June 9, 2017

Summer!

"Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August."   — Jenny Han

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As hard to believe as it is, we are winding down library classes for the year.  Students are now returning books (thank you!) and no longer checking them out.  But not to worry, we will be open and ready for the first day of school in August!  

I want to thank everyone (students, staff, administration, and the SATEC community) from the bottom of my heart for working together to make this such a memorable and inspiring first year in the library!  I especially want to thank and bid farewell to Mrs. Good, library assistant, and Mrs. Gallagher, technology integrationist.  Both of these amazing teammates and colleagues are moving on to other adventures after next week.  Their support and presence has been felt all year, and it will be difficult to replace them.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer of adventure, learning, fun, and reading!

June 2, 2017

Citizenship & Activism

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

-Margaret Mead

After the extended Memorial Day weekend, and reflecting on the impact so many brave American armed-service men and women (relatives, friends, and strangers) have had on all of us and our country, I wanted to impress upon students how each of us can individually contribute to making our school, community, and world a better place too.  After a brief video on Citizenship in the Community - we then shifted into our three mentor texts (depicted above).  

We learned that some engaged citizens go above and beyond, and maintain an active involvement in various ways in their local community and around the world.  Many students were surprised that "American ideals and values" are not shared in each community, or state, around the world.  Malala: A Brave Girl From Pakistan certainly opened our eyes about how lucky we are to live in a free nation that provides a public education to all of it's citizens (grades k-12).  Malala's unwavering courage and resolve to bring change to her community in Swat Valley, despite violent threats and eventual physical harm, serve as an inspiration that we are all capable of making our voices heard.  As she proclaimed in a famous speech to world leaders on her 16th birthday, "They thought that bullets would silence us, but they failed... One child, one teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world."