Dear Stinson Community,

My first few months in the Stinson Library have been filled with reading, learning, and fun! I am enjoying getting to know the students and staff. I can't believe it is already November!

November is a short month with a long break, but we have a lot going on in the library! This month our theme is "Nonfiction November," and we also observe Native American Heritage month. Please read through this newsletter to hear about some interesting nonfiction reads you can check out this month, as well as books by Native American authors.

This month's big event will be our book fair. Make sure to get a copy of the book fair flyer if you have not already done so, and visit the book fair website!

I hope to see you in the library soon!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Stafford

It’s Scholastic Book Fair time! From November 7-14, come experience the excitement all over again with your kids. Remember, what starts at the Book Fair stays with you forever. Every purchase benefits our school. Click the photo above to visit the Scholastic Book Fair website. You can learn how and when to shop the book fair online, and explore the digital book fair flyer. Scan the QR code to set up an eWallet.

Parent volunteers are still needed! Please contact Mrs. Stafford if you are able to help.

November is a great time to explore some of our intriguing nonfiction titles. Click the picture above for a slideshow of Nonfiction November book talks and trailers.

In November we observe Native American Heritage Month. Stop by the library to check out a book by a a Native American author with Native American Characters.

Our library skill of the month this month is focused around nonfiction. Watch the short tutorial linked on the picture to the left to understand the Dewey numbers and how to locate your favorite nonfiction books on the shelves.

October was a busy month in the library! We practiced our digital citizenship skills by learning to spot misleading information online. Sixth graders explored various spooky writing and craft stations, seventh and eighth grade practiced using our online digital resources, and ALE read Creepy Crayon and got to design a creepy crayon of their own.

Our Creepy Cafe took place on Halloween and was a huge success. Students who submitted a spooky story had the opportunity to read their work to a group of student authors while enjoying breakfast/lunch in the library.

Feeling burned out on reading? Try some of these tips. You can always ask your librarian for recommendations. Our library is full of wonderful books, and we also have lots of sources for digital content!

Expressing gratitude is one of the simplest ways to demonstrate caring to other individuals. Research shows that expressing gratitude has the added benefit of raising our happiness levels and making us more productive and healthier, especially if we make gratitude a habit.

What do you think are the benefits of expressing gratitude? Remember, the long-term benefits of expressing gratitude are only felt if we make expressing gratitude a habit. I invite you to participate in one (or several) gratitude habits this month.

• Gratitude Journal: Each day, journal about what you are grateful for over the previous 24 hours, and why you are grateful for that event, person, object, etc.
• 3 Gratitudes: Share three things you are grateful for each day. You can do this at the dinner table each night and make a habit of going around the table and each person sharing three things they are grateful for that day.
• Random Act of Kindness: Each day spend two minutes writing an e-mail, telling someone in person, or making a phone call praising or thanking someone for something they have done (texting not allowed). You may choose a friend, family member, teacher – anyone deserving of your praise or thanks.

Please note that some meeting dates have changed. All meetings will take place at 8:00 a.m. in the library. Check your Schoology group and the Clubs bulletin board for the latest information.

Book Club: November 21

Coding Club: No meeting this month

Makerspace Club: November 20

Library Palooza (That Author Thing!) will take place at Brandeis HS on February 22, 2025 , 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. This year's authors include: Steve Sheinkin, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Lamar Giles, Isabel Ibañez, Karen McManus, Lynn Painter, and Jen Wang.

Check the Library Palooza website for details. Hope to see you there!

Be sure to check out your Library course tile in Schoology! Inside you will find links to all of our monthly promotions & contests, weekly book talks and trailers, as well as information about digital resources, password, and research help!

Laura Stafford, Librarian

Email: Laura.Stafford@nisd.net
Location: 13200 Skyhawk Drive, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 397-3633 (circulation desk)

(210) 397-3634 (office)

X (Twitter): @NISDStinsonLib