This month in Bellahouston Academy Library…
Participatory Budget Session.
This is part of the White Water Writers SLIF project. A group of pupils selected books to help build a more diverse and inclusive collection.
Celebrating Black History Month display
New Books!!!
S6 pupils at Holyrood Secondary organised an Anti-Racism outreach library in the fuel zone. This event promoted anti-racist, diverse books, in a friendly setting – many young people and staff stopped to browse, chat and borrow during their lunch hour. The books were selected from the school library and included biographies, travel and culture, and fiction by authors of all different nationalities and cultures. Huge thank you to our S6 Anti-Racism Leadership Group for organising and making this such a fun lunchtime! Well done to our S1 helpers too, for taking over during BGE lunchtime.
October is Black History Month. Well done to Miss Porch’s S1 class, who took great pride in choosing books about black scientists, sports people, politicians and celebrities for our BHM book display.
Our Holyrood Family is made up of young people from 44 different countries, speaking 62 languages (and counting!). We enjoy celebrating our many different cultures, with books and events in the library. Our library stock is developing to better reflect the diversity of our school community. New ideas on how we can do this, are always welcome. 
October Book Recommendations
Librarian’s choice:
The Happiest Man on Earth: Author, Eddie Jaku survived terrible cruelty in the Nazi death camps. This is an incredible book about hope, courage and friendship that helped him survive.
Student’s Choice
Planet Omar, by Zanib Mian: Good for fans of ‘Wimpy Kid’, Omar with have you roaring with laughter.
Happy Reading!
October marks Black History Month in the UK, which gives us many opportunities to celebrate the rich contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history.
The roots of Black History Month can be traced back to the USA in 1915, when historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson set up a Society to study the achievements of American Black people . Such achievements had been, until then, undocumented: therefore, this groundbreaking Society earned Dr Woodson the title of “Father of Black History.”
Black History Month wasn’t adopted in the UK until 1987, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. It was launched in London by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a refugee from Ghana.
This year, the theme for Black History Month is “Celebrating Our Sisters“. The school library is excited to participate by showcasing a collection of books which also highlight the impact that women of African and Caribbean heritage have had on society, culture, sports and science. Black women’s’ accomplishments were overlooked for far too long, so I encourage everyone to explore these books and be inspired by their lives.
Within Smithycroft’s school community, we take pride in fostering inclusivity and promoting anti-racism. One notable example is the Anti-Racist Club, co-led by principal teachers Gemma Walters and Rebeca Long, which provides a safe space for students to engage in important discussions surrounding racial equality. This club is also an important source of education for school staff on how to decolonize the school curriculum. Recently, students from the Anti-Racist Club were present at the launch of Glasgow City Council’s Anti-Racism Charter at the City Chambers, so the library is proud to promote anti-racism and a more inclusive history while surrounded by such smart young people.
As a school librarian, I like to think my role goes beyond just stacking books and shushing excitable young people. It extends to nurturing developing minds, encouraging critical thinking, and championing intellectual freedom. That’s why Banned Books Week holds a special place in my heart, and I was beyond excited to mark it at St Thomas Aquinas this year.
Banned Books Week is an annual event that unites school libraries across the world in celebration of the freedom to read, while calling for us all to reflect on the challenges that literature often faces. It’s an opportunity for educators, students, parents, and the entire community to come together and explore the profound significance of preserving open access to information and ideas.
First and foremost, Banned Books Week serves as a stark reminder of the enduring importance of intellectual freedom. The act of banning or challenging books reflects attempts to limit knowledge and restrict the free exchange of ideas. By highlighting these challenges, we teach our students that a society that values diverse perspectives and critical thinking must defend the right to read, even when confronted with controversial or unconventional ideas. Freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic right, and it’s up to young people to carry on defending it against those who would have their freedoms curtailed.
Moreover, Banned Books Week is an opportunity to introduce students to a range of literary works that have faced censorship attempts. It provides a window into the world of thought-provoking, boundary-pushing literature that may otherwise be overlooked. When we engage with these books, we encourage students to think critically, form their own opinions, and participate in meaningful discussions about important topics.
In school libraries, Banned Books Week can spark dialogue about the value of free expression, diversity, and inclusion. It prompts students to question why certain books are targeted for removal or restriction, and encourages them to develop a deeper understanding of the power of storytelling. It teaches them that literature can be a mirror reflecting the endless variety of human experiences, and a window into worlds they might never have encountered otherwise. Coming into contact with these diverse life experiences in turn fosters empathy and helps create connections across society.
Banned Books Week is an invaluable opportunity for school libraries to nurture intellectual growth, promote freedom of thought, and celebrate the rich tapestry of literature that makes up our world. It reminds us that the freedom to read is a precious right, one that we must actively protect and promote. By observing Banned Books Week, we empower our students to become critical thinkers, engaged citizens, and lifelong readers who have all the necessary tools to build a brighter future for us all.
Find out more about Banned Books Week and the Let Freedom Read campaign on the official website.
Falling on the first Thursday of October each year, National Poetry Day offers a wonderful opportunity to examine the power and beauty of poetry, celebrating both its role in the curriculum and the pure joy of reading it for pleasure. This year’s theme, “Refuge,” encourages our students to reflect on the idea of finding comfort and safety, not just in themselves but also in the stories we tell and the shared experiences which underpin them. It’s a reminder that their love for poetry connects them to a nationwide celebration.
The Notre Dame High School Library has accordingly been transformed into a poetry wonderland, highlighting a carefully curated collection of classic and contemporary poems. We want our students to know that poetry is not confined to textbooks but is a living, breathing art form meant to be explored.
Meanwhile, at our activity station, students have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of creative projects, including some wonderful worksheets by National Poetry Day UK and a dedicated blackout poetry workshop. Armed with markers, they transform pages from old books into new poems, discovering hidden meanings within the text. It’s a fun and creative exercise that encourages close reading and critical thinking. The results are often breathtaking.
Poetry plays a vital role in our curriculum. It hones language skills, enhances vocabulary, and fosters critical thinking. More importantly, it’s a medium for self-expression and self-discovery, especially during the challenging years of adolescence.
Reading poetry for pleasure is equally important. It allows students to appreciate the beauty of language and the depth of human emotions. It’s a lifelong journey of literary appreciation that transcends textbooks and exams.
National Poetry Day is about celebrating the joy of words. It’s a day of creativity, reflection, and inspiration. Poetry isn’t just lines on paper; it’s a bridge to understanding ourselves and the world.
Here’s to National Poetry Day and to the enduring magic of poetry, touching our students’ lives for years to come!
Good news! The school library has now reopened and is once again accessible to our pupils after a major refurbishment.
At lunchtime, pupils have the chance to engage in various activities like reading/ borrowing books, playing board games, doing origami, doodling or become a library helpers. These activities not only promote creativity but also contribute to the development of memory, logic, reasoning skills, and expand knowledge.
In our school library, friendships are formed, ideas are shared, and the overall school community thrives.
Additionally, your children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of library clubs, allowing them to explore different interests and engage in enriching activities.
On Tuesdays, the lunchtime activities at school are devoted to an interesting and beneficial session called “Storytelling for Wellbeing”. During this time, pupils engage in the creative process of crafting stories using various mediums like story cubes, music, and images. These stimulating tools help inspire their imaginations and enhance their storytelling skills while promoting overall well-being.
Wednesday after school is the perfect time for young manga/anime enthusiasts to gather and indulge in their shared passion. These clubs are highly sought-after and offer exciting activities like manga quizzes that challenge students’ knowledge. Apart from the quizzes, these clubs also provide an opportunity to explore and immerse themselves in Japanese culture, allowing them to deepen their understanding and appreciation of this unique art form.
Every Thursday, the “Worldwide Diversity Club” organises a lunch exclusively for its members. During this time, members have the opportunity to share and celebrate cultural diversity through presentations, crafts, and engaging exchanges. It is an inclusive and enriching experience that allows individuals from different backgrounds to come together and appreciate various cultures.
Finally, after school on Fridays, many students engage in the exciting world of role- playing games. These games allow them to step into the shoes of adventurers, encountering fictional situations where they must make decisions and face the consequences. It’s a fun and creative way for pupils to immerse themselves in storytelling and problem-solving.
The library is absolutely bursting with life once again!
It has been a whole year since I have been waiting for fancy new shelves and snazzy library reception desk.
Instead of waiting around, I took charge and decided to embrace my inner MacGyver and get creative! Transform boxes into display units, pupils tables into an impromptu library reception desk & proud makeshift shelves.
With a little ingenuity, I discovered I could turn ordinary boxes into eye-catching display units, repurposed pupil tables to create a temporary library reception desk, and proudly use makeshift shelves. My creativity will shine through as I make the most of what I have while waiting for our fancy new furnishings.
Remember, sometimes the most innovative solutions come from thinking outside the box!
https://x.com/stmungo_library/status/1692103687978492407?s=20
As fall settles in and the air turns crisp, with leaves changing colours, I find myself reminiscing about summertime. It takes me back to when the St. Mungo’s library was a part of the P7 transition program.
We had an amazing time welcoming our future S1 pupils and engaging them in some exciting library activities. The games and interactive “get to know each other” exercises were incredibly successful in fostering a strong bond among these young learners. It’s truly inspiring to witness how simple activities can create a positive and inclusive environment for everyone involved.
https://x.com/stmungo_library/status/1676203080356880384?s=20
During their second day, our future S1 had an amazing opportunity to create their own vision board. Some young people had never been given the opportunity to dream beyond the limitations imposed by their social backgrounds. This activity provided them a chance to dream big, break barriers, and imagine a future that knows no bounds.
The activity was a success, as they spent the entire day in the library, completing their board and envisioning a brighter future.
https://x.com/stmungo_library/status/1676957329689038855?s=20
We’re back for another school year and have lots of things to update everyone on!
Library move/refurb
After our move to English 4, we have moved again! This time to a much larger space. We are currently awaiting a full refurb of the library but once this is done, we look forward to bringing back our full programme of clubs and events – no less the Manga Club! Watch this space for updates.
S1 Inductions
September was a month for meeting and getting to know our new S1s. It was great having them down for their library inductions and there were a lot of keen readers amongst them.
ProQuest/GALE sessions
We are already underway with our research skills workshops as Advanced Higher Drama got their first ProQuest/GALE/Oxford DNB session of the year. We are hoping to continue this with both Social Subjects and English classes next month.
Next Month
October will see us continue with our class borrowing periods for all S1 to S3 pupils and work with S6 paired readers. As the new S1s get their iPads, we are looking to begin Libby/Borrowbox sessions to promote our online resources. October also marks Black History Month (UK) and we will have a pupil-curated display in the library to mark this.
From the 2nd to 8th October 2023, Dyslexia Awareness Week will be celebrating individuals with dyslexia from all backgrounds and walks of life. This year’s theme is Uniquely You, which celebrates the diversity of the dyslexic community and the rich variety of lived experiences of dyslexia.
To celebrate the week we’re spotlighting some of our new Barrington Stoke books in Whitehill School Library. Each book has a dyslexia-friendly layout, typeface and paper stock so that even more readers can enjoy it. Barrington Stoke publish a fantastic range of fiction and non-fiction books for all ages and interests, and there are lots more available in the school library.
Click the images to get a sneak peek of first chapters.
The day the hiccups took over
Frank has a big day ahead of him, with a trip to the dentist, a trumpet exam, a swimming contest and, most important of all, he has tickets to see his knitting hero on stage right here in his hometown! But all that is put at risk when Frank wakes up with the hiccups. And they just won’t STOP!
Helped by his new friend Daisy, Frank tries ever more madcap ideas to get the hiccups to go away. But will the whole day end in disappointment and humiliation, or will Frank manage to turn calamity into a dramatic triumph?
Bertie and the alien chicken
Bertie is NOT looking forward to spending the summer holidays on stinky Long Bottom Farm. But things take an interesting turn when he encounters Nugget, the alien chicken. Nugget’s mission is to find the Earth’s most valuable resource and transport it back to Nurgle 7, and he needs Bertie’s help.
But what could the Earth’s most valuable resource be, and can they find it in time to stop the Nurgles exterminating the Earth?!
Calling the wales
When Tulsi and her best friend Satchen spot something unusual in the sea near their home in Scotland, they decide to investigate. But little do they know how much danger they are putting themselves in. After rowing out to a nearby island, they become involved in a risky rescue mission and their boat capsizes in a storm.
But just as they think all is lost, help arrives from an unexpected source …
Ravencave
While mucking about in the ruins of an old farm while on holiday in Yorkshire, James hears strange laughter echoing around the walls. The ghost of a young girl appears to him and urges James to follow her but at first he’s too afraid.
When she appears again, this time James follows. But will he be able to face the terrible truth she reveals …?
Little women
When you’re one of four sisters, it can be difficult to find your own identity. But that’s never the case for the March girls – sweet Meg, tomboyish Jo, shy Beth and precocious Amy.
With their father away at war and their mother working long hours, the sisters have to look out for each other and make their own entertainment. Although disagreements arise, their strong bond, vivid imaginations and infectious sense of fun see them through the darkest of days in this timeless coming-of-age story.
Frankenstein
A thrilling gothic tale of hubris gone badly wrong. A young man’s search for the secret of the spark of life leads him to a horrific experiment in which he creates a gigantic creature from dismembered body parts. Rejected by his creator, the initially gentle creature turns monstrous when his desire to find companionship and love are thwarted.
Tanya Landman revisits Mary Shelley’s classic Gothic horror story, bringing to life Dr Frankenstein and his monstrous creation in an accessible format that more readers can enjoy.
The curio collectors
Lily, Tom and Ma Hawker are the Curio Collectors, travelling the country and enthralling crowds with their amazing collection of treasures. When an unusual piece of scrimshaw, a shell with delicate carvings, comes into their possession, it attracts the attention of a young maid, who is searching for a special shell that belonged to her mother. But another shadowy figure is also very interested in the scrimshaw, and it appears he will stop at nothing to get his hands on it.
Can the Curio Collectors uncover the mystery behind the carvings before time runs out?
Dragonracers
Kitty Hawk dreams of taking to the skies and competing in the world’s first long-distance air race. But little does she imagine that her first flight will take place on the back of a dragon! When Kitty and her brother find an unusual egg, the little dragon that hatches from it grows rapidly into a magnificently powerful creature that learns to fly with Kitty riding on her back.
Together, can they win the huge prize that’s at stake, and will their daring adventure bring Kitty closer to achieving her dreams?
