Carnival du Québec, 29 Janvier

Le Carnival du Québec il commence aujourd'hui!

Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week Continues!

What an amazing week so far.  Bastion students have reported (and been seen by me!) attending numerous events: Family story time (Okanagan Regional Library AKA ORL), Family Swim, Armstrong rollerskating, Family curling, and my high light of amazing Unplug and Play spirit was at our very own Bastion Elementary - PJ Storytime with esteemed children's author Mr. Wilf Pauls (& former famous SD83 teacher-librarian), and retired college professor Mr. Les Eleanor. Approximately two hundred participants filled two classrooms and the library!

Thank you to LASS coordinator Darcy Calkins and principal Mme Gervais for organizing this wonderful event.  Also a special thanks to former Bastion students who came to read to current Bastion children in the library - it was magical!

Today there were numerous events kids were off to - Books with the Backs, yoga, lego building at the Enderby ORL and more.  Two more days left.  Let's keep the momentum going!

Warm wishes to all.  Ms. M-A.

Red Cedar - Young Reader's Choice Award, 2015-16

Many provinces have a young reader's choice award.  British Columbia's (BC's) is the Red Cedar Book Award.   Thousands of students across BC from grades 4-7 read non-fiction and fiction book nominees and vote for their favourites.  

The purpose of the program is threefold:

1. To enrich and broaden students’ reading experiences,

2. To promote literacy through the reading of quality Canadian literature

3. To encourage students’ thoughtful evaluation of these reading materials.
Voting takes place in Late April, and the award winners are announced in May.  Students may read books in either the fiction or the non-fiction category (or both if they’re really avid readers!). 

RED CEDAR LINKS:

• Book Case
• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Authors
• Fiction
• Non-fiction
• Book Lists

Suggested Book Titles for Holiday Gifts and Reading, 2015

Toronto Public Library suggests "One Hundred Best Canadian Books for Children"

December Hot Reads

Youth and teen fiction: Top 5 picks for Christmas

Check out "12 Picture Books Every Home Should Have" and "TD Kids Book Corner"

• Book of the Year for Children Award (1-12), 1947-2015
• Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, 1971-2015

• Young Adult Book Award

Young Reader's Choice Award for BC.  Note: most provinces run something similar.  Our local author and former teacher librarian Chris McMahen won the Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award, 2013

Above are just a few suggested titles.  There are soooo many awards out there and other book suggestion sources: see the side bar "Help I Need a Book Suggestion" links too.  Also try our Okanagan Regional Library (ORL), and  KidsBooks from Vancouver - the owner and staff are stellar at buying and suggesting books and anything that Adrienne Gear (author of Reading Power) suggests is usually scrumptiously outstanding!  

Have fun.  Go forth and devour. 

Remember - KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  

Happy holidays, Ms. M-A.

Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore & Others ...

Twas the Night Before Christmas read by Perry Como (traditional telling)

Don Cherry Parody



Twas the night before Xmas! - A Minecraft Parody

Minecraft ◆ Animation/Parody ◆ "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

WestJet Twas the Night Before Christmas

Poem by Salmon Arm author Shawn Bird:

"Christmas Train"

From coast to coast the train rolls Bright, coloured Christmas lights, stopping town to town. The doors pull back and musicians play. Portable concerts for the holiday.



Scholastic Book Fair Update, Last Day Tomorrow: Fri., Dec. 11th, 2015

Dear Bastion community, we're doing great.  We made $1457 on Wed., so our running total is $2833 - tremendous.  We have our final day of sales tomorrow: Fri., Dec. 11th.

SALES SCHEDULE:

7:45-8:15

Recess

Lunch (11:55-12:25)

2:15-3pm closure - NOTE SALES END 30 MINS EARLIER TODAY DUE TO PACK UP.

Grade 2/3 classes run Friday 8:55-lunch and Mme Sievert and Isaac's classes are after lunch.  Parents are welcome to drop in during library classes too.

Day 1 of the Scholastic Book Fair

A great first day with the book fair - $1376 in sales and lots of excitement to check piggy bank stores tonight and possible purchases tomorrow.

Thanks to the parents who helped me out with the sales as it was VERY BUSY!

The book fair continues tomorrow and Friday (Dec. 9th & 11th): before school, recess, lunch, and after school til 3:30 Wed and closes 3pm Friday.

Parent volunteers are still need for sales Friday morning, recess, and for pack up help 3pm Friday.  See below links for the schedule and email Ms. Murrells-Allaway (Shannon) if you can help out smurrell@sd83.bc.ca   Also, spread the word to follow this blog and/or the Twitter and Facebook accounts for updates on the Book Fair and various Library Learning Commons events.  Warm wishes, Ms. M-A

Parent Volunteer Schedule

Friday Pack Up Schedule