LIBRARY NEWSLETTER - June 2025
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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.
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
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.
JUNE SPOTLIGHTS
This section highlights important events, social justice moments, and cultural celebrations, ensuring they are recognized and appreciated.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
📣 National Indigenous Peoples Day – School Event Announcement!
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada — a special time to honour and celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It’s an important opportunity for all Canadians to learn about and appreciate the rich traditions and diverse stories of Indigenous communities across the country.
To recognize this important day, our school will be hosting a celebration on the school field on Friday, June 20th. Students will take part in activities that honour Indigenous cultures, stories, and traditions. We look forward to coming together as a school community to learn, reflect, and celebrate.
We hope to see everyone there!
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.
YEAR END BOOKS FOR STUDENTS REMINDER
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 3 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.
How To_ Help Your Child Choose Their Free Year-End Book.mp4Picture book knockout wrap-up
Picture book knockout wrap-up
Over the past several weeks, our school-wide Picture Book Knockout competition has seen 16 wonderful picture books go head-to-head in an exciting battle for the top spot. On Thursday, May 29th, we held our final matchup between The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors and The Very Impatient Caterpillar. It was a thrilling finish, with fewer than 20 votes separating the two finalists! In the end, The Very Impatient Caterpillar — nominated by our Kindergarten teachers — emerged victorious. A huge thank you to all the families, students and staff who participated, read, and voted along the way. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
ILLUSTRATOR/AUTHOR visit
ILLUSTRATOR/AUTHOR visit
We’re Excited to Welcome Stacey Chomiak Back!
We’re thrilled to announce that Stacey Chomiak, parent, local author, illustrator, and animator, will be visiting our school once again! Stacey will be joining us on Monday, June 9th at 1:00 pm to share her brand-new book, Rainbow Boy and the Pride Parade.
During her visit, Stacey will read from her book and talk with students about her work as an illustrator and animator. This special event is part of our Pride Month celebrations, as we continue to honour diversity, inclusion, and the importance of being proud of who you are.
We’re looking forward to a wonderful afternoon of storytelling and creativity!
END OF YEAR LIBRARY BOOK RETURN & SUMMER CHECK-OUT DETAILS
Please return all library books by Monday June 16
In order to manage the summer checkout program, we need to have all books returned and student accounts cleared by the above date.
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 16th or sooner can claim a free sucker from the library.
If a k-4 student has no books checked out on or before Monday June 16, then qualify for the summer checkout program.
The summer checkout program will open Monday June 23rd.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FAIR
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FAIR
Mr. Neely, Ms. von Doehren, Mrs. McIvor, and myself have been working with grade 5 students this term on their Young Entrepreneur Projects.
We’re excited to announce that our Grade 5 students at Strathcona Elementary will be hosting their Young Entrepreneur Show on Friday, June 13th, in the gym from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM!
As part of the PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs program (learn more at powerplay4success.com), students have been busy developing their own small businesses — creating products, setting prices, designing marketing materials, and learning valuable skills like budgeting, teamwork, and problem-solving. This hands-on project is all about empowering students with real-world financial literacy and entrepreneurial experience in a fun, creative way.
Items for sale will range in price from $1 to $5, and there will be a snack bar open throughout the day. 10% of each student's profits will be donated to a local charity, and proceeds from the snack bar will help support future student projects next year.
We hope you’ll come out to support our young entrepreneurs and see the amazing ideas they’ve brought to life!
EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY PERSPECTIVES
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 Enhancing Equity in Elementary Education podcast titled,
Educational Equity: Indigenous Perspectives on Learning & Unlearning
In this podcast, participants shared their perspectives on equity, informed by their Indigenous worldviews and lived experiences. The discussion was guided by the following questions:
What is equity for each of you in terms of your lived experiences and in terms of your current work in relation to settler colonial K-6 public and private schooling systems in Ontario?
What are some of the historical and/or ongoing individual, structural, systemic and societal barriers?
What is some of the professional (un)learning work taking place to support students?
New BOOKS
New BOOKS
A small sample of new books added to the collection this month. See the full collection here.
by David Shannon
COMMUNITY LITERACY EVENTS
COMMUNITY LITERACY EVENTS
Every Summer, Fraser Valley Regional Library hosts Summer Reading Club (SRC) for all ages. Record your reading all summer long for chances to win prizes. The more you read, the more chances to win!
How to Join
In-person:
Visit your closest FVRL location to register and pick up a paper SRC Reading Record
Track your reading progress and read 15 minutes or more each day
Collect progress stickers (Kids SRC only) and enter prize draws at your closest FVRL location
Online:
Register or sign in to FVRL’s Beanstack or download the Beanstack app
Join the current FVRL Summer Reading Club challenge for your age group
Track your reading progress and read 15 minutes or more each day
Log your reading to earn badges and enter weekly prize drawings
Both: Track your reading online and on paper for more chances to win!
STORYTIME ON THE FARM
STORYTIME ON THE FARM
Join the Agassiz Library at Earthwise for a busy buzzing bee Storytime and tour of Earthwise Farm. Rhea from Earthwise Society will teach us all about pollinators and what they do on the fam. Sit back relax and enjoy the nature around you.
Things to note:
Bring a blanket to sit on for Storytime
All participating bees are of the stuffy variety
Sign up here
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.
KIDS Podcast Spotlight
KIDS Podcast Spotlight
Kindness Is Everything Podcast
This podcast will feature stories of folks of all ages talking about their amazing acts of kindness. Each episode is so inspiring. Always remember, there is no act of kindness that is too small—for the person or animal receiving that kindness, it means everything!
View other podcast recommendations here
FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION
FAMILY READ ALOUD SELECTION
DOGTOWN
(written by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko)
Type: Illustrated Chapter Book
Grades: all ages
Pages: 352
Published: 2023
Welcome to Dogtown, the world’s only shelter for both real dogs and robot dogs! This is where stray pups, abandoned pets, and out-of-date robot dogs find a temporary home — and where adventure is always around the corner.
Meet Chance, a scrappy mutt who’s desperate to get adopted, Metal Head, a robot dog who isn’t like the others, and Mo, a young girl with a big heart and a plan to help them both. Together, they discover that friendship comes in all shapes, sizes, and circuits!
This heartwarming, hilarious, and tail-wagging tale is packed with action, humor, and important lessons about kindness, belonging, and second chances. If you love stories about unlikely heroes and loyal friendships, Dogtown is a must-read!
Check it out in the library today — it’s paws-itively awesome!
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
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.
The Dresser, a series of chain reaction contraptions by Joseph Herscher
This is The Dresser, a whimsical Rube Goldberg-style, chain reaction-filled performance by kinetic artist and daring contraption engineer Joseph Herscher.
Go behind the scenes of The Dresser in this video from the McColl Center for Art + Innovation:
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