SPARK Media News

My name is Kristin Cady and I'm the new Media Specialist at Springdale Park! Even though this is my first year as the Media Specialist, I've previously taught 1st and 3rd grade at SPARK.

Each month, I will be sharing with you the latest updates, exciting events, and valuable resources from our beloved library and media center. Through this newsletter, I hope to provide a glimpse into the diverse array of offerings and initiatives that make our library a true haven of exploration and growth. If you have any questions about the media program at SPARK, don't hesitate to reach me at kristin.cady@apsk12.org. I look forward to working with you this year!

When will students begin checking out books?

• Week of August 7th: 4th + 5th grade
• Week of August 14th: 2nd + 3rd grade
• Week of August 21st: Kindergarten and 1st grade

Students have the opportunity to check out two books each week!

Atlanta Public Schools is excited to continue its district-wide reading campaign, Race2Read! We are partnering with Urban League of Greater Atlanta to challenge students, teachers, staff, parents, community members and business partners to read 20 minutes daily to help us collectively reach 10 million minutes of reading.

Together, we can build a city that reads!

In order to support this reading initiative, students, teachers, parents, and community members can log their reading minutes on Beanstack! Students have access to Beanstack on MyBackpack. Parents/guardians, you can log your minutes, too! CLICK HERE to create an account.

Be on the lookout for the AUGUST BINGO CHALLENGE in your child's Thursday folder on August 10th! If you child completes four activities in a row and turns it into the media center, they'll receive a small treat at the end of the month to celebrate. Don't forget to record those reading minutes on Beanstack!

CLICK HERE to sign up for a training session!

CLICK HERE to complete the interest form.

Do you have a 4th or 5th grade student who loves to read? Consider joining SPARK's Reading Bowl team!

• CLICK HERE to learn about the Helen Ruffin Reading bowl.
• Practices will be on Fridays from 3:00 - 4:00
• CLICK HERE to submit your child's interest! More information will be provided.

The Atlanta Hawks Check It Out Reading Challenge has officially started and runs until September 1. When students K-12 check out and read five books, they earn one (1) FREE youth ticket to a select Hawks game during the 2023-2024 season. When students complete the Challenge, they need to visit https://www.nba.com/hawks/community/checkitout and have a parent or guardian fill out the registration form. An adult ticket must be purchased along with the youth ticket. Participants will begin receiving their tickets after October 31.

In order for your child to recieve a device, please review and sign the forms below. Your child's student number is in IC under the home page.

• Mobile Device Use Agreement - http://tinyAPS.com/?apsmobiledevice

• Parent Acceptance of Device Take Home Agreement - http://tinyAPS.com/?apsparentagree

Did you know Atlanta Public Schools staff and students have a digital library card? Thanks to our partnership with the Atlanta Fulton County Public Library, APS students and staff have access to dozens of resources, including online databases, eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming videos, as well as hundreds of thousands of books available at public libraries.

APS STUDENTS

Username: Network ID (their username to log into their school device)

PIN: lunch number

Our SEL Book of the month is "My First Day" By Phung Nguyen Quang & Huynh Kim Lien. This book details no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. On the way, he is confronted by giant crested waves, heavy rainfall and eerie forests where fear takes hold of him. Although daunted by the dark unknown, An realizes that he is not alone and continues to paddle. He knows it will all be worth it when he reaches his destination--one familiar to children all over the world.