Lowell Library Newsletter

Hello Lowell Families and Caregivers!

Welcome to January of 2025! We here in the Lowell Library are eagerly awaiting the Youth Media Awards announcement at the annual American Library Association's January conference. In preparation we read a selection of old winners and possible contenders for the 2025 awards. Check out our read aloud selection below for some great books to look out for and, possibly, add to your at home family reading.

Our curriculum is a combination of library, digital learning , and computer science. Each year we build on previous year's work and expand our understanding in all three areas.

Kindergarten

• Caldecott and Newbery Award Introduction
• Characters: Physical and Character Traits
• Setting
• Beginning, middle, and end of a story.
• Author Study: Exploring an Author's Characters.

First Grade

• Caldecott and Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Awards, Pura Belpre
• Identifying Mood and Tone of a Picture Book
• Using Text and Picture to Understand the Story
• Question Words

Second Grade

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• Youth Media Award Winners Review
• Introduction to Google Docs
• Inserting an Image and adjusting its size.
• Changing font, size, color, alignment
• That's Private: Digital Citizenship

Third Grade

• Lego WeDo Project: Build a Mars Rover and Code it.

Fourth Grade

• Primary and Secondary Sources
• Analyzing Primary Sources for Information
• Historical Detectives

Fifth Grade

• How Does a Google Search Work?
• Google Tips and Tricks
• Reading News Online
• Web Page Evaluation

Book checkout starts the first week of school during library class time. Students generally have about ten minutes to make a selection at the end of the specials block.

Overdue books must be returned before a new book is checked out.

Only one graphic novel at a time may be checked out.

The library will hold one (1) book for one (1) week for any student who forgot their book from the previous week.

Students who missed library day or would like to swap for a new book can visit the library any morning before 8:35 with permission from their classroom teacher.

Kindergarten and First Grade: One (1) book.

Second Grade: One (1) book September - December; Two (2) books starting in January.

Third to Fifth Grade: Two (2) books

It happens, even if you do not expect it. A book vaporizes while in your care. Here is what we can do to help return the book for someone else to share.

• Alert the librarian so she can keep an eye out for the book in the library and the school. She will check the shelves in case the book mysteriously materialized back on the shelf.
• Check the usual book sleeping spots at home: under beds, in the car, bottom of backpacks, home book shelves.
• Ask the classroom teacher in case the book ended up in the classroom collection or elsewhere in the room.
• If you use the Public Library, stop by the Watertown Free Public Library and ask at the desk. They keep books belonging to the school but they do not notify the school in any way or return the books. They will release them for return to the school library.

If you are absolutely sure it's gone or you do not want to think more about it the best option for the library is for you to purchase a replacement copy of the book. You can pay the District for the book but that money does not return to the library to purchase a new copy and my goal is to put the book in kids hands.

• In the case of book damage such as water, ripped pages, or scribbling, please check with the librarian. Some damage can be repaired but other damage means the book is permanently withdrawn from the library collection. Those books require a replacement copy or payment.

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact the library and librarian!

Would you like to spend a little time in the school library each week? The library is looking for parent volunteers to help with various library tasks such as book checkout, shelving returns, shelf reading, and possibly other projects. Click the link to access the form.

Email: kelly.mccollum@watertown.k12.ma.us

123 Lowell Street Watertown, MA 02472

Find Us Online:

@jrlowellreads

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