Accelerated Reader Gets Kids Reading!

Even our littlest readers are taking the Accelerated  challenge.  Thanks to the support of this little ones parents, she’s off  running reading a new book daily and taking the AR quiz challenge.  Her reading can’t help but take off!

AR Book Finder is a great site to go to if you want to find out if a book you have or one checked out from the library has an AR quiz.  Check it out!

What Would We Do Without Our Volunteers!!

VCS Libraries have always been fortunate to have outstanding individuals helping out @ our libraries.  This year is no exception.  Thanks to each and every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help out!  Take a look at this year’s star performers…..

Samantha Keeney takes time off from summer vacation to help get the HHES Library looking bright and cheerful for the 2009-2010 school year!

We can always count on great artistic flair whenever Kristen Hayes does her magic in our school libraries!

Once again  Judy Prevost takes time out of her busy day to volunteer .  This year she took on decorating the Battle of the Books area of the HHES Library.  This year’s battle theme, “Catch a Dragon by the Tale “,  will have the icing on the cake as Judy designs a castle on the back wall of the battle book area.

Pam Verfaillie is sharing her talent by organizing an Olympic Challenge for HHES.

Thanks Pam for sharing your creative flair!

Amanda Stahley is a familiar face at both the VHS and HHES Libraries.  Amanda, now a student at Prince William Community College, comes in a few hours a week between classes to assist in our libraries.

(Photo Coming Soon!)

Mo Radatitch has been helping out Friday mornings at the HHES Library for several years.  Mo assists by putting books away and checking materials out to staff and students when needed.

(Photo Coming Soon!)

Definitely not a new face at HHES, but a new one helping out at our library is our very own, newly retired, Kim Michaud.  Kim recently began coming in Fridays to assist putting books away and assisting students and staff when possible.

(Photo Coming Soon!)

HHES Staff Learning VIA Webinar Training

One of the companies the VCS Libraries uses to purchase books from is The Junior Library Guild.

Junior Library Guild (JLG) is a literary review and selection service for children’s and young-adult books serving school and public libraries, established in 1929, and used by more than 17,000 librarians today.

This past week Teresa Richardson, George Gilson Jr. High Library  Para-Professional, and Barb Bryson, HHES Librarian, went to the JLG website for some “real time” training with a JLG presenter.  They learned about  some of the extra reading incentive opportunities our teachers can make use of by purchasing books from their company.

HHES Supports “Read For The Record”

Read For The Record is a program sponsored by Jumpstart.  Jumpstart’s goal is to  work toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.

To support Jumpstart’s goal of reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to as many children across the country as possible on October 8, 2009,  the HHES Library Club presented a reader’s theater play to HHES students.

Thanks to all of you for volunteering your time to entertain our kids with this classic story!

Is There An Author In The House?!?

Well….. Not in the house, but there was in the HHES Library!

Judy Almy, the Valdez City School Speech pathologist also wears the hat of an author.  Almy, who loves creating rhymes, has  written a beginning reader rhyming book.  Ms Almy entertained kindergarten students with her book, “My Name Is Ick”.  The kids loved it!

Mrs. Richardson: Junior High Librarian

Mrs. Richardson keeps busy at the junior high library supporting the teachers and students in a variety of ways.  She’s already held her annual library book fair to support her library budget which she dove-tales with fall parent-teacher conferences. Ordering new books and materials, keeping the library operating smoothly, and running the annual spelling bee, are just a few of the many tasks Mrs. Richardson routinely takes on at the George Gilson Junior High.

Thank you Mrs. Richardson  for your ongoing dedication to the Valdez City School Libraries!

Battle Of The Books: Catch A Dragon By The Tale

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!  The 2009-2010 Battle of the Books has officially begun!

In The Kingdom Of Hermon Hutchens many lads and lasses are reading this year’s designated battle books.  We already have several knights &  maidens that have reached the goal to attend the annual swimming party held in the month of November.  These loyal subjects have reading 7 of this year’s 15 battle books and received 80% or better on AR quizzes.

A big cheer to the following Hermon Hutchens Kingdom participants!

From the Village of Ramos, we’ll have to ask this young knight what her favorite book was so far.

From The Shire of Beck. One of this lad’s favorite battle books this year is “I Freddie”.

Another young knight from the Shire of Beck also approved “I Freddie” as a great read!

From Anderson Shire, “Gooseberry Park” is one of this young knight’s favorite battle books this year .

Our first maiden in waiting to reach the first battle goal and attend the swimming party comes from Saint Crepin. She enjoyed reading “Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Catcher”.

From the tiny village of Guthrie comes a powerful knight experienced in reading battles. He challenges anyone to read “House On Hackman’s Hill”,  by Joan Lowery Nixon.

This lass from Saint Crepin challenges you to read one of her favorite books this year. “The Anybodies” by N.E. Bode.

“The Anybodies” MUST be a great read.  This maiden in waiting also gives it a thumbs up as one of this year’s best battle books.

I can’t wait to read “The Anybodies”!  Another lass from the village of Guthrie gives it a thumbs up as one of her favorite 7 battle books so far.

A newly appointed knight from Anderson Shire joins the Hermon Hutchens Kingdom of elite battle book readers. His favorite battle book so far: The Penderwicks!

And yet another rogue knight from the shire of Anderson joins the Hermon Hutchens League.

This young knight from the Shire of Beck would defend the HHES Kingdom for  “The Key To The Treasure”.

“Clementine” is the battle book recommendation by this young knight from the village of Groenveld.

“House On Hackman’s Hill” was a favorite of this maiden from the village of Guthrie.

This 3rd grade political junkie’s favorite battle book this year was Barack Obama!

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull is this young maiden’s battle book choice so far this year.