Welcome Back to School, 2016-2017

Welcome back to school, Eagles!

Click on the page to make it bigger.

Library Tips for the Best School Year Yet!

Photo IDs

Mrs. Vetter & I are hard at work this week getting a photo taken of every single student for their new Student ID cards!  These cards are used at breakfast, lunch, and in the library. We have a fancy new card printer, camera and tripod to do it.  So far, we've seen hundreds of beautiful smiles, and we can't wait to see more. 

As students have come through the library to take their photos, I've talked to them about the importance of these cards- keeping them looking brand new, and how to be responsible with it.  We liken it to an adult's credit card- no stickers, no marker, no holes, no bite marks, and we don't bend, break or lose them. If we adults lose a credit card, there are lots of consequences!  Luckily, replacing a lost card for a student is a little easier. I use funds I make through the book fair to purchase supplies for each student to have one card per year.  After that, though, it is the student's responsibility to pay for any additional cards.  Since the cards now have these beautiful color photos, a replacement card costs $5. It is RRISD district policy that students must have an ID card for lunch/breakfast and the library- it makes the lunch lines go way faster. Ms. Jacobs, our fearless leader, is collecting strategies for our campus-wide systems with classroom teachers to make sure they help keep students' cards where they should be.  I'm going to do something special for classes that lose zero cards this year, as in previous years, so let's work towards that goal together, Eagles!

Team Library 2014

Mrs. Vetter and I are thrilled to be starting a second year as Team Library here at Forest North.  We can't wait to get books in your hands, Eagles!  See you Tuesday, August 26th.

Welcome Walks 2014

Mrs. Lavender, our newest addition to the 5th grade team, and I had a blast yesterday going to all of the new students in her homeroom to welcome them to 5th grade! I got to see some familiar faces and a few new ones I can't wait to get to know, as well.  What a wonderful start to the best school year yet.  I already love working with Mrs. Lavender and I know her students will, too!  (She's a big fan of the Texas Bluebonnet Award- what else do you need to know!?)

RRISD 2014-2015 Kick Off Celebration!

Over 6,000 teachers celebrated yesterday at the Dell Diamond with RRISD Superintendent Dr. Steve Flores to kick off the best year ever! We got so motivated for our upcoming year- it was great! We enjoyed performances by the McNeil Choir, the Elementary P.E. teachers, and a tricycle race. The RRISD Partners in Education Foundation announced their grant winners for the year, and Forest North was lucky enough to have two winners- Ms. Matuschak won a grant for Math Kits for 1st graders to take home and share with their families, and I won a grant for $1000 worth of new animal books for our students to check out. I'm really excited to buy some new titles for all of us to share! This event was really special and got us so excited to see you all. Enjoy your last days of summer, Eagles, because we can't wait to see you next week!

welcome back to school

It's almost here, Eagles- the first day of school! I can't wait to see all of our returning students, and to meet our new ones as well. Orientations in the library will almost all take place during the first week of school. Students will be allowed to check out books during orientations after we review book care and how to check out a book.

PreK students check out one book for school use only. Kindergarten students check out one book and may take it home with them.

1st and 2nd grades may check out two books at a time. When they bring back one, they can check out another one. When they bring back two books, they can check out two more books.

3rd, 4th and 5th graders can all check out 3 books at a time. However many books they return, they may check out again.

Parents are welcome to get their own personal library account. They have unlimited checkout. They can send the books back with their student to school when they're done with the books.

There are no overdue book fees at Forest North. If you lose or damage a book though, we will need you to pay for a replacement. Lost or damaged books can be paid for by cash or a check made out to Forest North Library. Please include your phone number and a valid state ID number as well.

I can't wait to see you, Eagles!

This Year's Bluebonnet Book Award Nominees!

Here is an animoto video Mrs. Fournier made to introduce the new Bluebonnet Book Award nominees. She will show it to 3rd-5th graders next Tuesday and Wednesday!

Back to School!

The year has started off wonderfully. We have lots of excellent readers here at Forest North that I am super excited to show all of our new books to!

Due to staffing limitations, Forest North unfortunately had to destaff the library assistant position over the summer. Due to this, the library needs the help of consistent volunteers more than ever! Thanks to parents who have already stopped by to help cover books, shelve books, straight shelves, work the circulation desk, and helped kids find the books they need in the library! Our students need a well-staffed, well-run library and I couldn't do it without you.

Please help your child remember to take care of his or her library book/s, and to return them promptly. Checkouts are for two weeks, but your student comes to the library at least once a week. Remember as well that parent accounts have unlimited checkouts, so if you'd like to stock up on bedtime stories or great literature for Reading homework, stop by after school or during Library Night to get a stack!

Thanks again for all your support. I'll see you at the library!