Bluebonnet Party!

National Readathon Day Tomorrow!

Make a pledge to read for 4 hours this Saturday.  I did!  

The #timetoread campaign

Polly Holyoke Visit Wrap Up!

4th and 5th grade were so excited to have Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee The Neptune Project author Polly Holyoke come to visit us!  We had a general assembly where she told us all about her book and had a fascinating interactive Science presentation.  Afterwards, we had a book signing, and she did a special Writing Camp with 4th graders as they prepare for their writing STAAR test.  We also had a special Taco Time- interested students wrote persuasive essays on why they should be chosen to eat tacos with Polly Holyoke.  Congratulations to our essay winners - Destiny, Ariah, Denise, Karina, and Sydney.

The Neptune Project was the winner at Forest North this year with 30 votes at our Texas Bluebonnet Award Voting Party.  We adored Polly's Sci Fi underwater oddsey. We can't wait for the sequel to come out in May - The Neptune Challenge. Check out this video for more about our fun visit!

Celebration of Learning tomorrow!

Hope to see you, Eagles!  Feel free to stop by the library, open a parent account, or check out some new books!

Liesl Shurtliff Visit Wrap Up

We had a great time last week, Liesl! Thanks for visiting us, sharing Rump (and for the sneak preview of Jack.) Check out this video of the fun we had during our special lunch & presentations.

5th Annual Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest

Do you love reading?  Of course you do!  Show it off by entering our 5th annual "Unusual Reading Spot Photo Contest."  Check out this flyer for details, and take a fun photo!  By our 3/27 deadline, you must email the photo to me, and submit an Official Entry form (left).

I can't wait to see what you come up with!  For inspiration, let's check out last year's winners to get some ideas.  These photos are also available for viewing on the walls of the Library!  

Our 2013-2014 winners!

 

Now Hiring Library Leaders - Apply Today!

Want to represent your class for the spring semester, work at the checkout desk, and help kids find books before school?  Do you love reading & books?  Apply today to become a Library Leader!  2 students from each 2nd-5th grade class will be chosen to be trained in the ways of the library, help keep it running smoothly, and learn more in depth what it takes to be a librarian and a leader.  We will have mandatory training sessions after school once a month on Mondays. Students must attend these training sessions to be a Library Leader.

Click the application above to print your own copy!  Applications due on Friday, 1/16.

Kindergarten Book Club

You might remember from an earlier post that I won a $2000 grant from Target to host a Kindergarten Book Club in the library.  The Kinder (& PreK) teachers and I have been hard at work planning this, and we're ready!

We read the book today in the library and told the students our plans and they're very excited! Books should arrive today for every student.  We will keep them at school while we're doing our Book Club, and after our evening event, students can take the books home to keep and share with their families.

Our Book Club finale will be on February 2nd, from 5:00-7:00, and families are invited to attend as we eat dinner, discuss the book, do fun activities, and eat a theme-related snack.

We're very excited to have this special opportunity with this group of Kinder and PreK students, and hope to have 100% of students & their families to join us!

Neptune Project author Polly Holyoke visiting

Thursday, January 22nd is going to be an awesome day for 4th and 5th graders as Polly Holyoke, Texas Bluebonnet Award nominated author of The Neptune Project, will be visiting us here at Forest North Elementary.  I'm so excited!  

Check out more information on Polly at her website.  I was just there and discovered the sequel to this awesome book is coming out on May 15th, 2015, and will be titled The Neptune Conspiracy. 

Polly will be doing a general assembly session with 4th and 5th grades, to talk about the book and her process, and then will be doing a more intense workshop with 4th graders to help prepare them for their writing STAAR test. Polly was, until very recently, a 4th grade teacher in Texas herself, after all, so she knows the ropes.

She will be available to sign books during her visit.  You can preorder them through school with a special discount until the day before her visit for $13.59 hardback and $5.59 paperback.  You can buy them for retail price plus tax on the day of her visit as well.  Feel free to print the order form at left.

Polly has also agreed to eat lunch with a handful of students. Students who are interested in being chosen for lunch must pass the Neptune Project bluebonnet quiz by Monday, 1/19, and write Mrs. Fournier a one page, persuasive letter about why they should be chosen.

It is a special opportunity for us to have the author of one of the Bluebonnet nominees visit our school, and especially one who is familiar with our curriculum and TEKS.  This is sure to be an event where we'll learn a lot and have tons of fun.  I can't wait!

Happy New Year from your Friendly Neighborhood Library Staff

Mrs. Vetter & I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year, Eagles!  2015 is going to be the best one yet- see you in a few days!