Stromness Academy Library

Books, reading and life in a school library

January 30, 2013
by Mrs Sinclair
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Nearly February

It is hard to believe that were are already at the end of January. S4 Prelims have been and gone and S5 Prelims are due to start soon. February inservice and half term is next week – seems awfully soon! Weather has been mixed with snow in a small part of the West Mainland affecting one bus a week or so ago and storm force winds causing all school transport to be cancelled today. The school is quiet, yet the library is ‘busy’ in the sense of it is booked and the smaller classes are still coming to read, do research or use the computers.

The ’12 Words of Christmas’ competition presentation took place last week and our overall winner was from 2M. Her entry was forwarded to the national competition and was picked as a runner up by the author Anthony McGowan.

School results:

S1 – EW 1T The snowman looks sadly at the sky as streams of light emerge.

S2 – CM 2M The snow was whiter; the tree was brighter, when Santa was real.

S4/5/6 – IT Shimmering star sent startled shaggy shepherds, surprised, seeing sweet smiling sleeping son.

Staff – CM Shopping, cards, presents, decorating, concerts, cooking, parties, dancing, wrapping, cleaning. Knackered.

Two events / activities are currently planned for this term:

Pupils will be given an opportunity to read and judge graphic novels for the Stan Lee Excelsior Award. This award is a national one with pupils from many schools taking part. The graphic novels are now ready for borrowing and will be on display in the library. A Friday lunchtime group (with coffee or hot chocolate available) which is open to all who are interested, takes place from 12:45 – 1:15pm .

World Book Day is on Thursday 7th March. This is still in the planning stages, but it is hoped that there will be a lunchtim reading in the library. Free £1.00 book tokens will be available and can be exchanged for the special £1.00 books or used in part exchange for a full price book at local book shops. Plans also include a bookmark competition which ties in with a national one being run at the same time.

December 20, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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12 Words of Christmas

Many 12 word short stories have been submitted for this competition, particularly from S1 and S2.Bone Thief

Here is the short list which will be judged by local author V. M. Whitworth who wrote The Bone Thief, a rather good and enthralling “historical thriller” set in Anglo Saxon times.

Pupils

S1

Santa coming. Jingle bells ring. Stars twinkling. Children counting down the hours.

Snowball fight after rain. Hit him in the face. Bet that hurt!

Splat! Right in the face. He is angry. I go and hide.

 I tiptoe gently across the frozen ice, snowflakes falling. CRACK! Very cold.

Pecking at worms in the ground. BANG! On the table. Christmas dinner.

The snowman looks sadly at the sky as streams of light emerge.

*******************************************

S2

The snow was whiter; the tree was brighter, when Santa was real.

Black boots touch the snow. Door opens. Lock clicks. Swiflty quickly gone.

I bought my Christmas tree for a fiver on a Thursday night.

Rattle, bang, clunk, thud, pop, SMASH! Should not have shook that present.

Here he comes. Santa has my Dad’s brown eyes… Wait a minute…

The snowball fight has consumed the playground sending the young kids scurrying.

*******************************************

S4/5/6

Shimmering star sent startled shaggy shepherds, surprised, seeing sweet smiling sleeping son.

 Breaks into our house each year without keys. Santa Claus, housebreaker extraordinaire!

Smiling faces and having fun, winter’s now here and it’s only begun.

The Star of Bethlehem will guide us all to a happier Christmas. 

*******************************************

Staff

The Star, magi followed, Shepherds, Angels heralded, Revealing Love, In manger, born

Sledging… wheeeee. Frost stings my face. Crashing… Arrgh! Snow up my nose.

Christmas at the palace. The Duchess retches, William winces; the world watches.

One horse town; open all hours. Jingle sleigh for sale. Snow down.

 “‘Twas a pair partridge, ye ken, hen? Lordy; milking it for gold!”

Kings follow the star. Shepherds look in delight. A celebration is born.

Reins, clutched in smutty gloves, flick reindeer suddenly heavenwards.  Black anthracite descends.

Shopping, cards, presents, decorating, concerts, cooking, parties, dancing, wrapping, cleaning. Knackered now.

Last Christmas I gave you my heart. Then I dropped down dead.

December 12, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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It’s (Nearly) Christmas Time!

Christmas is nearly upon us again and there are a number of things to see and do in the library until the end of term on the 21st.

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Pupils Librarians have been busy decorating the trees and the Christmas display is up on the wall. This year an old display has been resurrected from the archives with the centre piece being The Twelve Days of Christmas. Flanking this are a handful of old photos of Orkney and some hand made (not very many computers back then for shiny colour printouts) and illustrated information sheets about Christmas, some done by ex-pupils and some by myself.

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A rather squat, leaning into the Orkney winter gales 😉 book tree

‘Trees’ made out of stacks of books appear to be the ‘in thing’ this year with a number of pictures being circulated on the internet. Here is our attempt in a very limited space. 

12 Words of Christmas

Not long ago, on The School Librarians Network (SLN) (an online forum) someone somewhere suggested an idea for a competition within their school. This grew legs and sprinted away with it becoming a national competition with the the winning pupil receiving an iPod Touch. Many schools across the country are doing this, with the overall winners from each school being forwarded to the national competition.

In Stromness Academy, this competition is open to all pupils and staff. S1 and S2 have worked on their stories – remember, they are only 12 words long – during library periods ith some producing up to six or seven entries. Stories are shortlisted and there will be a prize for each year group as well as an overall winner.

There is still plenty of time – the closing date is Thursday 20th December. PUpils and staff can submit as many entries as they want.

Here are some examples that have been submitted so far:

A transparent snowflake falling from the deep blue whilst twinkling through starlight.

Snowball fight after rain. Hit him in the face. Bet that hurt!

The snow was whiter; the tree was brighter, when Santa was real.

Black boots touch the snow. Door opens. Lock clicks. Swiflty quickly gone.

Falling. Pale figures drifting in darkness. Winter has begun. Cold tears falling.

Rattle, bang, clunk, thud, pop, SMASH! Should not have shook that present.

Here he comes. Santa has my Dad’s brown eyes… Wait a minute…

The snowball fight has consumed the playground sending the young kids scurrying.

And from the staff:

Last Christmas I gave you my heart. Then I dropped down dead.

The Star, magi followed, Shepherds, Angels heralded, Revealing Love, In manger, born

Sledging… wheeeee. Frost stings my face. Crashing… Arrgh! Snow up my nose.

Christmas at the palace. The Duchess retches, William winces; the world watches.

Misletoe in the doorway. Her waist encircled; in love, her cheeks burn.

Postprandulate, Monopolate, Pictionate, Articulate, Gesticulate, Flatulate, Televisulate, Brandiculate, Hiccupulate, Somnolate, Choculate, Indigestulate.

One horse town; open all hours. Jingle sleigh for sale. Snow down.

Christmas Reading Challenge

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This challenge has been resurrected after a few years gap. A number of wrapped books have been placed under one of the trees in the library and pupils (and staff) have been invited to select a book to read over the holidays. They don’t know what they are going to get other than the chance to possibly read something completely different to their normal choices. All that is asked is that they give the books a fair chance then fill in a mini review slip giving a brief outline of the book and some comments (good or bad). Those that return their books and completed review slips after the holidays will receive a small prize.

November 19, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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Spooky Happenings

The October break has been and gone and thoughts are turning to Christmas which is closer than one would like to believe. Let’s turn the clock back, then, two weeks. The Reading Zone of the library is quiet and the cobwebs appear to have sprouted from the shelves and ceilings.

 

Monday 5th November saw our annual Spooky Happenings storytelling event take place in the library at lunchtime. The small team of pupil librarians helped set up and tidy away the snacks and were on hand to help supervise the event.

This year we welcomed a local storyteller, Fran Flett Hollinrake, to come and share some of her stories amassed during her time spent doing the ghost stories tours in Edinburgh Old Town and ones learnt during her work here in Orkney as a tour guide and cathedral custodian. Over the course of the lunch she had up to 20 pupils and staff enthralled by her tales and even, at one point had most jumping some distance, in some cases, out of their seats at the end of one spooky story.

This event came close on the tail of the Orkney Storytelling Festival so it was fitting to have a local storyteller in the school so that pupils could get a flavour of this type of event.

Entertaining and just a little bit frightful. MM S5

Those stories were awesome. AL S2

Excellent, really good stories. RM S5

She scared me in the first story. AC S4

October 10, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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Poetry Picnic

On Thursday 4th October the library celebrated National Poetry Day with the annual ‘Poetry Picnic’. Around twenty pupils and staff joined us in the library over the course of lunchtime to partake of some snacks and read out poetry on the theme of ‘stars’ which had been collated by the senior pupil librarians and the librarian. Many were eager to grab a poem and read it to the rest of us. There was a bit of happy non-poetry related banter too and everyone was chilled and relaxed. It also seems like the reading of tongue twisters (towards the end of the session) has become an annual highlight as we pass An Anthology of British Tongue-Twisters by Ken Parkin around the table as fast as we can.

In conjunction with NPD, collaborative work between the English Department and the library took place. S1 and S2 classes, during their library period all had a chance to try their creative hand at writing in iambic pentameter. This particular librarian actually didn’t find it that easy, but made an attempt anyway. Pupils were introduced to the poetry form by their English Teacher and then there was a short discussion on what ‘stars’ can mean and be used for. Pupils then headed to the library to look at the display of astronomy books and biographies of famous people as well as a wall displayon similar themes. This was to help them get ideas for their poems. Thank you to the English Department for this support.

Completed poems were then transferred onto a five-pointed star.

These will be entered into a competition running in conjunction with our NPD events with a closing date of 29th October 2012.

October 1, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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October Already & National Poetry Day

Where does the time ago? It is remarkable how one day you are only just a week or two back into a new session, then before you know it it is the end of the first term and the October break beckons.

Looking at my planning for National Poetry Day last week, I realised I was two weeks behind schedule in the advertising of our annual poetry picnic in the library. What has happened to the time?

None the least, it has been taken up with S1 and S2 classes doing their library induction and information literacy skills lessons during library periods keeping me busy with teaching the required skills and marking their workbooks as well as promoting reading. Other year groups also come to the library for a library period so they can pursue their personal reading interests. S2 History classes have all been introduced to our local studies collection in preparation for doing their Fereday Project research on a local history topic. A couple of S5 RMEclasses have been in for a personal reading period, to extend theirbackground reading for the subject. S2 Geography have also been in for a few weeks whilst pupils carry out book, internet and newspaper file research for their Earth Forces Project. At the height of all this project work and activity, there were classes in the library for 25 out of the 31 periods available in the school week.

As well as being involved with supporting classes in the library, I have also had to carry on with the day-to-day admin of the library, dealing with enquireis, book issues and the mundanities of shelving and shelf tidying (which is always backlogged), to which is added the management of the small team of pupil librarians and the Dynamic Youth and Youth Achievement Award Group. Ongoing development of library courses continues, with thoughts soon to be turning towards the S1 Ancient Civilisations project and the urgency of putting together a web evaluation lesson for the library’s first involvement in and IDL (interdisciplinary learing) day based on the theme of Technology for our S3 pupils.

Now, back to the aforementioned National Poetry Day! The annual poetry picnic will take place this Thursday (4th October) – yep, this Thursday in the library at lunchtime. Four weeks of planning has been condensed into two weeks with the help of the Senior Pupil Librarians producing posters and invites and searching out poems for the readings. Snacks will be available to participants.

S1 and S2 classes are being introduced to iambic pentameter during their English Library period and are being asked to have a go at writing poetry on the theme of ‘stars’. They are producing 5 lines of poetry, 10 syllables and 5 beats to the line. The idea is that the final product will be written on a star to be displayed in the library and English department. This is being opened out into a school wide competition for book, stationery and sweety prizes. Closing date – Monday 29th Octoberl

Poetry Comp 2012

September 19, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
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Recognising Achievement for Library-based Activities – The Youth Achievement Award

The school library has a long history of providing structured activities for pupils to do in their leisure time (eg. Pupil Librarian Training, special events such as Poetry readings / story telling and role-playing games activities, Manga club) and now they can use these activities to work towards recognised qualifications in a pilot project which allow pupils to work towards a Dynamic Youth or Youth Achievement Award.

With the Community Learning Officer (OIC), and Deputy Head, Mrs Sinclair, the School Librarian has took on the role of ‘Award Group Worker’ to oversee the pupils undertaking the awards during a pilot profject 2010-12. Two pupils successfully gained their bronze YA earlier this year and the awards have been rolled out across the school with a number of other staff training for and taking on the role of Award Group Worker. Dynamic Youth Awards have now also been introduced.

Dynamic Youth Awards give recognition and accreditation for your achievements in challenges young people set themselves during activities they choose to be involved in both in and out of school. It is aimed at young people who are aged between 10 and 14 years old

 DYA is based around a star rating system based on the number of cumulative hours done.              

*5-15hrs           **16 – 30hrs           ***over 30hrs

 Up to  30hrs can be used as ‘prior learning’ and can count towards the Bronze Youth Achievement Award with each 15 hour DYA challenge equalling ONE Youth Achievement Award Challenge. 

The Youth Achievement Award, aimed at ages 14+, has four levels and each level provides an award equivalent to SQA qualifications for which pupils have to carry out a number of peer assessed challenges of their choice, producing a portfolio of evidence which can include photos of the activity, logbooks, diaries, witness observations, plans, records of attendance, certificates, to name but a few.

  • Bronze – takes part in activities: Four 15-hour challenges / equivalent to General level Standard Grade
  • Silver – helps to organise activities: Six 15-hour challenges / equivalent to Credit level Standard Grade
  • Gold –  plans, organises and leads activities: Seven 15-hour challenges / equivalent to Higher
  • Platinum – takes on a leadership role: 135 hours participation / Advanced Higher

 

Both awards work on a plan,do, review with the pupils discussing ideas with their peers and Award Group Worker and set out their own challenges and create a set of targets to achieve to complete the challenge. These awards are pupil led and they need to show responsibility and have the motivation to carryout the challenges and produce the evidence they need with minimal input from the Award Group Worker who acts in a supporting role. Peer assessment is also part of the awards and is carried out prior to portfolios being internally moderated, then sent away for external moderation.

Any activity (in or out of school) can be used as long as the pupil can prove that theyhave done it by collecting evidence (logbooks, photographs, hours sheets, certificates, witness statements, etc). All library-based activities are eligible to be used for DYA (and YAA) and can be used in part or whole towards either award.

Further information can be obtained from Mrs Sinclair in the Library.

September 6, 2012
by Mrs Sinclair
1 Comment

Hit the Ground Running

We are now into our third week back after the summer holidays and it doesn’t really feel like we have stopped ‘running’ since the first day. Everyone has got back into the way of work, study and learning as far as I am aware. The usual library activities have started, both leisure and academic.

S1 and S2 Library & Information Literacy Skills courses are well underway and taking up lots of time but are certainly proving to be enjoyable from this Librarian’s point of view and I do hope the pupils (and staff) are getting something out of them too. We will be covering everything from behaviour expectations, how to choose and borrow books, Dewey Numbers, Alphabetical Order, fiction & non-fiction books, various games to reinforce library skills, reading records, reading skills such as scanning and skimming, getting to know the reference section, learning about Glow (the Scottish intranet for education), using journals, using the internet, note taking… to name but a few.

The first research classes have now been booked into the library and are coming from S2 Geography to research earth forces. Book displays that relate to this are up and more resources will be borrowed from the Orkney Library to support the 3 week project.

Friday afternoon activities have started with two separate ones being run in the library. One of our 5th year students is running an Animé & Manga Club in the upper library for a small group of around 6 pupils. They will be watchingand discussing  Animé films and Manga novels and even having a go at learning to draw Manga.

In the lower library, the Role Playing Games group of 10 pupils will be playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) or Magic the Gathering (MtG). 6th year students are helping out with this so this Librarian may well get a chance to play a  D&D character rather than be Dungeon Master… now to think on what type of character I will play (Muahhaha)!

Tuesday after school activities got off to a slow start this week… where were you all? Hopefully more folks will turn up next week to play either D&D or MtG and of course, the library is also available until 4.30pm Tuesdays for anyone wishing to use the computers, read, study, do homeowrk, chill…

Lunchtime proves to be popular (no doubt it will be especially so today due to the fact in is pouring down outside) with pupils ‘chilling’, using computers for games, playing MtG, reading or maybe even doing school work – remember school work will always get priotiry over leisure use on the PCs! Must remember to get the board games out so folks can play chess or draughts at lunchtimes.

An eager six S2 pupils (all boys this time round) join me every morning before registration to help in the library, shelving, and shelf tidying. They will now go on to train to be Pupil Library Monitors. Three 5th year Pupil Librarians will be helping to ‘train’ them. In the process the younger ones will be doing Dynamic Youth Awards (some of the hours of which can be counted towards the Bronze Youth Achievement Award),  whilst the senior pupils have expressed an interest in doing their Silver Youth Achievement Awards. These are a great way to give recognition (and qualifications) to the pupils’ work they do in helping with library duties. Two of the S5 pupils have already gained their Bronze YAA which is the equivalent of a Standard Grade at General Level, by taking part in library-based activities.

So it is proving to be as busy as ever… now to get on with all the book ordering, shelving, shelf tidying, book processing, cataloguing, development work, newsletter writing, filing, website development, Glow development, Pupil Librarian training, meetings, staff liaison…. the list could go on but despite all the work and pressures of running a school library and always multitasking, often being interrupted, etc, I wouldn’t have it any other way – it is more of a passion than a career. FS

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