Castle Herald

September 2024

For Students

September 1st - World Letter Writing Day

Celebrate World Letter Writing Day by writing a letter to one of your favorite authors! Ask a family member permission first, and then select an author from this list of addresses. To be extra safe, you can list our school's mailing address as your return address: 3595 Old Atlanta Road, Suwanee GA, 30024 and sign your first name only.

Mushroom Month

Celebrate Mushroom Month by checking out a book to learn more about them! You could also click HERE to download and print two mushroom activity sheets from Mount Pisgah, North Carolina.

Resources for Families

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan, in 1988, to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Source: Congress, The Library of, et al. National Hispanic American Heritage Month 2019, 2020, hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/.

Students and staff can check out books from our National Hispanic Heritage Month display in the Sharon CASTLE Library to enjoy stories about Hispanic culture and stories by Hispanic authors and illustrators! Below are some suggested titles owned by our Sharon Elementary C.A.S.T.L.E. Library.

Let Me Fix You a Plate

A girl describes her family's annual visit with Mamaw and Papaw in West Virginia, then Abuela and Abuelo in Florida, especially the foods and cultural elements that make each kitchen unique. Provided by publisher.

Carnival

"Learn about the history and meaning behind Carnival, as well as the ways in which it is celebrated on the mainland of South and Central America and in the Caribbean islands. Huge parades, costumes with feathers and gems, and native music make Carnival a very special time in Latin America. Learning about how Carnival is celebrated in Latin America will show readers why it may be an important celebration for Hispanic families in the United States as well"--Provided by publisher.

Bravo!

"Portraits and ... poems present famous and lesser-known Latinos from varied backgrounds who have faced life's challenges in creative ways"--Provided by publisher.

This year, the Mid-Autumn harvest festival falls on September 17th. Some fun facts about the festival: There's a Chinese folktale that the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty was overthrown because of hidden messages smuggled in mooncakes that called for revolt.

Songpyeon, Korean rice cakes, are shaped like a half-moon with its filling. There's a Korean legend about a rival between two kingdoms: Baekje and Silla. An encrypted message found on a turtle's back stated that Baekje is full-moon and Silla is half-moon. It was interpreted that a full moon would tilt and a half-moon would gradually grow. Silla defeated Baekje, and since then - the half-moon has been an auspicious symbol of a bright future.

In Vietnam, this festival is known as Tết Trung Thu, or sometimes Tết Thiếu Nhi or the Children's Festival. It is said that oritinally Tết Trung Thu was a chance to celebrate the harvest, as well as a chance for parents to make up for lost time with their children after a busy harvest season.

The origins of this festival date back 3,000 years! - Asian Lit for Kids

Below are some Sharon Elementary Library book suggestions to celebrate and/or learn more about this festival.

A Big Mooncake for Little Star

In the night sky, Little Star and her mother bake a mooncake. As the Big Mooncake hangs to cool, the girl's hunger overcomes her. It's all mesmerizing: Little Star's astral home; her outsized sense of mischief; the dwindling, nibbled-upon cake as a stand-in for the waning moon; and Lin's pleasing, soothing text, perfect for reading aloud to little moon-watchers on Earth. The Horn Book, Spring, 2019

The Shadow in the Moon

Two young sisters celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, admire their mooncakes decorated with a picture of a lady in the moon, and listen to their Ah-ma tell the ancient Chinese tale of Hou Yi, a brave young archer, and his wife, Chang'E and of how the holiday began. From Follett

The Moon Tonight: Our Moon's Journey Around Earth

Follow our moon as it waxes and wanes across the night sky in this informative and stunning nonfiction picture book by astronomer, Jung Chang-hoon. Share a sense of wonder with your child through the eyes of a father-daughter duo as they learn the science behind the twenty-nine-day lunar cycle and the moon's four phases: crescent, quarter, full, and new. From the Publisher

Read a Book Day

On September 6th, grab a book and read with your children! Reading improves memory and concentration and can also reduce stress.

International Dot Day

Students are celebrating Dot Day at school and in the library, around September 15th, but click here for more ideas for how to celebrate at home.

Read an eBook Day

Click HERE to learn about and participate in Read an E-Book Day on September 18th. Our Sharon Library also has eBooks students can read online. #ebooklove

Ginny Daniels, Media Specialist

I'm the certified, Media Specialist at Sharon Elementary School. This is my 11th year in the library and my 23rd year as an elementary educator.

Follow our library on Instagram @sharoncastlelibrary.

Email: gdaniels@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Website: https://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/domain/1234