Catching Up or Leading the Way

"If you start soon enough, you won't have to catch up."

-Anonymous

Did I really just go two months without writing anything in this blog?  How embarrassing.  But at the same time, I would just like to note for the record, that this very moment was the first time--apparently in two months--that I have seated myself at my computer with a self-satisfying grin and thought, "holy cow, I finished everything on my to-do list!  Maybe I should catch up on the library blog!"  So, it's been busy in here!  Which is kind of awesome.

So, I guess this is going to be a catch-up blog.

Our FFB in December and January were great!  It was nice to have time and space to wish everyone well over the holiday, and then greet people when we came back.

 Mr. Brener showing off the holiday decor.

(Wow, that freshly-painted Reference sign looks great!)

 The Feast

January's Feast

Our Donors Choose games came in!  We had a fun day opening ALL the boxes and playing the chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, Sorry, and Life.  The kids were incredibly excited and I learned quickly that maybe it wasn't a great idea to open all the games, all at the same time, before I got Ziplock bags to keep pieces in.  Ah well, ya live, ya learn.

Euuch, those kids look creepy with their faces blurred out!  

Next year I must work on getting the forms signed so that I don't have to do that!

Also, we started a chess club on Thursdays during lunch.  Today we had about 30 kids!  It was pretty awesome.  My dad has been running it and teaching the kids the finer points of the game.  He totally rocks.

I've been doing Book Talks, of course.  Two weeks ago I did Matched by Ally Conde.  I discovered that if I shut down the library--which means making ALL students present stop what they are doing and come hear the presentation, there is a bigger turn out.   Tomorrow I'll be doing Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.   It's a freaking GREAT book.  And older than Hunger Games.

I truly love it when I finish a presentation and the kids vie for who gets to check the book out first.  That  tells me whether or not it was a successful book talk.

Finally, Donors Choose, a pretty terrific website, got a GINORMOUS grant from the Wasserman Foundation, specifically for LAUSD schools.  Apparently, a postcard was mailed out to the homes of each scholar in LAUSD with a gift code for $15.  This could be used to fund a teacher's project!  This is nothing short of awesome.  If you haven't checked it out yet, and feel charitable, I highly recommend them.  Even $5 can make a big difference!

I think that's about it.

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Together

"Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success."

-Henry Ford

When I looked at my schedule this morning, I was a little overwhelmed.  What a busy, busy day I had planned!

Mr. Levengood had scheduled his classes to have their library orientation periods 1 - 5.  We would have the November FFB during nutrition.  I had a book talk scheduled.  *whew*

First of all, I love library orientation.  It's that time near the beginning of the school year when I get to talk at each and every student in the entire school and remind them how awesome the library is.  We go over rules and procedures--how to behave, how to check out books--and why the library is important.  We cover fines and the cheapest way to replace a lost or damaged book.  But most importantly, I get to connect with every one of my students.  I have 700 of them this year and it's so great to remind them that the library is here for them, that I am here for them.

The November FFB was hosted by our awesome history department.

Historians Extraordinaire: Mr. Gearin, Ms. Arzanipour, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Benjamin-Joseph, Mr. Cornett

Being as dedicated to historical events as they are, they included some historical information about our breakfast.

They served Starbucks coffee (now we're getting fancy!), juice, muffins, bagels, and fruit.

What a spread! 

Artful display arranged by our awesome parent volunteers while I taught Mr. Levengood's classes. 

Awesome.

Blurry photo of breakfast drinks and 8,000,000,000,001 creamers.

There are two more that I left in the fridge.

Once again, just before the nutrition bell rang folks started to show up, nosh, talk, and laugh.

Mrs. Teems with bagel and A Brief History of the Bagel

Mr. Brener, Mr. Catanzariti, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Valverde, Mrs. Macris, Mrs. Teems, Ms. Winberry,  

Mrs. Cook, Ms. Strong, Mr. Levengood

Mr. Brener, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Strong, awesome parent volunteer

This time there were many comments.  I heard, "this is so great.  I love seeing everybody!"  I also heard, "oh you just wait until the science department's turn comes!" This all makes me very, very happy.

During lunch, I quickly set up Doctor Who and all the Little House books I could find, which were a lot, thanks to Ms. Strong's personal library.  This time only two kids came to the book talk, but they were both very present and attentive, and thought that the idea of covered wagons was "really cool."  They also particularly enjoyed when I talked about Pa carrying a shotgun, trapping game to feed his family, and how he had to cut down trees to build them a home.  I tailored the book talk for the boys, what can I say.

Little House on the Prairie with the Raggedy Doctor

Mr. Levengood observed to me that I seem to be always busy, the library phone is always ringing (he had to answer every time it rang while I was teaching his classes), and I don't ever seem to stop.  I like that observation; to me, being busy all the time means that I'm getting a lot done.  I hope to continue doing so for a long, long time.  <3

Happy Reading!

In November

"Dull November brings the blast 

Then the leaves are whirling fast."

-Sara Coleridge

Here's the November calendar (so far):

The November calendar was illustrated by two of my library practice students.  I freaking love the turkey.

Wow, we've got a ton of stuff planned!  Crochet Club, Book Talks, Book Club, Game Day--plus, our next FFB, Coffee with the Principal, Library Committee meeting, and a Booster Club meeting.  A lot goes in on here!

Happy Reading!

Eat, Pray, Love

"Let's get together and feel all right."

-Bob Marley

We lost many of our coworkers this year--some, Webster old timers who were particularly beloved--due to budget cuts and pink slips, and there has been a feeling of sadness and stress on campus.  In trying to combat this, the Faculty Staff Association is trying to put on some events to create some cheer and remind us that, hey, we Webster adults like each other!  One activity we've planned is the First Friday brunch.   While I know that nothing will make up for the loss of our coworkers here on campus, I am hoping that by having one day a month where we come together as a community, we'll at least start to close the gaping holes that were left in the circle.  I think it's so important that a faculty congregates for no other reason than to to talk, eat, and laugh, especially in these times of economic strife.

So, today we had our first First Friday Brunch during nutrition in the library.  Each department will host a month throughout the school year.  Our English department were the brave folks who volunteered to host us first, bringing delicious bagels and cream cheese, fruit, cookies, orange juice, and coffee.

Mrs. Pulliam, our strict yet compassionate dean, made a cute sign with the names of all faculty who had perfect attendance during the month of September, and she gave out certificates congratulating us.  (Did you catch that "us"?  Yes, I did have perfect attendance in the month of September.  *bows*)

Faculty and staff got the chance to catch up and spend some time together, and it was really great to watch all the conversations going on.

And, of course, it's not an event without Mrs. Teems mugging for the camera.

Parent volunteers came to help set up and clean up, so that I wasn't stuck with extra work all by myself.  I am so grateful!  Also--this is SO awesome!!!-- after overhearing that, since we are one department short of the school months the administration team was going to have to host two First Friday Brunches, one parent volunteer said that the Booster Club would host a month for us!  How exciting to be surrounded by such caring people.

I <3 Webster.

Happy reading!