Media Center

  
It’s time for Keheley’s Annual Children’s Book Exchange!

Do you have some good books at home that you’re finished reading?  Would you like to trade those books for someone else’s gently-used books?  You’ll be able to do that SOON in the media center!

Here’s what to do:

1)   Find a few books at home that you want to trade.  Children’s books only, please!  (Remember to get a parent’s permission.)

2)    Bring them to the media center any day before Nov. 11.  You’ll get a coupon.  You may bring as many books as you want, but coupons can be used for no more than ten books.  Note:  if you bring picture books, you will choose picture books.  Bring chapter books, choose chapter books.

3)    Don’t lose your coupon!

4)    Bring your coupon to the media center on Wednesday, Nov. 11 (grades K, 1 & 2) or Thursday, Nov. 12 (grades 3,4 & 5).  Listen to KNN for times.

5)    Choose some “new” books to take home.

6)    Read your books J

Happy Reading!

Georgia Children's Book Awards

Two more of the nominated books:

 

 The Sorta Sisters by Adrian Fogelin: In Florida, Anna Casey lives with what she hopes is the last in a long line of foster mothers.  Mica Delano, motherless, lives with her father on their small boat. When the two lonely girls begin corresponding, they discover they have a lot in common, particularly a love for science.

 

 Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf:  During World War II, the Nazis take Milada away from her family in Czechoslovakia and send her to a Lebensborn center in Poland. There, she is told she fits the Aryan ideal: her blond hair and blue eyes are the right color; her head and nose, the right size. She is given a new name, Eva, and trained to become the perfect German citizen.  She is even adopted by a "perfect" German family to be the hope of Germany’s future.  She must forget her former family and her old name and her old life.  Can she?

Georgia Children's Book Awards

In my next several posts, I'd like to focus on the books nominated for The Georgia Children's Book Award.  As I've mentioned, these are the books we're reading in Book Club, in preparation for the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in January.
- Mrs. Dye

 Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis:  Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He is best known in his hometown as the boy who threw up on Frederick Douglass! 

Things change when a former slave calling himself the Right Reverend Zephariah W. Connerly the Third steals money from Elijah's friend Mr. Leroy, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the south. Elijah joins Mr. Leroy on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the disreputable preacher, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled.

     The Rising Star of Rusty Nail by Leslie M.M. Blume:  Franny Hansen is a 10-year-old piano prodigy living in Rusty Nail, Minnesota. In 1953 Rusty Nail is just a run-of-the-mill town with one traffic light and a bizarre cast of characters. Franny has exhausted the talents of the town's only piano teacher and seems destined to perform at church events and school assemblies, until a mysterious Russian woman arrives in Rusty Nail. Franny's neighbors are convinced the "Commie" is a threat to their American way of life, but Franny's not so sure. Could this stranger be her ticket out of Rusty Nail?

Calling 4th and 5th Grade Readers!

Wanted: 4th and 5th Grade Students Who Enjoy Reading Books

Keheley Book Club is open for new (and old) members and
we're having an introductory meeting for students and parents.
(This would be a GREAT time for parents to preview the books!)

Where?: Keheley Media Center

Who?: Students and Parents

When?: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2:30 - 3:00

Anything Else?:  Yes!  Thanks for asking!

Book Club meetings will be in two parts this year.  The first part, 2:30 - 3:00, is open to all 4th and 5th grade students.  During that time we will be reading picture books and some chapter books, discussing books, and playing with the "cool buzzer thingy."

The second part, 3:00 - 3:45, is for students who want to be a part of Keheley's Reading Bowl Team that will compete in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in January.  We will be reading the chapter books nominated for the Georgia Children's Book Award, discussing those books, writing questions for those books, and, of course, playing with the "cool buzzer thingy." 

We have FUN at Book Club!  We hope to see you there!

Parents with questions should contact Mrs. Dye via e-mail or phone.
lynn.dye@cobbk12.org                   678-494-7836

We're GREEN!

Keheley Elementary and CURE Recycling (www.curerecycling.com) have come up with more green ways to raise funds for our school AND benefit CURE Childhood Cancer.  In addition to ink and toner cartridges, we are now recycling cellphones, PDAs, and digital cameras.  All of these items are accepted, whether they are working or non-working.

Please consider bringing those items from your home, neighbor's homes, and from the workplace and help us do some good. And please remember to put inkjet cartridges in a plastic sandwich bag to prevent them drying out.

Thanks for your support! 

Media Nuts & Bolts

 

It’s the beginning of another year of exploring and discovery in the Keheley Media Center.  We have planned some exciting new programs for this school year.  I can hardly wait to tell you about them, but first things first (as my mother would say).

It’s a happy day in the media center when students begin checking out books.  Mrs. Kimbrough and I love seeing the joy on their young faces when they discover a book that is perfect.  One first grade student was absolutely giddy when he said, “This is just exactly what I’ve been looking for!”

 

The downside of that first checkout is that the students must listen to me going over the rules of the media center before they can get their hands on any books!  If you don’t already know, Keheley Kids love to read!  But rules are rules, and everyone needs to know what they are.

 

Parents often have questions about our media procedures.  Here are some things you might want to know:

• Media centers in Georgia public schools follow state-mandated flexible scheduling.  This means that there is no regular schedule for class visits (as there is for Music, Art and P.E.).  Teachers determine when and how often their classes visit the media center for checkouts, information literacy instruction, research, etc. 
• Because of flexible scheduling (and because our students are young), we are not very concerned with books that are a little overdue.  We never charge fines for overdue books.  Students are, however, responsible for paying the cost of lost books and books that are damaged.
• We print out overdue notices once a month.  Mainly, these are friendly reminders that it’s time to trade in those books!  The price that is printed on the notice is the cost of replacing a book if it is lost or damaged.  Please don’t send any money until you’ve talked with me.
• If a student thinks a book listed on the overdue notice has already been returned to the media center, we will gladly check the shelves.  We sometimes make mistakes.
• Students in first through fifth grades may check out two books for two weeks.  Kindergarten students check out one book for two weeks.
• Individual students may visit the media center for book exchanges on days when their classes are not visiting.  They must have permission and passes from their teachers. 

 I hope I’ve answered some of your questions.  If I haven’t, you can find me in the media center!

 

Lynn Dye, Media Specialist

 

P.S. One thing more you should know:  We believe we are so fortunate to be able to work with  your children.  We will do whatever we can to make sure they feel welcome and important when they visit the Media Center.  Promise.

We're Ready for You!

 

Have you read any good books lately?  I want to hear about them!  Please come by the Media Center and answer this question: 

What was your favorite book this summer?

I am always looking for good books to add to our shelves.  If you like a book, there's a good chance other students will like it, too!  Great readers always share news about good books.

Mrs. Kimbrough and I have some great things planned for this school year.  We can't wait to tell you all about them.  See you in the Media Center!

Mrs. Dye