LIBRARY NEWSLETTER - March 2024
Embedded Files
~Indigenous land acknowledgement~
~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
CELEBRATION SPOTLIGHT
~RAMADAN~
Ramadan is a holy month observed by Muslims worldwide, marked by fasting from dawn to sunset. This year, Ramadan starts on Monday, March 11th. During this time, individuals reflect on spirituality, practice self-discipline, and engage in acts of kindness. The fast, known as sawm, promotes empathy for those in need. It concludes with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a joyous festival of gratitude and community.
~ STRATHCONA PICTURE BOOK KNOCKOUt ~
~ STRATHCONA PICTURE BOOK KNOCKOUt ~
When voting on books in the Quarter Final and each round after that, please reread the match-ups (books) before voting. Rereading familiar books helps children build fluency, deepen their understanding of the story, and discover new details they might have missed the first time. This repeated exposure to text strengthens their vocabulary and overall literacy skills.
~EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY PERSPECTIVES ~
~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 Creative Classroom with John Spencer titled Ian Clawson on the Power of Co-Creation and Creativity
In this episode, John Spencer chats with Ian Clawson about creative collaboration. In this interview, they discuss tools for co-creation and what it looks like to create a culture where people give one another vital creative feedback. Ian Clawson has a book he co-wrote called Brave Together which might be worth a read.
~ New BOOKS ~
~ New BOOKS ~
A small sample of new books added to the collection this month. See the full collection here.
~ 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 ~
~ Podcast Spotlight ~
This one is for older students...
Sherlock & Co. is a short, weekly podcast that turns the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes into a modern-day audio adventure. Paul Waggott, plays Dr. John Watson, a former soldier who teams up with the brilliant but odd Holmes, voiced by Harry Attwell. They start off solving “The Edelweiss Murder,” making it a great intro to the show. Watson’s not a detective, but his journey into crime-solving is just as interesting as the cases themselves.
View other podcast recommendations here
~ FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION ~
~ FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION ~
Once Upon A Tim written by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Type: Chapter Book
Genre: Humour
Grades: 2+
Pages: 160
Published: 2022
In the realm of Merryland, Tim, an ambitious villager, dreams of a life beyond his father's simple profession as a woodsman. The kingdom's rigid social hierarchy presents challenges, but Tim's unwavering determination and innate bravery set him apart. When news arrives of Princess Grace's abduction by the nefarious Stinx, Tim seizes the opportunity to join Prince Ruprecht's quest for her rescue. Despite lacking traditional skills, his commitment to change his destiny fuels his resolve to make his dreams a reality. Fans of fairy tales will find this hilarious new book series has a refreshing twist.
~ 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!
I'm ChatGPT 3.5, a powerful language model created by OpenAI. I can assist you by generating human-like text based on the input you provide, helping with a wide range of tasks, answering questions, and engaging in conversation on various topics.
I can understand and generate different creative text formats, like poems, code, scripts, musical pieces, email, letters, etc., by learning from massive datasets of text and code. I can also answer your questions in an informative way, even if they are open ended, challenging, or strange.
I'm Microsoft Copilot, an AI companion designed to assist users by providing information, answering questions, and engaging in conversation. Feel free to ask anything, and I'll do my best to help! 😊
~ 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~
~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.
Henrietta Lacks: The ‘immortal’ cells that changed the world is this incredible true story, we learn how Henrietta cells, taken without consent in 1951 during a medical procedure, led to significant medical advancements.
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