Love Your Library, Love Learning, Love Reading Month Culminates with Character Dress Up Day

A range of costumes showed up this morning from Arwen, elf from Lord of the Rings, to Thomas the Tank Engine, Cinderella, Nikki Maxwell from Dork Diaries, and more.  Thanks to all who participated!  Great additions to our reading and learning culture.

 

Arwen, Lord of the Rings.  Source: http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Elf/Arwen/Traveling.htm
 

 

Nikki Maxwell, Dork Diaries

Pink Shirt Day, 2014 - Stop Bullying!

Speaking up can stop bullying in 10 seconds!

 

 

History of Pink Shirt Day, Canada

“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school.‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.” (Source)

Will you join in by wearing pink on February 26th? Do you have a story about being bullied, how you stopped a bully or about how bullying has affected a loved one? Share your experiences and learn more at Pink Shirt Day home page

Freedom to Read Week, Feb. 23rd to March 1st, 2014

"Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Source

Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council.

Imagine a world where we were not allowed to read.  Scary.  Let's celebrate our powerful Canadian right to read and intellectual freedom - read even more this week!  Ms. M.

"This inspiring Freedom to Read Week video was made by Julia and Danika from the Calgary Science School, who won the Calgary Public Library Teen Freedom to Read Week Video contest."  Source

""Okanagan Reads for Kids" an ORL promo re local author Julie White & Horses

Source: http://ceramicfibrehealing.com/canadian-childrens-book-author-julie-white/

 

"Okanagan Reads for Kids" is a valley-wide book club, ages 8-15.  The current theme is about horses, friendship, and adventure through Armstrong author Julie White.  Julie has written four books about horses; see the Okanagan Reads website to learn about her books (scroll down the page for author and book info) and see below to meet author White through YouTube. 

FOUR CONTESTS

Bookmark Design, Short Story Writing, Book Trailer Video, & 2-night stay for a family of four at the 7 Half Diamond Guest Ranch at
Batstone Lake, Kamloops! 
Deadlines March 14, 2014

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Winter Olympic Poetry and Writings

Let's find winter olympic poetry, short stories and writings together!  Here is a poem by British Poet C Richard Miles writing about the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Winter Olympic Gold

So we went and won a medal in the Winter Olympics
With gold in the skeleton, as Amy Williams' slick tricks
Outslid the opposition on the hair-raising quick track
As she sped her sled to first position racing on that switchback.

She diced so nicely with the ice and shattered the course record
And maddened the Canadians who hoped that she'd come second;
The lass from Bath zipped faster than a zapped flash of lightning
As she whistled past in Whistler in a dash almost frightening.

For thirty years we'd waited since the skater, Robin Cousins,
Had figured in his victory and set the nation buzzing
But, as over-warm Vancouver hosts the best of every nation,
The snow we bore this winter might have been the inspiration.

So, as we battle through to work in thigh-high drifts and blizzards,
Let's not complain that snow's a pain that winter's wicked wizard
Has dealt us for a spell to irk commuters and communities
But let us get our skates on so we don't miss opportunities.

We'll raid packed attics through the land for sledges and toboggans
To build our skills for thrills and spills that we have long forgotten
And as we practise winter sports and press on with our training
Let's just be grateful for the cold, and glad that it's not raining.

Yet, if this Winter's a one-off and climate change continues,
You still can find your inner child that's hiding deep within you
To take delight in snowball fights, don't gripe or grouse or grumble
That you might slip if there's no grit so you might take a tumble.

And, if you think the skating rink is best to be avoided,
Encourage kids who bid to skid, so they're not disappointed,
For we might raise more champions with more determination
To go for gold and cheat the cold in our deep-frozen nation.      

C Richard Miles