This year is the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s beloved story, James and the Giant Peach. 
Visit the James and the Giant Peach website to “Follow that Peach” around the world. Or visit Roald Dahl’s website for more fun, games and activities. Tuesday, Sept. 13th is Roald Dahl Day to commemorate his birth. Check out fun stuff at this website.
The Library has many new books to start off the year! New books will be available for viewing near the end of next week (Sept. 12-16), and will be available for taking out the following week, after everyone has had a chance to browse. The Library officially opens on Monday, Sept. 19th, for classroom visits and activities. See you then!
This week, all primary students will be reading Rukhsana Khan’s Big Red Lollipop, a story about birthday parties and including family. The characters in the story came from Pakistan, and their mother is not familiar with North American birthday celebrations and customs, such as inviting classmates to a party. This book is based on a true story that happened when the author was younger. Big Red Lollipop is also an example of a “circular” story that ends in the same way that it started.
The intermediate classes will be listening to and discussing Janet Wilson’s nonfiction book, One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists. This book has been nominated for a Red Cedar Award.
Posted in Weekly Read-a-Louds
Tagged diversity, Middle East, raising awareness, tolerance, war
The Kindergarteners this week will be reading the humorous story Llama Llama Mad At Mama by Anna Dewdney. This rhyming story is one of several stories about the young llama, a character that the K’s find fascinating.
Division 2 will be reading two companion books: The Quiet Book, and The Loud Book! both by Deborah Underwood. Each book describes either a quiet or loud kind of noise or activity. For example, “Making a wish quiet” or “Crackling campfire loud.” Students will then come up with 5 of their own kinds of quiet and 5 kinds of loud. Lot’s of fun!
All other classes will be reading the english translation of Dominique Demers’ new story Today, Maybe, originally published in French. It is a whimsical story about a young girl who knows that she is waiting for a friend, but doesn’t know who this may be or when he/she might come. The illustrations, by Gabrielle Grimard, are stunning and beautiful. The young girl learns that “true friendship is worth waiting for.”
Divisions 2 and 10 did an excellent job writing haiku poems this month. Here are a few samples:
When the world whispers
“Give up,” Hope will tell you to
Try it one more time.
Cherry Blossoms
Falling gracefully
Soaring like a butterfly
Beautiful blossoms.
Hearing the loud waves
Relaxing on the warm sand
Just my friends and I.
Shhh…says the oak tree
It whispers to the dark sky
The stars wink goodnight.
The stars in the sky,
Shine so very bright at night,
They must be alive…
I am a Canuck
Canucks win the Stanley Cup
This is now our year.
Vancouver Canucks
Are going to the next round
Nashville be prepared.
A sweet ride going
Down the street, driving so fast
Tires start to pop.
A peeking sunrise
Is glowing on the waters
In front of my eyes.
Skipping rocks fly top
Of the icy cold water
Going forever.
A tired red sun sets
Every night and the moon takes
Its place in the sky.
Dragons fly away
To their rocky cave in the
Evergreen forest.
This week the grade 7’s will be reading Making the Moose Out of Life by Nicholas Oldland. Moose, who is usually mild-mannered, is stranded on a deserted island and must overcome his fears about trying new things. Students will then draft a speech to present the Moose with an award for bravery.
Also this week, several classes will be reading Willow’s Whispers by Lana Button. Both Lana Button and illustrator Tania Howells are Canadian. Willow is a shy and quiet girl and needs to gain the confidence to have her voice heard.
Both stories this week deal with gaining confidence and becoming a stronger person.
Posted in Weekly Read-a-Louds
Tagged character-building, self confidence, self esteem, tolerance
With Earth Day coming up (April 22), this week we will read a story about recycling. Classes will be reading Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug by Ellie Bethel. Litterbug Doug lives on the edge of town in his self-made garbage dump that is host to old TVs, tires, bottles and cans. Michael Recycle arrives on the scene and teaches Doug a thing or two about recycling. The grade 7s will then take 5 lessons from the text and create Earth Day bumper stickers.
Posted in Weekly Read-a-Louds
Tagged Earth Day, environment, raising awareness, recycling
Divisions 2 and 3 read Good Night, Commander by Ahmad Akbarpour this week and the students were asked to create a Word-List Poem based on the characteristics and feelings of the main character. The poems were powerful! Here are a few:
Imaginative
Brave
Unafraid
Sad
Angry
Proud
Commander
Bravery
Playtime
Fake war
Big imagination
Young
Boy
Commander
Aware
Legless
Imaginative
Upset
Strong
Loving
Commander
Miserable
Disabled
Brave
Proud
Childish
Imaginative
Commander
Handicapped
Young
Imaginative
Avenging
Upset
Loved
Commander
Threatened
Tortured
Unlucky
Strong
Brave
Young
Commander
Posted in Reader's Response
Tagged Iran, Middle East, National Poetry Month, poetry, war
This month will be quite busy in the Library! Division 1 (gr.7) will be conducting research on famous French-Canadians.
Division 10 (gr.3/4) will be writing Haiku poems in honour of National Poetry Month; Ms. L. and Mr. S. will be collaborating on a project inspired by the book Guyku: a year of haiku for boys by Bob Raczka and Peter H. Reynolds. Of course, we have created “Galku” for our aspiring female haiku writers! Stay tuned for more details…
Division 14 (gr.2) will be learning how to research and take notes about a favourite animal. We’ll be using books and the laptops for conducting research.
Aboriginal Circle will be held in the Library on Monday, April 11th.
Thank you to students Emily, Joanna and Katherine, for decorating the Library for Easter. It looks fantastic!
Posted in Library Happenings
Tagged collaboration, haiku, National Poetry Month, poetry, research
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