FINAL REMINDERS...

ALL library books are now due.  Your book must be turned in (or paid for if lost or damaged) in order to be able to participate in Field Day.

All Wit and Wisdom novels must also be turned in (or paid for if lost or damaged) prior to Field Day.  The exception is A Midsummer Night's Dream which is currently still being used in 8th grade.

Field Day is THIS FRIDAY, MAY 21.

Please take care of these things.  We don't want anyone missing out on the fun of Field Day.  If you have extenuating circumstances and are unable to pay or return a book by then, please come see me.

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GOOGLE CLASSROOM WORK AND DRAWING FOR PRIZES

Make sure you have gone through and participated in the activities and lessons on the library's google classroom page.  For each activity you complete, your name will be entered into a drawing for a cool prize to send you on your way to summer vacay!  Remember, if questions are asked in an assignment, you must answer them for it to be considered complete.

P.S.  Be on the lookout for information regarding a summer reading opportunity.

WMS Teacher of the Year

We'd like to congratulate our guidance counselor, Mr. Chris Walker, upon being chosen as the W.M.S. Teacher of the Year.  Way to go, Mr. Walker!  

School Climate Survey

If you are a student and have not had an opportunity to complete the survey about our school, please click on the link below to do so.

Click here to take the survey

Backyard with the Bard

Our 8th graders are currently reading William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, so while the following event may certainly appeal to them, it promises to be a fun time for all.  If you've never had the chance to catch a live production of Shakespeare's work in an outdoor setting (or anywhere, for that matter), I highly encourage you to try and attend one of the shows to be held by the Murfreesboro Little Theatre on the grounds of Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, TN.

The dates are May 13-16 @7pm.  Admission is "pay-what-you-can" ($10 is the suggested donation). Take a blanket or a lawn chair and enjoy the show.

My family is planning on attending one of the performances and I hope some of you are able to, as well.

For more information, click the link below.

A Midsummer Night's Dream at Oakland's Mansion

FINAL LIBRARY DUE DATE

Can you believe the year is coming to a close?  And what a year it has been!  One I hope we never, ever have to repeat.

I need to share with you all a couple end-of-the-year notes...

The final due date for all library books is Monday, May 10.  Please try to have your book turned in by this date.  Do not worry about overdue fines.  Due to the situation we have been in this year, I have not charged fines.  However, if you have lost a book or damaged one, you will need to pay for that.  

Remember...students who owe things to the school (money, books etc.) may not participate in Field Day, so please make sure you take care of these things.

Finally, if you owe for a novel you used in ELA class as part of the Wit and Wisdom curriculum, you will need to make sure that is paid for prior to Field Day, as well.

If you pay the school for anything by check, it needs to be made payable to WMS.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE BOOKS OUT OR OWE MONEY, WRITTEN NOTICES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED.  YOU MAY ALSO STOP BY AND CHECK WITH ME PERSONALLY.

Thanks! 

Women's History Month Recently Celebrated

Each March in America we celebrate women and the contributions they have made.  Our library was proud to be able to pay tribute to them, as well.  There were many books and items displayed, some on loan from the Tennessee State Museum, and the 8th graders were able to come to the library during their social studies class one day for a lesson on the Women's Suffrage movement.  

Black History Month 2021

As February draws to a close, so does the official observance of Black History Month.  But celebrating and learning about the vast history and accomplishments of the black community isn't something we should relegate to simply one month each year.  We have an abundance of books on the subject here in the library and I encourage you to stop by and check them out!

BLIZZARD BOOKS

Welcome back!  I hope you all enjoyed the nice long snow break we had.  It's been a few years since we've had so many consecutive days off due to snow.  I enjoyed looking at pictures and watching videos on Facebook of some of you sledding with your family, as I did with mine.

I thought it might be a good time to introduce you to a few titles we have in the library about such weather.  When you get a chance, be sure to stop by the library to check out one.  I've included the call numbers to help you find them more easily.

Blizzards and Winter Storms

551.55

STE

The Children's Blizzard

977 

LAS

I Survived the Children's Blizzard, 1888

FIC
TAR

ADDITIONAL TITLES ABOUT SNOWSTORMS NOT SHOWN IN PICTURE:

Blizzard, Colorado 1886

FIC
DUE

Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library

FIC
CLI

The Long Winter 

(a Little House on the Prairie book)

FIC

WIL

F.Y.I.  The I Survived book by Lauren Tarshis is based on the real event chronicled in the non-fiction book The Children's Blizzard.  If you would like to watch a fictionalized story loosely based on it, I highly recommend the episode titled "Blizzard" from the television show Little House on the Prairie.  It is episode 11 from season 3.  It shows just how fast people, especially school children, were caught off guard by the fast developing snowstorm.

Here is a link to watch the episode on Daily Motion if you can't find it on any other streaming services or don't have it on DVD, etc.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7q3m5t?playlist=x6kh45

Happy Reading!

2021 ALA Winners

The American Library Association has announced this year's Youth Media Award recipients.  

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature: 

“When You Trap a Tiger,” written by Tae Keller

Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: 

“Before the Ever After” written by Jacqueline Woodson 

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults: 

“Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story)” by Daniel Nayeri

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience: 

“I Talk Like a River” written by Jordan Scott

Pura Belpré Awards honoring a Latinx writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat” written and illustrated by Raúl Gonzalez

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

“Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera” written by Candace Fleming

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

“If These Wings Could Fly” written by Kyrie McCauley

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: 

“The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh” written by Candace Fleming

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.  The award promotes Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and is awarded based on literary and artistic merit. 

The Children’s Literature winner is “When You Trap a Tiger” written by Tae Keller

The Youth Literature winner is “This Light Between Us” written by Andrew Fukuda

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.

 

This year’s Gold Medalists include: in the Middle Grades category, “Turtle Boy,” by M. Evan Wolkenstein and published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers and in the Young Adult category, “Dancing at the Pity Party,” written and illustrated by Tyler Feder

Children’s Literature Legacy Award (formerly known as the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal) honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children through books that demonstrate integrity and respect for all children’s lives and experiences. 

The 2021 winner is Mildred D. Taylor, whose award-winning works include "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” the 1977 Newbery Medal winner and a Coretta Scott King (CSK) Author honor; "The Land," the 2002 CSK Author Award winner; "The Road to Memphis," the 1991 CSK Author Award winner; “All the Days Past, All the Days to Come”; and “The Gold Cadillac,” among other titles.

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P.S.  We have ordered many of these titles and anxiously await their arrival.  In the meantime, stop by the library and browse our collection of all the past Newbery winners which are now on display.

2020 Christmas Contest

It's time again for our annual Christmas contest in which we decorate our library Christmas tree with ornaments representing specific books.  Guess the most correct titles for these books and win!  A PowerPoint featuring each of the ornaments and the directions for the contest can be found on the library Google classroom pages.  Codes for those pages are below.  

The contest is open through Christmas Eve.  There will be a winner in each grade, with prizes being awarded when we return from Christmas.

Good luck!

6th Grade Library Class Code

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7th Grade Library Class Code

2zturai

8th Grade Library Class Code

24j6ry2