One for the Record Books

by Nicole H. Cruz

Seven Sharyland ISD librarians attended the Region One Fall Media Fair on October 11th. The librarians were able to attend various break out sessions and visit with library vendors. Many of them came away with free books and prizes for their library patrons. Pictured above: Thanya Montemayor, Alma Paredes, Elizabeth Moreno, and Jose Guerrero.

by Alma Paredes

Six-year-old Lucia Lee from Harry Shimotsu Elementary recently celebrated a creative achievement by winning 3rd place in the South Texas Book Festival Bookmark Contest. Her bookmark design "Happy Pets", filled with bright colors and imaginative details, stood out among numerous entries. The contest aimed to inspire a love for reading and creativity in young readers. Her family and her school is proud of her accomplishment and the way she encourages others to engage in reading and art.

by Nicole H. Cruz

Irina Fernandez was recognized by McAllen Public Library Director Kate Horan on Saturday, November 2nd at the Award Ceremony for the Bookmark Contest. Out of 450 entries-the top 3 finalists in each age category received medals and a prize bag. Irina Fernandez is a Sharyland High School Senior. Her art teacher Raul Perez encouraged her to participate.

by Patricia Ramos

Families gathered for a successful reading night at DWE in October! There was much enthusiasm as families read and enjoyed some great books together! Students were motivated to meet the "How Many Books Can You Read Challenge" by adding a pumpkin for every book they read and quizzed on. They were also happy with the make and take scarecrow craft to take home as an incentive for participating.

by Monica Arguelles

Three librarians have opened their doors to Sam Houston State University intern Monica Arguelles. Mrs. Arguelles is completing 15 internship hours at each of the campuses- Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary, BL Gray Junior High School, and Sharyland High School. Fostering a love of librarianship is a joy for all current school librarians. "Knowing the future belongs to our new school librarians and seeing the ideas and creativity they bring to our libraries is the legacy we love to support," stated Nicole H. Cruz Sharyland ISD Lead Librarian.

by Nicole H. Cruz

On the October 4th Teacher Prep and Plan Day, SA3 faculty had the opportunity to learn how HB900 affects their campus library and classroom libraries. Librarian Nicole Cruz shared the history of the state law and how it has been altered by the courts. She shared the new TSLAC Collection Development Standards and the components of the legislation. Faculty were able to ask questions and Mrs. Cruz gave strategies on fielding questions from community members.

by Elizabeth Moreno

The Pioneer High School Library held a “Lunch and Learn” session for staff on Thursday, October 24th . The focus of the presentation was on Maker Spaces, this collaborative effort was led by Elizabeth Moreno, PHS librarian, alongside Special Education teachers, Daniella Lara and Jocelyn Puga, as well as PHS GEAR UP Facilitator, Lisa Salazar. They highlighted the advantages of Maker Spaces for students, which include problem-solving, teamwork, and interaction, among others. The participants were led through an interactive lesson by Ms. Lara and then they demonstrated their new skills on a final vinyl product. Thanks to a grant from GEAR UP, the Maker Space will be housed in the library, where it is sure to be a creative learning hub.

by Oneida Aleman

Pre-K students enjoyed a special read-aloud session, followed by a surprise visit from H-E-B Buddy! H-E-B Buddy high-fived students, posed for pictures, and handed out a special treat. The students' excitement was truly priceless.

by Josie Saldaña

This Halloween, our school library transformed into a spooky cinema for Goosebumps in the library! Students gathered to enjoy the thrills and chills of this classic series, bringing a fun, eerie vibe to the Halloween festivities.

The library was decked out in Halloween decorations to set the scene, and students arrived in costume, ready for some light-hearted scares. Everyone had a fantastic time watching a classic episode of Goosebumps and sharing Halloween treats.

Thank you to all the students who joined us for this spine-tingling event!

by Denise Cirlos

B.L. Gray students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in the library with an engaging bingo game! Students learned about influential Hispanic figures, authors, and cultural contributions while enjoying the fun and excitement of bingo. The event was a wonderful way to explore and honor Hispanic heritage!

by Monica Arguelles, library intern

The students at Bentsen Elementary had the opportunity to browse and purchase new books for their home collection. Whether it was buying a new book with their favorite character or a colorful poster, the students were excited spending time at the book fair. Parents were also invited to attend a family night during the same week, where they could read books to their children or have fun creating bookmarks to take home.

by Monica Silva

For our first Family Reading Night, we welcomed author Eliza Garza, who shared her heartwarming book Raspas Con Mi Grandpa with students and their grandparents. The evening was a resounding success, bringing families together through reading, an engaging author presentation, and the enjoyment of raspas with loved ones. This special event created a memorable experience, celebrating the joy of storytelling and the bond between generations.

by Thanya Montemayor

Several SISD librarians attended the South Texas Book Festival to see SISD students honored for their winning bookmarks. The STBF has a book mark contest every year that encompasses all four counties in the Rio Grande Valley and SISD students are consistently shining winners! They also got to attend read-alouds by popular authors and even get some of their books signed! Pictured is famous author Kat Zhang of the Amy Wu series.

by Wally Trevino

During the 3rd grade literacy night held on October 30, 2024, 3rd grade students created a book report and a book character pumpkin. Over 60 students participated in the book pumpkin characters and put them on display in the library. Students were also given the opportunity to read with their parents and take AR tests during the literacy night. The students did an amazing job and the turnout was a success. It was great to see students showing their parents and guests their pumpkin masterpiece.

by Nicole H. Cruz

Students from SA3 and SHS participated in a National Library Card Sign Up field trip on September 30th. September is National Library Card Sign Up Month. It focuses on the importance of using resources and facilities of public libraries. School librarians partner with public librarians to create life long library users. MPL staff Leslie Stickle and Melissa Kobayahi provided a tour of the library as well as a presentation focused on resources for teens. Students were given an eCard form so they can sign up for access to e-resources. They can also get a general library card by bringing their parent / guardian to the library along with proof of residence. Additional chaperones were Mary Muniz and Yesenia Medina-Jaramillo.

by Albert Ramos

Jessie Jensen had a Halloween Family Reading Night on Oct 23rd. Parents and students had a time of reading and AR testing to meet their AR Goals. They were also able to create a Picture Frame with Halloween stickers and take a memorable picture of the event!

by Denise Cirlos

The B.L. Gray library partnered with history classes to offer digital citizenship lessons. These sessions guided students on responsible online behavior, safe internet practices, and respectful digital interactions, empowering them to navigate the digital world wisely and responsibly!

by Elizabeth Moreno

On Wednesday, October 2nd, Pioneer High School welcomed guest speaker, Maria Luisa Salcines. Mrs. Salcines is a freelance writer, and former columnist for The Monitor newspaper, contributing author and author of several books. Mrs. Salcines read from her book, You Can Do It Tex a book about anxiety. She also shared a presentation about mental health awareness with a focus on managing anxiety effectively. The audience of over 250 students and staff was engaged and learned about the importance of self-care, the impact of social media and about recognizing the signs of anxiety and depression. As an advocate for mental health awareness, Mrs. Salcines shared her insight and personal experiences to help reduce stigma, encourage discussions, and increase support within our community.

by Oneida Aleman

This year at RDM, we tried something new! Instead of our annual book character pumpkin contest, students decorated the library with storybook-themed tissue boxes that we'll be able to enjoy all year long. The tissue boxes turned out amazing, showcasing the students' incredible creativity!

by Patricia Ramos

Students at DWE were treated to Red Robin kid meal bookmarks by their librarian as a reward for meeting their AR reading goals! The students were excited to receive their reward in the classrooms and are looking forward to more incentives as they work diligently to meet their AR reading goals!

by Nicole H. Cruz

Librarian Nicole Cruz collaborated with Dual Enrollment teacher Emily Gray and South Texas College Academic Outreach Librarian Alison Young to bring a presentation to students. Students learned valuable STC resources that can assist them with their history research paper. The presentation took place at the Penny Payte McLeaish LRC on Tuesday, October 15 during 1st and 2nd block.

by Josie Saldaña

We're excited to share that our school recently hosted a special event: Computer Basics Classes for Parents! The campus librarian and community liaison worked to design a lesson in computer basics to assist parents in gaining essential computer skills to confidently support their children’s education.

The sessions covered topics like basic computer operations, navigating the internet safely, using Skyward, and even troubleshooting common tech issues. Our goal was to provide a relaxed, hands-on learning environment, and we were thrilled to see enthusiasm and engagement from our parents.

Thank you to our parents who participated! We look forward to offering more sessions soon to continue empowering our school community with valuable digital tools.

by Thanya Montemayor

Our fourth graders had a surprise guest reader for our Hispanic Heritage lesson. Our assistant principal, Mr. Rodriguez, stopped by to read Alma and How She Got Her Name. The students enjoyed having a new person read to them, and Mr. Rodriguez got to experience being an elementary school librarian! They all loved the book!

by Monica Silva

For the week of September 16, our library lesson celebrated Mexican culture by diving into the exciting world of lucha libre. We started by reading Lucía the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza, a story about a brave young girl who discovers her inner strength through the iconic sport of Mexican wrestling.

After reading, students had the opportunity to unleash their creativity by designing their own lucha libre masks, using vibrant colors and unique patterns to express their individuality. They also crafted mini wrestling rings, adding their personal flair to make each one unique. This activity allowed students to connect with the culture in a hands-on way, combining art, storytelling, and cultural appreciation. It was a fun and educational week that brought a piece of Mexican heritage into our library!

by Albert Ramos

Jessie Jensen students that met their AR Goals for the first six-weeks were rewarded at the library. They had a chance to win a prize playing BINGO, and also enjoyed some nachos and a juice. Congratulations to all the students that read and met their AR Goals!

by Alma Paredes

Sharyland High School’s Chemistry Club joined the Family Reading Night at Harry Shimotsu Elementary, adding a hands-on science twist to the event. Club members guided young students in creating colorful, stretchy slime, turning the evening into a learning experience full of discovery and excitement. The slime activity was a hit, sparking curiosity and excitement among children as they learned basic chemistry concepts while having fun. The collaboration between the high school club and elementary school highlighted the importance of blending science with literacy to create a memorable family event.

by Jose Guerrero

This year’s fall Scholastic Book Fair was a great success, making more sales from previous years. The Scholastic Book Fairs provides students with a variety of book genres that students choose from. Students get excited seeing all the new titles and variety of stationary supplies. Parents are also encouraged to visit the book and share in the love of reading with their children. Our family reading night allowed parents and students to visit the book fair and create bookmarks as they read, and AR tested.

"One for the Record Books" was recognized by the Texas Library Association for a PR Branding Iron Award in 2016. Submit photos and stories by the deadline each month to be included in "One for the Record Books." Please make sure any students are not on the "Do Not Photograph List" before submitting their photos for publication.

Email: ncruz@sharylandisd.org
Website: https://www.sharylandisd.org/departments/library_services
Location: 1216 North Shary Road, Mission, TX, USA
Phone: 956-580-5300
Twitter: @Cruz23Mac