Happenings in the Library

Vinnie is browsing for some books to get out of the library.

Di and Alpha have sorted through a huge pile of books that have been donated to us. They have identified books to be kept and to add to the library and sorted them into categories. Soon they will be processed and added to our library shelves for issuing. Thanks Di and Alpha! It has been a huge job and you have been amazing!

What's Happening in our Library in 2014?

Kia ora Whanau

Our library blog has been in a bit of a hiatus for some time, but now it's time to breath a little life back into it again.  So here's the first post for the year.  There seems to be lots to catch you up on and a number of things to look forward to over the coming months.

What's Been Happening?

• Our library is used as a learning space by many children and teachers.  At any time you could come into our library and usually see workshops taking place, children doing their itime or people returning and issuing books.  In fact Harakeke hub consider it an extension to their hub and it is as valuable as any other learning area.  It's a living space!
• All our children plan when they come to the library to get new books out. They plan it into their personalised timetables   You will see Koru hub children with a timer (and usually a friend) independently browsing and getting their books out using the RFID.
• This year Angela has taken on responsibility for the library (and often gets completely immersed in it).
• Elizabeth is employed six hours a week to keep the day to day running ticking over.  She is a master at finding lost books, processing new books and making sure everything is returned and in the right place and in great condition.
• Diane and Alpha are our dedicated and reliable parent help library volunteers. They are experts on our visual search on the online browsing site. 
• The "Access It" library computer system has had some adaptations made.  You will just receive two emails now for over due books, and no email for under due books.  Hopefully you won't be over flowed with emails from the library anymore. 
• The visual search option on OPAC is now set up.  OPAC is our online website that shows our school book collection.  
• Harakeke hub have set up school librarians as part of their leadership programme.  Koru hub has selected children to be library guardians. We'll introduce you to our librarians and guardians in the next blog post.
• Koru club has been set up again for the year.  Koru hub children have been invited to have a day a week in the library at lunchtime.  Harakeke students run this and read to the children while they eat their lunch.
• Every Monday all children rotate through a library workshop with Fiona this term. They have been learning how to use the library properly, becoming independent at returning and issuing books and have learnt how to use OPAC.
• Our four year olds who are pre-enrolled to start at Amesbury School have borrowing access to our library.  Some four year olds and their parents know how to issue and return books and are onto their 3rd library book now.  

BIG NEWS!

• Use this link to browse our library collection from home.  This site is called OPAC. You can reserve books and renew from the comfort of your own home.  The instructions on how to do it are on the front page. To log in click on "My Library" on the left hand side, then click on "Borrowing Detail".  Your child's borrowing ID is their first name, then a full stop, then the first initial of their last name (eg. santa.c).  If you have problems with your child's ID email angela@amesbury.school.nz to find out the borrowing ID details.  Another bonus is that you can use visual search to use pictures to help find books you want - this is helpful for emergent readers and writers. 

Up and Coming Developments:

• Parent Book Exchange.  We are on the search for a funky book shelf that can be put away or locked.  Once we have this we can invite any adults to put a book in the shelf, and exchange it for one you would like to take home and read.  Teachers are already eyeing up their own bookshelf on what they can contribute to the book exchange shelf. 
• ebooks are on the plan to have up and running this year.  Children will be able to borrow kindles and to download ebooks using other devices. That's the plan anyway!
• Scholastic book fair is scheduled for Wednesday 19 - Friday 21 November.

Remember:

• The library is open to returning and issuing 8:30am-3:30pm.
• When issuing books please check they are being issued under the correct name not someone else's by mistake.
• If possible return books through the computer system rather than putting them in the returns box.  The books that are in the returns box only get processed on Friday.  You may get an overdue email after the books have been put in the box but before they have been returned through the computer system.   

Ka Kite Ano!

A book review by Melissini.

Title:Billie B Brown the pocket money blues.

Author:Sally Rippin.

Who were the main characters: Billie B Brown,Jack,Mum and Dad.

This book is about a girl who really wanted a cute little bunny baby toy and she begs her mum to let her buy one.   But her mum said no you need to wait until christmas. Billie really wanted one but then she had a good idea a really good idea she would save up some pocket money. The first job she did was wash the car and whenever she went to do a job she would always see her best friend Jack and he would always help her.

My favourite part of the story would be when Billie and Jack collect all the money together. They were fighting about the money about how to share the money. Billie said no it is mine because I really want a bunny baby.That night Billie felt sad she did not want to be Jacks friend anymore. The next day she was going to get her bunny baby  but she actually got something for Jack and it was a cricket set. He loves cricket.

A book review by Nistha

Title:watch me throw the ball.

Author: Mo Willems.

What was the story about?

It was about this pig who found this elephant’s ball and the pig wanted to throw the ball as far as he could.  The pig thought he could throw the ball all around the world but he couldn't.   Then the elephant tried to throw the ball all around the world.  He couldn't do it either.

Who are the characters?

Pig and Elephant.    

What is your favourite part?

When the pig says “who rocks the pig rocks!”  “THE PIG IS THROWING.... fling.... plop”.  Super pig is really neat super pig cannot be beat!

A book review by Arnah

Title: Mercy Watson goes for a ride

Author: Chris Van Dusen.

This story is about a pig who goes for a ride in a car and the pig starts to drive but a police car was chasing the pig.

The characters are Mr. Watson, Mrs.Watson, Mercy the pig, Eugenia and baby.

My favourite part was when the pig started to drive and when the pig went flying.

 

Term 2 Scholastic Book Club

This Friday will be the last chance you can put an order in for the Term 2 brochures.
Please make cheques payable to Scholastic New Zealand (not Amesbury School) or complete the credit card form.
Completed order forms and payment should be placed in the box in the library beside the touchscreen.

See Amaria in the library if you have any questions.

Book Club

The Term 2 set of Scholastic Book club brochures have been sent home today.

This order will close on Friday 31 May.

Please make cheques payable to Scholastic New Zealand(NOT Amesbury School) or complete the credit card form.  No cash payments please.

Completed order forms and payment should be placed in the box in the library beside the touchscreen.

See Amaria in the library if you have any questions.

Opening Hours and Reminders

The school library is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 3:00pm, except Wednesdays when it will be open after school until 3:30pm.  So please call in and visit our space or spend some time there with your child.

We have a wide range of books, magazines and DVDs your child can issue.  They can borrow up to five books and have two weeks to return them to the library.

We expect children to be responsible for the care and protection of our lovely new
library books. All children should have a safe method (book bag, plastic bag,
separate pocket in their school bag) to transport books to and from school, away
from drink bottles and lunch boxes.

Scholastic Book club Orders

The Term 1 set of Scholastic Book Club brochures/order forms were sent home this week. If you missed out on one please click on the following link:

http://www.scholastic.co.nz/schools/bookclub/index.php

They will be distributed once a term.  This order closes on Friday 1 March.  

 

Please make cheques payable to Scholastic New Zealand (NOT Amesbury School) or complete the Credit Card payment form. No cash payments either please.
Completed order forms and payment should be placed in the box in the library beside the touchscreen. 

 

See Amaria at the library if you have any questions.

 

 

 

 

End of Foundation Year

Today marks the final day of school for 2012 and the end of our foundation year.  Our library is a friendly, fun and fabulous place - many thanks to all the students, staff, parents and volunteers who have made it a special place at Amesbury School.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Scholastic Book Fair

The library has transformed into a shop for a couple of days. The Scholastic Book Fair is on Friday 30th November and during the gala day on Saturday afternoon (2-5 pm) Come and buy some books for yourself or to give as Christmas presents. Our school benefits as the more books we sell the more free books we earn.

Dream Catchers

Harakeke students have been investigating art from other cultures. One group investigated dream catchers. They asked questions, searched for answers and shared their findings with the group. A couple of findings are explained in the video clip by Samuel and Ella. If you would like to make a dream catcher see the instructions written by Karina and Samuel in the post below.

how to make a dream catcher!

equipment:

paper plate
scissors
hole punch
wool/string
beads (optional)
feathers
hot glue gun

steps

1. Cut out the inside of the plate. 
2. Punch holes around the outside of the plate.
3. Thread the wool through the holes (you can add beads if you want.)
4. Punch holes at the bottom.
5. Thread the wool through the holes so they hang down.
6. Use the hot glue gun to glue on your feathers.
7. Thread a piece of wool through the top of the dream catcher so you can hang it on the wall.

finished! 

QR Codes & Book Reviews

Harakeke students have been writing lots of great book reviews recently. Whenever a review is published on our blog not only do they get a world wide audience but we also put a QR code on the book in our library. Scan the QR codes to read the opinions of your own classmates as well as read the blurb on the book when you are deciding whether to read a book. You can use the iPads or the iPods - the QR code reader app is called BeeTag.

 

Stories for 8 Year Olds book review

Title: Stories for 8 year olds
Author: unknown
Reviewer’s name: Emma D

I think you should read story’s for 8 year olds because it has got some really funny stories that people that like mystery books will like this book.

I like this book because it’s really exciting and most of the stories in this book have really exciting ends one of the books in this book called the Twin Witches and it’s about two good witches one called Tracy and the other one called Stacy and if you don’t like rhyming story’s don’t worry because it isn’t.

There is a story called Stan’s Sundae Secret and the book is a mystery book. There was a little boy named _______ (I can’t tell you or it would ruin the story).  He knows when it’s Thursday because Stan the ice cream man comes up the road playing a song that was very catchy and that all of that because I don’t want to tell you because I would spoil the story.

The Magic Finger book review

Title: Magic finger
Author: Roald Dhal
Reviewed by: Anish


ummary: The girl, who is the character who tells the story, was a friend of the Greg family, but then she saw the Greg family shot a deer. She was angry because they shot the dear so she put the magic finger on them and... .  I’m not giving away the ending because otherwise it would ruin the story.

I like the way they wrote and illustrated the book.  It was a very good magic, for example the teacher turned into cat by her magic finger.

I will say 4/5 for this book.

The Magic Faraway Tree book review

The Magic Faraway Tree
By Enid Blyton
Reviewed by Hannah C
This is a book about 3 children
Joe,Beth and Frannie and their cousin Rick.

Mostly what happens in the book is there is a big tall tree. It is not just an ordinary tree it is a magic tree because at the top there is always a land, EG: The land of dreams,Topsy-Turvy Do-As-You-Please and lots more.
At the top of the land some thing always happens. Like once a character called Saucepan man who lives in the tree went up into the land of magic medicines.When he was up in the land he went to a shop he thought it was potion for noses to grow because he is half deaf so he thought the goblin said it was for roses to grow.

I would definitely recommend this book because it has lots of different adventures and is a fun book.

I give this book a 4/5 because I really enjoyed it.

Owly Flying Lessons book review

Title: Owly Flying Lessons
Author: Andy Runton

This is a book about a owl called Owly and his friend worm called Wormy.
Owly can’t fly and he wants lessons. One night Owly was sleeping outside and he brang some nuts and a squirrel came along and saw the nuts but it wasn’t the nuts he was after. The squirrel was after Wormy and he took Wormy into a bunch of leaf’s for a bed.


Owly met a butterfly and asked it to find his best friend Wormy and explained every single detail about him. The butterfly asked every bug but everyone said they could not find him.  How will Owly find his friend?

Owly is a great book with no words. Owly is advencheriset with his best friend Wormy.
I rate it 4/5

reviewed by Caitlyn W

The Enchanted Wood book review

Title: The Enchanted Wood

Author : Enid Blyton .

The Enchanted Wood is a nice book about three children. They are all siblings the oldest is Joe then Beth and Frannie .

Joe, Beth and Frannie all moved out of their house in the city to a nice quaint place in the country, a wee way from the train station.

One day Joe, Beth and Frannie went to the ENCHANTED WOOD.
That very day in the woods they were eating their lunch then they heard tiny  little  voices behind a tree and when they peeked around the corner there were tiny little elfs. They also saw this little man that whose reaching for the bag next to an elf and as he was reaching Joe yelled “ STOP THIEF “ and the elfs ran for the man and tackled the little man and picked up the bag that was on the ground.

Two weeks after they saw the elfs they went back to the woods and went up the faraway tree and went to the top with their new friend Moon-Face, Sauce Man and Silky where they were waiting For Joe, Beth and Frannie for Beth’s birthday .

I love this book because it is fun and Adventurous.   

I Rate this book 5/5.
By Jasmine

Meet the Aliensons book review

MEET The Aliensons
By Knife and Parker

I love this book I highly recommend it. This book is about a family but no not a normal family they're aliens. This book is full of laughter and happiness. The Aliensons are gross , funny and a joy to read about. Normally I don’t really like reading but this book I couldn’t get my eyes out of. This book is about a family that come from valax-7. They have a one eyed zog. A member of the family is an amazing singer (not in this galaxy!) Arlene Alienson. Arlene has an annoying brother Andy. They have a  Butloid 8000 the weirdest robot in the history of weird robots. And the two parents Mrs Alienson  and Mr Aliensonare crazy. . 
I rate this book 5/5 because its a great book with funny illustrations and much more.

Reviewed by Ruby