Check It Out: Student Edition

Wanna play a game? Cool, cool. Let's do Two Truths and a Lie.

Here we go:

1. April is National Poetry Month.

2. April is basically over.

3. The LMC doesn't let people check out poetry books if it isn't April.

Truths: 1 and 2!

Lie: 3!

Did you get it? You did!?! Good for you, sport.

As we wring the last few trochees from the drupaceous husk of National Poetry Month, it's not too late to swing by the LMC to suck down the sweet elixirs exuded by our burgeoning poetry collection. Be sure to check out our selection of poetry new and old before you approach the circulation desk!

Did you know that your LMC curates content for all manner of celebrations and public holidays? It's true, and our homepage highlights new materials every month!

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Resources, and the LMC is spreading the love with resources a-plenty! Chock full of handpicked, lovingly organized resources and edited with your education in mind, this page boasts everything from open web highlights to a comprehensive reading room! Won't you be a deer and join the herd?

As we approach Holocaust Remembrance Day, the LMC would like to direct all in our community to peruse our Holocaust Remembrance Day Resources and Book Room.

What is Holocaust Remembrance Day? Per the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum:

"Each year, the nation remembers the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust and the [millions of] other victims of Nazi persecution. Their history warns us of the consequences when antisemitism remains unchecked, while inspiring people everywhere to confront hatred.

"Preserving the memory of the victims—while also honoring survivors, rescuers, and liberators—provides an opportunity to learn about how and why the Holocaust happened and to reflect on our common humanity. Holocaust memory and education are especially critical now when we are experiencing a dangerous eruption of antisemitism worldwide."

Moreover:

"In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah . . . In the United States, Days of Remembrance runs from the Sunday before Yom Hashoah through the following Sunday."

Thus, in 2024, Yom Hashoah will be observed from Sunday, May 5 into Monday, May 6.

BRUH, our painted lady caterpillars just dropped and we're hardcore vibing on the larval frequencies.

No cap, we're vibing so hard compared to last week we're like diamonds to talc on the Mohs scale, we're like DMX to Drake, we're like Steve from Blue's Clues to Bandit from Bluey, we're just straight snatched in our neurological constitution.

Through sheer tyranny of will, we even managed to establish a telepathic line of communication with one of our worms! We were all, "BRUH, what timeless wisdom do you wanna convey to the students at West Orange High School about the magisterial beauty and boundless mystery of the natural world?"

She was like, quoth,

"Fam, this whole chrysalis thing is low-key sus. I spun this fire silk cocoon, dipped out of the whole munching-on-leaves scene, and now I'm just… chillin'? As if!

"But apparently, on the inside, my guts are having a total glow-up. Scientists would say it's histolysis, like, my whole body is breaking down (totes relatable, amiright?) and reassembling into a butterfly?

"Sounds kinda gnarly, but hey, if it means I get wings and can finally ditch this crawling thing, I'm down for the bio-hack. This might be the ultimate AFK experience, but when I emerge , ready to sip nectar and slay the flower game, I'm finna touch grass like it's nobody's business.

"Soon, my fuzzy little bod will be primed (like Logan Paul's water) and ready for takeoff (unlike a Boeing 737 Max 9). I can't wait to spread my wings and explore the vibrant world of the Watchung Mountains.

"But before I tune out, let me drop a tiny taste of the priceless prudence percolating within my chrysalis: when in doubt, channel your inner caterpillar and slay your transformation game!

"Also, bruh, I desperately need a name."

Your librarians have been reaping the benefits of our redesigned Volunteer Program! This program offers students the opportunity to assist their learning community through the LMC; earn hours to satisfy volunteer requirements; serve as leaders among their peers; regularly visit and make use of countless library resources; and foster a love of active citizenship and lifelong learning in themselves and others.

Volunteer opportunities are still available to all WOHS students! The packet linked below contains everything you need to know about volunteering.

Do you love reading? Are you interested in books? Perhaps you enjoy the occasional snack? The Mountaineer Book Club invites you to its forthcoming meetings!

The next assembly is scheduled in the LMC Computer Lab on May 15th and 29th—won't you join them? Literacy preferred but not mandatory; see Mrs. Binns for more details!

Nota Bene: May 29th is this year's final Book Club meeting!

So, uhhhh, we have this, like, database, and it's super-cute and really sweet and we know you'd really like it if you gave it a chance, but it's a little, uhhhhh, too polished so we're worried that you'll judge it prematurely and then, like, not use it.

What do we mean by "too polished"? Uhhhh, well, it sounds like this: "Now fully updated with a fresh, new look and feel, the critically acclaimed, award-winning resource Teen Health & Wellness provides middle and high school students with nonjudgmental, straightforward, curricular and self-help support, aligned to state, national, and provincial standards. Topics include diseases, drugs and alcohol, nutrition, mental health, suicide and bullying, green living, LGBTQ issues, and more."

See? You get it, right? It means well but has a hard time communicating. Suffice it to say we've taken the liberty of translating for it. Since we're so rizzed up, we figured we'd spread a little shine to this homely yet hallowed resource.

Ahem:

Teen Health & Wellness is your one-stop shop for adulting like a boss. This future BF provides straight-up, no-judgment support on everything from dodging diseases to dealing with the drama of drugs, alcohol, and bullies.

Homie got you covered on all things nutrition, mental health, LGBTQ+, and even saving the planet (#greenqueen). The info is legit and the articles are fire: they make complex stuff simple and only utter real talk about teen life.

Check it, y'all: the content is always on fleek, as it's constantly reviewed by medical pros, therapists, and career counselors who know what's up. And, of course, Teen Health and Wellness celebrates diversity, so no matter your race, religion, background, however THICC your bank account, you'll find info that speaks to you.

Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu was often scolded for having big feelings or strong reactions. “Good girls don’t make scenes,” people warned her. And while she spent most of her childhood suppressing her bold, emotional nature, she found an early outlet in community theater—it was the one place where big feelings were okay—were good, even. Acting became her refuge, and eventually her vocation. At eighteen she moved to New York, where she’d spend the next ten years of her life auditioning, waiting tables, and struggling to make rent before her two big breaks: the TV sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and the hit film Crazy Rich Asians.

When a thirty-something portrait painter is abandoned by his wife, he secludes himself in the mountain home of a world famous artist. One day, the young painter hears a noise from the attic, and upon investigation, he discovers a previously unseen painting. By unearthing this hidden work of art, he unintentionally opens a circle of mysterious circumstances; and to close it, he must undertake a perilous journey into a netherworld that only Haruki Murakami could conjure.