February 2020

The month of February has flown by. It feels as though we are all settling into this new building and our new spaces. Faces are now familiar and we have developed relationships to collaborate and learn from one another. This newsletter will be an overview of the highlights from February. Many of the projects I've worked on this month are building blocks for units that clusters will do in Trimester 3.

• Book Tasting with Green cluster
• Grade 6 Common Sense Media lessons with Lime cluster
• Grade 7 Common Sense Media lessons with Orange cluster

• Develop book club title list to align with UN Sustainable Development Goals for Yellow cluster
• Develop book club title list to align with the theme of Courage for Razz cluster
• Develop book club title list to delve into characterization for Lime cluster
• Develop book list of social comprehension titles which align with UN Sustainable Development Goals for Blue cluster
• Develop book title list featuring family members with addiction for Ms. Katie Hamel and her BMS Choice group (see picture of the book display she created above)
• Consult with Mrs. Kelsey Carroll about her lessons around All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
• Begin delving into a "social media interns" program with Mrs. Kellie Polando
• Bring in guest speakers Rachel Dunham and Alyson Boss to Mrs. Polando's 8th grade Entrepreneurship/Social Media class to discuss how to use social media to positively promote ourselves and positively impact others

On Wednesday, February 26th we met at 6:30pm in the global classroom to discuss the 2020 RI Middle School Book Award nominee Greetings from Witness Protection. As a surprise treat, reading specialist Dr. Brian Fernandes arranged a Skype visit with author Jake Burt. Students and parents were able to ask their burning questions, and Jake was incredibly engaging and provided so much insight into the story and his process. It was so much fun to use the global classroom for its true purpose!

The PTO is letting the library media center host a fundraiser dedicated to an author visit budget line for the next school year. A team of students is busy at work preparing for the event. Students will be invited to submit a book title they would like to recommend. The fashion show will consist of students walking across the auditorium stage with their recommended titles in hand while MC Mr. Stu Moran reads their book summaries aloud. Students are encouraged to dress fancy or dress in character. They will also need to choose a song that connects to their title for their introduction. The cover of each book will be on a big screen behind them as they walk the stage.

Students are creating a website that will link to the program with a QR code so that attendees can have a more immersive experience.

In addition, there will be raffle tickets sold for an array of incredible prizes. The community will have the opportunity to buy tickets online at the BMS PTO store as well as in person at lunches leading up to the event and the night of the event.

For up-to-date information on the fundraiser, follow us on Instagram at @bmsmedia.ri and on Twitter at @BMSLibraryRI.

This month students who have read at least 3 titles from the 2020 RIMSBA list are entitled and highly encouraged to come vote! Stop by the library for a ballot!

February 3 - February 28, 2020

Total Book Circulated: 1272

Total Holds: 175

Total ILL Books Borrowed: 179

Total ILL Books Loaned: 41

Top Circulated Titles:

1. One of Us Is Lying - McManus - mystery - 6

2. Lifeboat 12 - Hood - historical fiction - 5

3. Two Can Keep a Secret - McManus - mystery - 4

4. Ender's Game (Ender's Saga #1) - Card - science fiction -4

5. Give and Take - Swartz - realistic fiction - 4

6. The Hunger Games - Collins - science fiction - 4

7. To Night Owl from Dogfish - Sloane - 4

8. They Both Die at the End - Silvera - science fiction - 3

9. After the Shot Drops - Ribay - realistic fiction - 3

1. Mrs. Meystre - 75 books

2. Mr. Borgueta - 71 books

3. Ms. August - 61 books

4. Mrs. Williams - 59 books

5. Mrs. Watson - 56 books

6. Mrs. Bento - 53 books

7. Mr. Henderson - 52 books

8. Mr. McFarland - 47 books

9. Mr. Blasi - 45 books

10. Mr. Dallesio - 45 books