Monthly Reminder of Fines and Overdues

Please be sure to check the lists (posted in both the north wing and south wing of the building) to see if you owe a fine or have out an overdue book. If so, please take care of this as soon as possible. Remember...you are financially responsible for your library books. If a book is lost or damaged to an extent it can no longer be shelved you will be charged the replacement value. Overdue books accrue at the rate of .10 cents per day after a 3-day grace period.

Calling All Wimpy Kids...

Are you a fan of Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid series of books? Do you often think your life resembles that of main character Greg Heffley's? Well, here's your chance to put all your experience to work. 20th Century Fox is turning Diary of a Wimpy Kid into a movie and they're seeking a bright, precocious, and appealing young actor to play the lead role. If you've always dreamed of breaking into the movies this may just be your lucky day. In addition to traditional auditions online auditions are being considered. Go to http://www.iamthewimpykid.com/ for all the details.

As If You Could Forget...

No doubt many girl fanpires here at WMS will be headed out tomorrow to buy their very own copy of Twilight. The DVD version based on the uber-poplular Stephenie Meyer novel goes on sale Saturday, March 21. But with some stores in our area staying open late and selling the movie beginning at midnight many 'tweens, teens, and, yes, even teachers will not have to wait even that long to get their Twilight fix. My own daughter currently has plans that include a late night trip down the road.

Some participating stores hosting events of which I'm aware include Walmart (naturally), Hot Topic (in the mall), and Borders Books (West End - Nashville).

Of course, if you've not read the books and want to see what the hullabaloo is all about you need to look no further than our library. Stop by and we'll be glad to check one of the books out to you.

Twilight

New Moon

Eclipse

Breaking Dawn

Read Across America!

Today marks the 105th birthday of Theodore Geisel, known more affectionately as Dr. Seuss. Each year the National Education Association (NEA) sponsors Read Across America to coincide with his birthday. According to the NEA website, "Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2".

I had the honor of visiting the elementary school in town (where I served as librarian for several years) today to read to Mrs. Tiffany Mapp's third grade class. I also bumped into Mrs. Gail Eller, another former librarian, on her way to read to a class, too.

I shared Bad Day at Riverbend and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, both books by Chris Van Allsburg, with the students. Van Allsburg is an award winning author/illustrator. He has won the Caldecott Medal twice, once for Jumangi and again for The Polar Express.

Ms. Tanisha, thank you for the invitation to be a guest reader. And thank you, Mrs. Mapp's class, for being such good listeners. Your bookmarks are on their way!

Mythology Bee Winners

The library held the 2009 Percy Jackson Mythology Bee on Friday, February 27. The contest was sponsored by Disney-Hyperion Books and Rick Riordan, author of the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series.

All students in grades 6 – 8 were invited to participate by taking a qualifying pretest over basic mythology facts. The top twenty-five scoring students advanced to the actual contest held in the library.

After four rounds of questions the top ten students advanced to the final round. The overall winners were 1st place – Cole Borders, 2nd place – Michael Byrd, and 3rd place – Ethan Jones. In addition to the winners, those placing in the top ten were Abbie Hinton, Morgan Byrd, PJ Loftis, McKensey Ogletree, Alex Thompson, Alex Kemper, and Jake Ramsey.

Each of the 25 students received a pin for their efforts. The winners received certificates. Cole, for placing first, received a medal and entry into a drawing for other prizes, including a trip to Greece.

A special thanks to Mrs. Susie Sloan for her scorekeeping skills. Her help was greatly needed and appreciated.

Nashville Sounds Reading Club

WHAT IS IT?

A reading incentive program for students sponsored by our library and the Nashville Sounds Baseball Organization.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Students must read two books over the course of the next few weeks and complete a one page, hand-written summary of each. The books must be at least 100 pages in length. Students are rewarded with prizes for this effort.

WHAT ARE THE DATES FOR THE PROGRAM?

Book summaries must be returned to Mrs. Creasy in the library no later than Thursday, April 2.

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

A free ticket to the Friday, May 1 Sounds game.

A free meal at Fazoli's

A free meal at the Rainforest Cafe

A free meal at Wendy's

A free book from Barnes and Noble

(Those student on a Battle of the Books team must also complete two summaries to earn the prizes.)

Mythology Bee To Be Held February 27

Mythology Bee Participants

6th Grade
Lauren Calvert
Abbey Hinton
Chris Jones

Alex Kemper

7th Grade
Allison Brown
Michael Byrd
Morgan Byrd
Loren Carter
Ethan Jones
Sara Keen
Tyler Law
Kelsey Satterfield
Fallon Wetzel

Ryan Whiticker

8th grade
Brandon Bandy
Cole Borders
Justin Kittrell
Julian Lamkin
PJ Loftis
McKensey Ogletree
Jake Ramsey
Garrett Reipold
Alex Thompson
Issac Wix
Justin Woods

ALTERNATES:
Rachael Herschberger
Taylor Montgomery

Mythology Bee To Be Held

A first for WMS, our students will be able to participate in a mythology bee. The Percy Jackson Mythology Bee is being coordinated by the library and sponsored by Hyperion Books, publisher of the Percy Jackson book series. The contest will be held in February.

Interested students in grades 6 - 9 have taken a short written quiz over basic mythology. The nine highest scoring entries from each grade will become actual participants in the bee. If a particular grade(s) doesn't produce at least nine entries the other grade(s) will be allowed more participants.

2009 "Battle of the Books" Book Lists

5th Grade
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Sign of the Beaver – Elizabeth George Speare
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler -E.L. Konigsburg

Among the Hidden - Margaret Peterson Haddix
Sounder – William H. Armstrong
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane – Kate DiCamillo
Elijah of Buxton – Christopher Paul Curtis
Number the Stars – Lois Lowry
Frindle – Andrew Clement
The Whipping Boy - Fleischman, Sid

6th Grade
The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Jeff Kinney
Hatchet – Gary Paulsen
Summer of the Swans – Betsy Byars
Island of the Blue Dolphins – Scott O’Dell
A Single Shard – Linda Sue Park
Bridge to Terabithia – Katherine Paterson
Rules – Cynthia Lord
The Dollhouse Murders – Betty Ren Wright
Love, Ruby Lavender – Deborah Wiles



7th Grade
Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt
The Teacher’s Funeral – Richard Peck
Each Little Bird That Sings – Deborah Wiles
Hoot – Carl Hiaasen
Al Capone Does My Shirts – Gennifer Choldenko
Holes – Louis Sachar
Ella Enchanted – Gail Carson Levine
The Giver – Lois Lowry
Tangerine – Bloor
The Wednesday Wars – Gary Schmidt

8th Grade
The Midwife’s Apprentice – Karen Cushman
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
New Moon – Stephenie Meyer
Airborn – Kenneth Oppel
Heat – Mike Lupica
Here Lies the Librarian – Richard Peck
Jacob Have I Loved – Katherine Paterson
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: Pox Party – M.T. Anderson

The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – John Boyne

BOOK FAIR BEGINS TOMORROW, DEC. 4

Our book fair has been delayed one day because we were all out of school yesterday due to an unexpected snow day. I can't say that it wasn't a nice surprise. Of course, it would have been even nicer with some actual snow on the ground.

Our new fair start date is now Thursday, December 4. All other dates will remain the same.

New to this year's fair is a program called One for Books. For each donation of $1.00 Scholastic will donate a book to a charitable children's organization. Plus, our school receives free books for participating in the program.