Arts Week

Arts Week – this week and next we will celebrate Arts Week in the Library. You are welcome to come and see some of our displays.

Classes – the children in Year 3 have been learning about heritage and how to use it effectively. To access Heritage from home follow the link http://heritage.dominics-int.org/heritage/

The children in Years 5 and 6 have been learning about Boolean Searching. I have been using the video from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1LpTbzSKd0

Friends of the Library

We are calling for volunteers to come and help maintain our library for all the students and teachers. The role of a Friend of the Library is to help maintain the books on the shelves and ensure they are kept in order. Often Junior School students take books from the shelves and place them back in the wrong location. The problem occurs when teachers or students go to find a book and cannot do so because the book is the wrong place. If you can spare an hour or two any time during the week you could become a Friend of the Library. If you can help please see Tracey or me alternatively email me

s.thompson@dominics-int.org

I really hope that you can find some time to help us.

Steven Thompson

A Number of Changes

Netvibes
We have now established a new site to support students, teachers and parents. There is a link to the new site Netvibes just below the title for this blog. Here you find links to great web sites and there is even a special page just for parents. I hope you get a chance to look at this page because I am sure you will find it useful.

Just a note of warning, some of the pages are links to third party web sites, some of these sites advertise on occasion products that are not really appropriate for younger children (e.g. dating web sites). So, like always, please make sure you supervise your children when using this site. In the section about Research there is a kid friendly search engine.

We really hope this new service help you help your children.

New Displays
When you first enter the library you will notice we have several new displays. We have a display of new books. This display will change each week (that is the plan). Secondly, we have a display of the book of the week for children.

New Furniture
We have added some additional furniture to the library, new seating. We want to encourage the use of the library as a place where children can read quietly. Hopefully, the additional seating and opening up of the library can help us achieve this result.

Remember we love feedback.

Mr Thompson & Miss Tracey

Some New Changes

We have made a number of changes to the library. Miss Tracey and I would like to invite you come for a visit.

Mr Thompson

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, for a great book Fair!

• Thank You to parents and students for purchasing the lovely books.
• Thank You to teachers for your support.
• Thank You to students for their excitement, enthusiasm, and great behaviour at the fair.

The book Fair sold 435 books! The junior library was able to add 364€ worth of books (50 books) to our library collection with our profits from the fair. Many of these titles were direct recommendations from students.

Author Books have arrived!

If your child ordered a book from our visiting author David Greenberg, they have arrived and were sent home with the students today. I know the students are very excited to receive them
Happy Reading

Book Fair starts tomorrow! (April 14-15)

The book fair books have arrived!
There is a great selection of children’s books. Book prices range between 4€ - 16€. The average price of a book is 7 €. If you choose to send money with your child to purchase a book, please do not send more than 20 €. ( 7 €-10 € should be very adequate to ensure a book selection that your child will like. ) Classes have a scheduled time to visit the fair to browse or purchase books. Parents are welcome at any time but are encouraged to come after school with their child if you would like to look at books together. We will be open until 5:00 both days. Students may come to the book fair after school only if they are with a parent.

Book Fair April 14 and 15

Students and parents are invited to a Book Fair in the Junior School Library next week on Wed and Thursday April 14 and 15. 8:00-3:30. Each class will have a scheduled time to visit the book fair on Wednesday or Thursday. Students are welcome to bring money to buy books that they will take home that day. The book fair will remain open on Thursday until 5:30 to provide an opportunity for parents to return with their children if they would like.
The price range of the books is from 4€ up to 9 € for illustrated and reading books and for arts and crafts (Klutz and Chicken Socks) from 10 to 16€.

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St Dominic’s

Mark your calendars for Wednesday April 14 » 8:30-3:15 and Thursday April 15» 8:30-5:30

Students will have the opportunity to come into the Book Fair with their class on one of these days. Students may browse the books or may bring money with them to purchase a book and bring home that day. The book Fair will be open in the Evening on Thursday until 5:30 to enable parents to return with their child if they wish. Parents are also welcome throughout either day as well. More information will be posted after Easter Break

Read Books on Your Computer!

I have registered for a trial version for online books for students. This trial is available to all students for the next 2 weeks. I would encourage you to make use of this service over the Easter Break. Please let me know if this is something you use at home and would like to continue.

For Younger Children:
TumbleBookLibrary is an online collection of animated, talking picture books which teach young children the joys of reading in a format they'll love.
Just log on to: www.tumblebooklibrary.com
Username: Cher Czyzewski
Password: trial

For Older Children
TumbleReadables is an online collection of read-along titles for elementary, middle school, and high school students which features adjustable online text and complete audio narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and the pages turn automatically.
www.tumblereadables.com
Username: Cher Czyzewski
Password: login

Author Visit

The author visit by David Greenberg was fantastic. All students from Kindergarten through year 6 participated in a presentation that was both entertaining as well as informative. He talked about the craft of writing, the power of words, and the way words create image, as well as sharing some of his stories. Thank you to all that attended the parent night. I know that all enjoyed the writing activity. For more information on the author check out the following web page:
http://www.authorsillustrators.com/greenberg/greenberg.htm

Book Club
Book Club students, please remember to bring a book that is a different genera than you normally read. Be prepared to discuss the first chapter of your book.

Family Program: Author Visit
David Greenberg from Portland, Oregon USA will be visiting St Dominic’s next week on Monday, March 8. He will be providing a poetry based assembly for the younger students (Kindergarten – Year 3) and one on Civil rights for years 4, 5 and 9. He will also provide a teacher in-service after school and a session at 6:00-7:00 for families. I encourage you all to attend this interesting and unique opportunity.
We have been reading some of his books in the library and the students have found the books quite hilarious.

Book Club

Book Club students, please remember to bring the books you are reading for this term to the meetings. Be prepared to discuss the main characters and a problem you see developing in your book.
The book we have chosen to read as a group the third term (after Easter break) is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Please let me know if you need me to order a copy for you

Student Research
There is a lot of research happening in the Junior school right now. A tool to help with research that St Dominic´s provides for students is a data base of online information resources called Ebsco Host. This can be accessed on the internet from any location. While primarily geared for older students, both year 5 and year 6 students might find it useful especially for current event topics.
To access this site go to :
http://search.ebscohost.com/
Username : Sd
Password: main

Author Visit

David Greenberg from Portland, Oregon USA will be visiting St. Dominics on March 8. He will be providing a poetry based assemblie for the students.

His books include:
Enchanted Lions (Dutton)
A Tugging String (Dutton)
Slugs (Little, Brown & Co.)
Bugs! (Little, Brown & Co.)
Skunks! (Little, Brown & Co.)
Snakes! ( Little, Brown & Co.)
Whatever Happened to Humpty Dumpty? (Little, Brown & Co.)
Your Dog Might Be a Werewolf, Your Toes Could All Explode (Bantam)
The Great School Lunch Rebellion (Bantam)
The Book of Boys for Girls — The Book of Girls for Boys (Little, Brown & Co.)
Don't Forget Your Etiquette! The Essential Guide to Misbehavior (Farrar Straus Giroux)
Crocs! (Little, Brown & Co.)

PTA Thank You.
Twelve new books in Portuguese have been purchased with money donated from the PTA International Day fundraiser. I know the students will enjoy this fun collection.
Thank You

New Books:
We are starting the process of ordering new books for the library. Decisions guiding this process include examining the existing collection, the Units of Inquiry needs, and interests of our students. Students are invited to be a part of this process by nominating books they would like to have at St. Dominic´s. If you have a book, an author, a series or even a type of literature, or a special topic in a non -fiction area, please let me know by filling out a suggestion card and placing it in the suggestion box in the library. The cards and box are on the circulation desk in the library. Please remember to include your name and class, in case I need to ask for more information about your suggestion.

This month in the Library:

The library is a busy place. In addition to regular library classes, students often come in small groups to work, to read, and use computers. After I took the pictures above, I later realized that St. Dominic’s students are a natural at working together.

Classes in the library are studying "Fairy and Folk Tales" this month. We have started with the Cinderella fairy tale, have contrasted this with a twisted tale, and will look at a Cinderella related folk tale. Students are encouraged to bring in a special folk tale from their home culture next month to share with the class. If the book is not in English, please discuss with your child the main elements of the tale so they can share them with their class.

The web-links for the the new units of Inquiry that Tracey has collected are posted below. There are games, activities and lots of information, so enjoy!

Nursery – Under Construction

www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/.../construction/index.htm-

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/childsplay/construction_theme.htm

www.colouringbookpages.co.uk/others-construction/

http://www.gamesgames.com/games/road-construction/road-construction.html

http://funschool.kaboose.com/preschool/games/game_shape_racer.html


Kindergarten – A Bugs Life


http://funschool.kaboose.com/formula-fusion/creepy-crawlies/

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-type/animal-bug-crafts/bug-themed-crafts/

http://www.dltk-kids.com/Crafts/insects/index.htm

http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/

http://www.amentsoc.org/bug-club/fun/build-bug.html

http://funschool.kaboose.com/preschool/games/game_doodle_bugs.html



Year 1 – Sense-sational

http://www.twigglemagazine.com/March-activities/kids-movement-activity-game.html

http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/fivesenses/games.htm

http://kidshealth.org/kid/closet/experiments/experiment_main.html




Year 2 – Reduce, reuse, recycle!

http://resources.kaboose.com/games/earthday.html

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earthday-printables.html

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/kidspage/

http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/schools/homepage.aspx

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/recyclegame/recyclegame.html

http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/earth-day/games/game_michael_recycle.html


http://www.lkwdpl.org/schools/elempath/RRR/





Year 3 – Celebrations around the world


www.earthcalendar.net

www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

www.fathertimes.net/traditions.htm

http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/

http://www.only4ukids.com/festivals/thanksgiving/round_the_world.shtml




Year 4 – Peace

http://www.dosomethingforpeace.org/kids.html

http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/

www.squidoo.com/peace-crafts

http://www.peacekids.net/

http://www.peaceforkids.org/
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/educators/nations/lesson3.html



Year 5 – With rights come responsibilities

http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/kids/kids-index.htm

http://www.unicef.org/siteguide/resources_27932.html

http://www.unicef.org/crc/

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/humanrights/

http://www.ascensiongateway.com/quotes/people/activists/human-rights/index.htm

Book Club

We are finishing our first book selection: Matilda by Roald Dahl. Book Club students will have the opportunity to watch Disney Movie: Matilda on Monday, January 18. This session will run until 5:00. All students need to have finished reading their copy of the book by January 18. Students are welcome to bring a snack item to share with each other for the movie. Don´t forget to turn in a new form for this afterschool activity.