Hello Readers,
Please check out what we have been doing in the library on our Library Newsletter, at this link:
Editing ‘Library Newsletter – Spring 2022’ – Book Creator
Happy Reading!
Library Newsletter – spring issue
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JPA Library – March Update
In the final push to the Easter Break, March has been a busy and exciting month, filled with fun activities from start to finish – enjoy!
World Book Day
The month started off with our World Book Day activities! All our pupils were given their £1 book tokens to spend on free World Book Day books, but pupils also had the chance to win these books in our competitions and games for World Book Day! Pupils were invited to write 50-word short stories on the theme of ‘World’, and came along to our annual WBD Mystery Game in the library!
This year, while doing its World Tour for World Book Day, the Best Book in the World was stolen! The thief hid clues in books around the library that pupils had to find and solve to discover where the book had been taken. The pupils transformed into detectives and were immediately on the case! In one lunch break, pupils were able to find all the clues, solve all the puzzles, and discover that the Best Book in the World had been taken to Peru! Everyone who took part received a free World Book Day book!
Our Clubs:
Find out what our clubs got up to this month:
Comic Club
We’ve been practicing our comic skills this month with some Quick Comic sessions. Pupils needed to draw in under 2 minutes a randomly generated character and scene. Highlights include the confused robots in ballgowns in a castle, happy alien clowns at bus stops, and angry people in library (the most unrealistic IMO).
EAL Book Club
We have started drafting our Cinderella stories! I don’t want to give away any spoilers, because the group is very excited about their stories and keeping them private for now (they may have taken their jotters home over the Easter break to keep working/so I can’t take a peek) but there has been discussion of gender-swapping, murder mysteries, and stories of revenge!
RPG Club
Let the games begin! Our pupils have started playing a Dungeons and Dragons style campaign called A Battle of Bookwyrms (I may have created a book themed game – this is a library club after all!). Their characters were sent invitations to an unknown place, and under the promise of adventure and riches, they all chose to go, meeting for the first time. However, when they arrived at their destination, they were led into an arena and ambushed! The brave party were able to fight their way out and have now been offered a job. What job could it be? Find out next month!
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers have continued working hard to make the library a great space for everyone. Staff and pupils have responded well to their great Genre displays made this month, one for Romance and one for Mystery books, our most popular genres! There’s a big project on the horizon for our volunteers after the holidays, and I’m thrilled with how they have helped to make the library such a fun and exciting space within our school!
Easter Egg Hunt
[I know this one technically happened in April but it’s too fun to leave until next month!]
Our library mascot Bellamy was joined by a couple of mischievous chicks on the last day of school, who then hid Easter Eggs all through the library! Our pupils then got to enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt and the sweet chocolatey taste of success after! A very fun note on which to end the term!
To see everything that April has to offer, check out the latest edition of our newsletter – Bookmarked!
March 2022 Roundup – St Margaret Mary’s Secondary School Library
World Book Day Week: This year, World Book Day was celebrated on Thursday, March 3rd and the School Library delivered a plethora of fun, bookish activities throughout the week. Our World Book Day programme included the following activities, where participants were entered into a prize draw for a £10 National Book Token:
- World Book Day Quiz: A book-themed quiz was delivered during both lunch periods in the School Library for St Margaret Mary’s pupils and in class time for St Oswald’s pupils. All participants were entered into the prize draw and those with the highest points received three entries into the draw.
- Bookopoly: Pupils are given a Bookopoly board. They can choose to read two fiction books per genre, one nonfiction book per subject, and/or three ‘chances’ where they can either select a ‘reading dare’ or spin the Wheel of Genre. The completion of each genre/subject/chance grants them an entry into the monthly school library prize draw. Pupils can also earn a certificate for completing the entire board.
- Ask Me What I’m Reading: The winning designs from our Ask Me What I’m Reading design competition were circulated alongside a sheet where pupils must ask five people what they’re reading. This is to encourage pupils and staff to have a conversation about books and promoting literature via word of mouth. Submitted forms grants one entry into the monthly school library prize draw.
Pupil Library Committee: Our PLC members were very busy this month with various activities:
- Pop-Up Library: Members of our Pupil Library Committee volunteered to host a pop-up library stall in the Fuel Zone during lunches throughout World Book Day week. Members promoted the variety of World Book Day activities and reading challenges as well as selected books to display and promote for borrowing. This initiative was so successful that we’re planning on hosting other Pop-Up Libraries in the future.
- Bag A Book: Pupil Library Committee members have been helping the School Librarian for weeks to prepare withdrawn stock for our popular Bag A Book giveaway before the Spring break, held Tuesday and Thursday during lunches.
World Poetry Day Quiz: Pupils and staff were invited to participate in a quiz of Teams, inspired by the Librarian @GrammarLRC. Can you guess whether the passage is a lyric or a title?
Library Publications: Swatch Spring 22
March Booklists
March 22 Booklists – Book Trust
Best New Children’s Books – Toppsta
Bookbug’s Books of the Month – Scottish Book Trust
Books of the Month – LoveReading4Kids
Book of the Month – Scholastic
Books of the Month – Waterstones
Children’s Book Roundup – Guardian
Upcoming Events (April)
BigDog Book Festival (Wigtown, Scotland, 1st – 3rd)
Cúirt International Festival of Literature (Galway, Ireland, 4th – 10th)
Southside Fringe (Glasgow, Scotland)
Wee Write Festival (Glasgow, Scotland)
Cambridge Literary Festival (Cambridge, England, 20th – 24th)
Soutar Festival of Words (Perth, Scotland, 22nd – 24th)
World Book Night (UK & International, 23rd)
McLellan Arts Festival Poetry Fringe (Arran, Scotland, 28th)
Colonsay Book Festival (Colonsay, Scotland 30th)
Bocas Lit Fest (Caribbean, 30th – 2nd May)
Past Events (March)
International Women’s Day (8th ) & Women’s History Month
British Science Week (11-20 )
Neurodiversity Celebration Week (21st – 27th )
Literary Awards & Prizes
Winners
OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature
Royal Society Children’s Book Prize
Shortlists
Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize
Longlists
In the news:
A Field Guide to Strange Medieval Monsters – Open Culture
Beyond the fog of war: Books to help us understand the invasion of Ukraine – Guardian
Free Colouring Books from the Public Domain Review – Open Culture
Outrage as LGBT author banned at state school – Politics.co.uk
The Reading Agency partners with the British Science Museum on this year’s Summer Reading Challenge Theme – The Reading Agency
March 2022 Roundup – Shawlands Academy School Library
World Book Day Week: This year, World Book Day was celebrated on Thursday, March 3rd and the School Library delivered a plethora of fun, bookish activities throughout the week. We published the results from our #ReadingSchools Library Survey and Book Personality Quiz that took place over January/February. The full report was uploaded to the Library channel on Teams, but an abridged version can be found here.
Our World Book Day programme included the following activities, where participants were entered into a prize draw for a £20 National Book Token:
- Bookshelf Challenge: Pupils were invited to guess the teacher based on a clue and a picture a staff member’s bookshelf. The activity was uploaded to the Library Channels on each year group’s Teams and all participants were entered into the WBD prize draw
- Scavenger Hunt: Pupils had to guess the teacher and find which book they were reading which was displayed on a #ReadingSchools poster. Those who submitted completed forms were entered into the WBD prize draw.
- World Book Day Quiz: A book-themed quiz was delivered during both lunch periods in the School Library. All participants were entered into the WBD prize draw and those with the highest points received three entries into the draw.
In addition to the World Book Day activities, the school library also launched reading challenges and competitions. These included:
- Bookopoly: Pupils are given a Bookopoly board. They can choose to read two fiction books per genre, one nonfiction book per subject, and/or three ‘chances’ where they can either select a ‘reading dare’ or spin the Wheel of Genre. The completion of each genre/subject/chance grants them an entry into the monthly school library prize draw. Pupils can also earn a certificate for completing the entire board.
- Ask Me What I’m Reading: The winning designs from our Ask Me What I’m Reading design competition were circulated alongside a sheet where pupils must ask five people what they’re reading. This is to encourage pupils and staff to have a conversation about books and promoting literature via word of mouth. Submitted forms grants one entry into the monthly school library prize draw.
- Reader of the Week: We’ve also launched a Reader of the Week initiative where pupils can complete either a #ReadingSchools shelf shouter to be displayed on the bookshelves (think Waterstones) or a book review template to be displayed on either the Reader Recommendations bulletin board, the monthly newsletter or Swatch magazine. Each submissions earns an entry into the school library monthly prize draw and pupils who submit the most reviews per week earn a Reader of the Week certificate and ribbon.
- Short Story competition: The Short Story competition is the brainchild of two pupils (S2 + S6) who are members of our Pupil Library Committee, both of whom are part of the judging panel. We received fourteen-short stories across all yer groups. The pupil judges divided the stories into 2 groups, BGE and S4-Senior. Within those groups, they judged each story based on a set of criteria based on various short story competitions we researched around the Web. The winners for each category are as follows:
- BGE Stories:Top score: Mother
Top Mechanics: The beginning of the rest of my life
Top Expression: Untiled
Characterisation: Queen of all creatures
Plot: A true love between sisters
Theme: Your melody flowing me away
Attention Grabbing Opening: A wonderful place called Cat
Passion: Corruption
Originality: Amanda sparks a woeful saga of pain
Short Story S4-Senior winners:
Top score: Faithful Truth
Top Mechanics: Timeless Book Chronicles
Top Expression: Reminiscent Hours
- Fantasy Football competition: This is a fun literacy-based activity aimed at football fans and reluctant/struggling readers. Pupils are given a sheet to complete their own fantasy football team (based on real players, past or present) and instructed to give the reasons why they’ve been selected. This activity has also been promoted in Physical Education department. Each submission earns an entry into the prize draw for a copy of Ultimate Football Heroes: Sancho, signed by the author Matt Oldfield.
Pupil Library Committee: Our PLC members were very busy this month with various activities:
- Pop-Up Library: Members of our 50+ strong Pupil Library Committee volunteered to host a pop-up library stall in the Fuel Zone during lunches throughout World Book Day week. Members promoted the variety of World Book Day activities and reading challenges as well as selected books to display and promote for borrowing. This initiative was so successful that we’re planning on hosting other Pop-Up Libraries in the future.
- March Display: This month’s pupil curated display included highlights for International Women’s Day (March 8th), The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21st), World Poetry Day (March 21st) and Transgender Visibility Day (March31st).
- Spring Break Quiz: Two of our S3 PLC members researched and help compile a list of questions for our Spring Break Quiz, which included questions about the many faith-based and cultural festivals that take place during Spring as well as some book-based questions on book awards, upcoming book-to-film series, literary dates and author birthdays.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: In preparation for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (aka Anti-Racism Day), over 30 pupils from S1-6 were invited to select fiction and nonfiction books with anti-racism themes. Their suggestions will help inform the expansion of our ‘Equality and Empowerment’ section for next year as well as for the eBooks available on the Glasgow Libraries’ Libby app, thus ensuring a pupil voice is represented in the selection. See the full list here
World Poetry Day Quiz: Pupils and staff were invited to participate in a quiz of Teams, inspired by the Librarian @GrammarLRC. Can you guess whether the passage is a lyric or a title?
Library Publications: Swatch Spring 22
March Booklists
March 22 Booklists – Book Trust
Best New Children’s Books – Toppsta
Bookbug’s Books of the Month – Scottish Book Trust
Books of the Month – LoveReading4Kids
Book of the Month – Scholastic
Books of the Month – Waterstones
Children’s Book Roundup – Guardian
Upcoming Events (April)
BigDog Book Festival (Wigtown, Scotland, 1st – 3rd)
Cúirt International Festival of Literature (Galway, Ireland, 4th – 10th)
Southside Fringe (Glasgow, Scotland)
Wee Write Festival (Glasgow, Scotland)
Cambridge Literary Festival (Cambridge, England, 20th – 24th)
Soutar Festival of Words (Perth, Scotland, 22nd – 24th)
World Book Night (UK & International, 23rd)
McLellan Arts Festival Poetry Fringe (Arran, Scotland, 28th)
Colonsay Book Festival (Colonsay, Scotland 30th)
Bocas Lit Fest (Caribbean, 30th – 2nd May)
Past Events (March)
International Women’s Day (8th ) & Women’s History Month
British Science Week (11-20 )
Neurodiversity Celebration Week (21st – 27th )
Literary Awards & Prizes
Winners
OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature
Royal Society Children’s Book Prize
Shortlists
Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize
Longlists
In the news:
A Field Guide to Strange Medieval Monsters – Open Culture
Beyond the fog of war: Books to help us understand the invasion of Ukraine – Guardian
Free Colouring Books from the Public Domain Review – Open Culture
Outrage as LGBT author banned at state school – Politics.co.uk
The Reading Agency partners with the British Science Museum on this year’s Summer Reading Challenge Theme – The Reading Agency
March in St Roch’s: World Book Day
World Book Day is a celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books which happens in March every year. This year was a particularly special one because it marked 25 years of World Book Day! In St Roch’s, pupils were all given a token which they could use to claim a free book in places like Waterstones, Tesco & Sainsbury’s. There were lots of great books to choose from this year and we were delighted to get some copies for the library.
This year we celebrated World Book Day’s 25th anniversary with lots of library activities. There was a book display with previous WBD books, featured authors and recommendations. S1 and S2 English classes visited the library with their iPads to take part in WBD quiz sessions. We had great fun playing games on Blooket, with questions on Harry Potter, Roald Dahl, Wimpy Kid and lots more. The quiz sets are available online, just click on the one you’d like to play above.
Manga and comics are very popular in St Roch’s, so there was a special lunchtime quiz for all the fans. It was an impressive display of knowledge from everyone, but we had two stand out winners. Well done Louie and Ivy!
During March pupils also took part in the library’s World Book Day Bookopoly reading challenge. Pupils read books to complete a genre on the board and get a prize draw entry. Some brave students went the extra mile and got entries for doing reading dares as well.
Finally, Ms Nimmo’s S1 class created some beautiful poems about nature to display in the library during March. The poems were also made into a class ebook that everyone can enjoy.
All in all it a was a great month of World Book Day celebrations. Looking forward now to next month’s Wee Write festival and some fantastic author events in schools across Glasgow!
Gary Chudleigh visits St Mungo’s library!
Some S2 EAL pupils had the chance to meet the talented comics creator Gary Chudleigh!
He gave them some tips on how to build a story premise and keys to write a comic script.
At the end of the session, despite being a sunny Friday last period, some pupils stayed back to have a wee chat with Gary. There is nothing better than watching pupils interact with an author.
He also talked about is last project, a new set of four comics, every story is a one-shot and self-contained, but each is connected and set in the same world.
You can help to make this collection a reality by showing your support and pre-ordering via kickstarter.
World book day(s)! at St Mungo’s library
Why celebrating “world book” for a day when we can do it for an entire WEEK!
From the 28th of February till the 4th of March, the St Mungo’s library had a full program of book festivities to give the chance to every pupils in the school to celebrate.
The daily S1 library visits enjoyed a very special scavenger hunt made for the occasion. Every participants received a book token to get a free book from their favourite bookshop in town.
At lunch, the library helpers worked hard to display all the free books we received for the occasion and made sure to spread the love of reading among the school.
What will be book festivities without any competitions?!
We had two exciting competitions running that week:
The book cover competition designed by some of our Higher and S3 Elective young people in partnership with the Art department.
Here are the three winners:
The bookface competition with very creative S3 pupils.
Here are some fantastic entries:
And finally at lunch, the library “display committee” had the responsibility to count the votes for the Scottish Teen Book prize.
They really embraced the task!
World book day(s!) was a huge success at St Mungo’s with more than 500 tokens given away to actual and potential readers!
White Water Writers Signing Event at Lochend
To celebrate our S3 writers’ achievement in writing and publishing a novel in five days, we held a signing event on World Book Day. Teachers, friends and parents were invited and cakes were provided! 🙂 Many thanks again to Yvonne and Dan at White Water Writers for providing our young people with this opportunity.
https://whitewaterwriters.com/
World Book Day
We had a fun-packed World Book Day here in All Saints, including a fairy tale escape room, a lunch time quiz and a design a new school library bookmark competition (well done to the winners Manpreet & Love!).
World Book Day Celebration
Hello!
March means World Book Day. This means holding great celebration in our school, here are some of things we did.
Our library assistants Jude and Abdul organised a super fun Book Quiz, that had a wonderful participation!
Only for the library assistants, Ms Spaltro organised a treasure hunt inspired and with the book character Wally. And here’s one for you, can you find Wally in this post?
At the event, we also announced the three library assistants of the month. They have been chosen because of their great commitment to the library, but also the support they have given to other library users. The three young people awarded have also been behind the scenes of many very successful events, such as Harry Potter Night etc.
Here’s the comment from Jack, one of the library assistants of the month about the whole celebration:
“We had a great time at the library. We played a fun game on blooket, we had a “Were’s Wally” hunt around the library and we all got to take a book or two home.”
As we believe that also teachers should be involved in World Book Day celebration, we organised a free book station for them, to get a copy of two wonderful CPD books.
These are only some of the different activities and displays we arranged around the school, please check out Twitter feed if you want to know more.
Happy Reading!
