Author: Ms. Haigh

Alpha Bits – Staying Connected While Apart

Ms. Haigh

We asked the staff at Alpha a few questions to help us all stay connected while apart. 

  • What are you reading right now?
  • What is your favourite book of all time?
  • How are you keeping busy during social distancing?
  • What do you miss most about Alpha?

Each day we will profile a different staff member and their answers.

Want to participate in the discussion? Visit our Padlets to join in and connect with the Alpha school community. *Responses will be moderated and need approval before being posted, so please participate respectfully.

Questions you can answer are:

  1. What do you miss most about Alpha?
  2. What have you been doing to stay busy during social isolation? (besides school work)

Get a BPL Library Card

Ms. Haigh

Hey Alpha Students: don’t have a library card? BPL branches are closed, but you can call them at 604-436-5400 and get one for free!

Use it to stay home and keep reading with their expanding e-book and audiobook collections in Library to Go or on the Libby app. Browse and borrow from thousands of titles for kids, teens and adults, fiction and non-fiction. You can also browse our Popular Reads: new titles, bestsellers and popular items available right now, with no holds or waiting.

You can also use your library card to access online resources so you can stay on top of the news, learn a new language, develop new skills, listen to music, watch independent films, and more.

During their closure, you can sign up a new library card over the phone, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.  

Freedom to Read Week @ Alpha

Ms. Haigh

This week is Freedom to Read Week in Canada. It’s an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about their intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In other words, it’s a week to fight censorship. Come by the library to see our display which features many books that have been banned in Canada or the United States over the past 50+ years.

Or check out this list of books that have been challenged (someone has tried to ban them) either in a library or at a school. Many of the books on this list are now considered classics, like Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird. How many have you read?

Interested in learning more? Visit the website here or come by the library this week to look at our display and check out a banned book.

 

 

Book Swap December 18

Ms. Haigh

Do you have books you’ve finished reading and don’t want anymore? Why not give them a second life by donating them to the Alpha Book Swap? The Book Swap will take place on December 18th at lunch. It’s a great time to find new books to read over the winter break, or you might even find a gift for someone special. All books at the swap will cost $1, or 1 ticket.You will receive 1 ticket for each book donated. Please see Ms. Haigh for more details.

Murder Mystery Event

Ms. Haigh

Come by the library to try to solve the murder of Miss Terry the Library Assistant (display on now until November 1st). There are three suspects: The Librarian, The Head of Science, and The Head of English. But who did it? How did they do it? And why? Think you know the answer? Submit your detective report to Ms. Haigh by 3pm on Novemeber 4th to be entered in the draw for a chance to win a delicious prize!

Introducing: Board Game Fridays

Ms. Haigh

Need something to do to unwind at the end of the week? Stop by the Library Learning Commons at lunch and play some games with your friends. Games are available any day to play, but on Fridays the Makersapce room is reserved for students so that you can eat your lunch while you play!

Freedom to Read Week 2018

Ms. Haigh

Freedom to Read Week is an annual event in Canada, and aims to shed light on intellectual freedom. Every year books are challenged across Canada for various reasons, from sexually explicit content to obscenity, to religious viewpoint. To better understand how books get challenged you can check out the great infographic here.

Currently the library has a display of various books that have been banned somewhere in North America within the last 100 years. Take a look at the titles and you will notice a number of classics, many of which are taught in today’s English classes.

 

For more information about censorship in Canada and to see the list of 30 modern books that have been challenged visit the Freedom to Read website’s resource section.