight ~
Invites you to solve the mysterious case of missing sounds.
Breaking News: across the globe, sounds are mysteriously going missing! Waves aren’t crashing, crickets aren’t chirping, and the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck is a distant memory. Follow Detective Hunch (Vinny Thomas) and his new sidekick Audie the Ear (Jess McKenna) as they solve sound mysteries and track down the nefarious Sound Swindler … all with a little help from LeVar Burton himself!
Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners (ages 5 & up) to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and places around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper, and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent!
View other podcast recommendations here
~ FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION ~
Unfadeable
written by Maurice Broaddus
Type: Chapter Book
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grades: 4+
Pages: 288
Published: 2022
Unfadeable by Maurice Broaddus is a coming-of-age story about Bella Fades, a resourceful teen artist living on her own in Indianapolis. Known for her graffiti tag "Unfadeable," Bella stays under the radar to avoid social services. When her beloved neighborhood, the Land, faces defunding, Bella uses her artistic talents and courage to fight back. This middle-grade novel explores themes of homelessness, community, and resilience, all with a touch of "Black girl magic." If you enjoy stories about social justice and finding your voice, check out Unfadeable.
~ STRATHCONA LITERACY EVENTS ~
SCHOOL-WIDE READATHON
June 6th 1 PM onwards
Theme: Growing Readers
Dressing in your favourite bright spring colours will be perfect for this event. (I’m breaking out my neon see the tongue-in-cheek fashion slideshow below)
Creating the right environment for prolonged periods of reading is important. A pillow or soft blanket may help students feel more comfortable. Students need to check in with their classroom teacher before making their final decisions about what is and is not appropriate.
It is important to have enough reading material to last the duration of the event. Bring books from home, the public library, classroom library or the school library.
Design Up Ideas - you'll get a good laugh!
~ AI PERSPECTIVES ~
In our new AI Perspectives section, let's delve into conversations around generative AI. Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can generate new content, such as text, images, or even music, based on patterns and data it has been trained on. It's like a creative tool that can produce somewhat original outputs.
However, it's essential to clarify what generative AI is not. It is not sentient or conscious; it lacks self-awareness and does not possess personal experiences or emotions. Generative AI operates based on the patterns it has learned from the input data and cannot think or understand concepts in the same way humans do.
As we explore AI perspectives, I'll aim to share how generative AI impacts our lives and its potential applications in education. If you have any specific questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future newsletters, feel free to let me know!
FUTURE OF AI
Future Trends: AI is Rapidly Advancing
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are developing at a blistering pace, bringing both amazing innovations and complex challenges. One major area of advancement is chatbots - conversational AI programs that can understand and communicate in human language. Companies and apps are using chatbots for customer service, writing assistance, tutoring, and more. As chatbots become smarter and more capable, they may increasingly be used in education to aid students and teachers.
Virtual reality (VR) is another booming AI field, creating immersive digital environments for gaming, training simulations, virtual field trips, and experiential learning. As VR becomes more affordable and accessible, classrooms may adopt VR systems to provide engaging, hands-on educational experiences.
Facial recognition AI is advancing rapidly as well, with applications in security, surveillance, and user identification for personalized services. However, these systems also raise thorny privacy issues that will need to be navigated carefully, especially regarding minors.
As AI progresses, it will undoubtedly transform many aspects of life and society in the coming years, including in education. It's an exciting but uncertain frontier, so it's wise to stay informed as these technologies evolve.
~ COOL TOOLS & GAMES ~
~ 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 - 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.
What will cats DD, Lala, Coco, Dodo, TT, Chuchu, Lulu, and Momo put up with? Will they scrunch their way through a 25 centimeter (9.8 inch) clear plastic tube? How about a 20 centimeter (7.8 inch) or 16 centimeter (6.3 inch) tube?
The Kittisaurus YouTube channel observes the cats’ curiosity and enthusiasm (or lack thereof) with this sound effect-filled Cats vs. Narrowing Tube video.