A striking title worthy of any Sci Fi movie or even newspaper headline. This is the title of a new book, launched on Thursday 25th March 2010 by Stromness Academy’s Young Enterprise team, Alvis. I was privileged to be invited to this launch which was held in the Pier Art’s Centre. The company had put on an impressive reception with drinks and nibbles on offer as well as a display of the art work done for the book by illustrator, Alex Leonard, locally known for his ‘Giddy Limit‘ strip in The Orcardian newspaper who was in attendance signing copies of the book. There were also original examples of his work up for silent auction, with funds raised going to DebRA which researches into the skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

The Martians are Coming – what is special about this little book? Beautifully produced and illustrated, it tells of a boy called David who stumbles upon a martian invasion on a the shore near Stromness. The [tiny] Martians, with their “little silver sticks” plan to wipe out Stromness, so David has to stop them somehow… and the rest is up to you to find out! The unique thing about the book is that it is one of a handful of unpublished stories written by the late George Mackay Brown.

To find out more about the team or the book visit their website: Alvis

Ferokerly

During the last week of term (week beginning 22nd March) the Eco-Schools group is planning a special event to focus on recycling. Details to follow here or visit Eco Schools Stromness.

The Eco-Schools group is also working towards gaining the bronze award .

For further information about Eco-Schools in Scotland go to the official website – Eco-Schools Scotland.

Hands around the world display in the library

The library is popular with quite a large number of pupils at  lunchtime. The size  and layout of the library means that different types of activity can take place. Due to the split lunch there can often be pupils in from class as well as those on their own time but few issues seem to arise from what could be a conflict of interests.

Those wanting to do individual studying, revision or other school work are able to use the study area on the upper floor, although some chose to use the much busier (and thus noisier) lower library. The ‘Reading Zone’ (fiction section) is set aside for pupils who want to read quietly and the computers, most of which are on one bench at the back of the library are available for pupils to browse the internet, play games or do school work. School work always has priority over leisure use and pupils know and accept this.

A number pupils regualrly play boards games such as chess, draughts, Connect4 and Mastermind and ‘Magic the Gathering’ card game is poopular with a handful of pupils.

A large team of Pupils Librarians often hang around, even when not on duty, but if they stand still too long they get a job. Quite often the diligent few will use their own initiative and go and do some shelving or tidy shelves. Each gets one issue desk and one (general) library duty a week.

We then get the social visitors! Now these folk are accepted in the library and are allowed to chat quietly whilst seated at tables or in the journals section as long as they chat quietly 🙂  and don’t disturb other users or staff.

So, with the variety of things pupils are allowed to do, the library can be a veritable hub of activity allowing for a relaxed and hopefully fun atmosphere. To enable this to happen we do have lunchtime behaviour expectations and these are listed below:

🙂 WHY ARE YOU COMING TO THE LIBRARY AT LUNCHTIME?

• To do homework?
• Study, research, revision?
• Read books, magazines?
• Play Board Games?
• Use the computers?
• Use the Internet?
• Help the Librarian?

🙂You are expected to:

• Be seated in chairs
• Leave furniture where it is
• Chat quietly – social chat acceptable just don’t get too loud!
• Respect those who are doing school work
• Use the Reading Zone for personal reading

🙁 Don’t bother if you are going to:

• Just stand around or wander about
• Chat noisily
• Disturb other pupils or staff
• Crowd around computers

Christmas and New Year are over and we slithered through the ice and snow into school last Wednesday to start a new term. Pupils and staff are back into full swing and the library is readying for spring term of revising for exams, English folio deadlines, lots of research projects including the S1 History Ancient Civilisations investigation and the usual lots of class visits, lunchtime and afterschool activities.

Before the festive season is forgotten, I would like to share some lovely work that the Art and English Departments collaborated on for display at the School’s carol service held in the Stromness Church before Christmas, and currently on display in the canteen.