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DDS Library news 10/28/2019, Monthly update for October by
Kathleen Kavet, DDS Librarian
The big news in
October has been that DDS library has been awarded two important grants!
We are very fortunate to be the recipients of both a three thousand
dollar “Boost” grant from DPS Library Services and a generous grant from
Westerra Credit Union … which was structured to enable us to successfully
host our DDS “Day of Poetry” coming up on Nov. 14 in the library.
The DDS
Library is continuing on its journey to develop as an integral part of
Denver Discovery School.
We have supplied
high interest graphic novels to our district literary interventionist,
Ms. Lenox, as she works to establish a culture of reading and literacy
with some of our reluctant readers. In addition, Ms. Lenox is in the
process of organizing a group of caring adults to read one on one with
some of our struggling readers in the library … where we will provide a
comfortable setting for each student to build literary relationships and
excel. Thank you Ms. Lenox.
Mr.
William’s morning class is at home in the library and progressing from
the funny and entertaining Kid President inspirational videos, to watching/
and reading (with close captioning) short TED Talks that focus on
leadership challenges, skills, and spending quiet and quality time
discussing how to recognize and dispel bullying.
During the Scholastic Book Fair week (10/14-10/18), Coach William’s
Advisory class took the opportunity to browse and check out books from
the stacks.
We have
issued official wooden signed passes for up to five DDS students at a
time to come to the library during lunch and check out books.
The new DDS
library books that have been purchased with our mill levy money have
arrived and are in the library ready to be checked out!
Teachers
have been supplied with a focused tutorial intended to help prepare the 7th
grade students for language arts/social studies CMAS testing coming up
this fall.
The DDS
library nominated Coach Aaron Williams for the MVT Avalanche and Nuggets
Award. Go Coach Williams!
Mr. Miles,
DDS math teacher, has been supplied with a micro-library of
student-friendly “math in the real world” books to help bridge math
concepts with future high school curriculum that emphasize everyday
economic literacy. Mr. Miles is a degreed, and licensed librarian, having
graduated from Emporia State University, one of the finest library
science schools in the country. The DDS library community is in extremely
capable hands as we work to build and nurture our hearth and provide the
best in directed instruction for our students.
During
Parent/Teacher Conferences on 10/3 and 10/8 a large number of great
donated books (from another school) have been made available and free to
parents and guardians to browse through as they wait to talk to teachers.
The books were attractively displayed in a central location with clear
signage to help them find a good home! I’m
happy to say most of books were ‘placed’.
During the
inclement weather the second week in October the library stepped up to
provide ‘shelter from the storm’ for anxious 7th and 8th
graders during lunch recess.
Through a
generous gift from Julie Meyers and her faith-based group, we have
subscribed to Cricket literary magazine both in print and digital. The
print magazines will be serve as an enrichment activity for our English
classes especially drawing in our reluctant readers. The magazines will
be at home in library – for DDS library use – when not being used in the
classroom. Thank you Julie!
The library was
happy to organize and host a presentation on “digital citizenship” on
October 24th. All DDS classes shared a rewarding and fun
morning learning how to be “smart, safe and knowledgeable” about the
internet and social media from Mr. Brian Dino of DPS Technology Services.
Mr. Dino engaged the students with music, real life examples of the
complexities of today’s ‘connected ‘world and truly awe-inspiring magic
tricks.
In honor,
and to honor, Veteran’s Day 2019, the DDS library has sent out
information to augment the DPS suggested resources. The TED Talk by Wes
Moore sent via email to DDS staff is a current and sensitive fourteen
minutes that brings our veteran’s invaluable contributions a little more
home. Making our students aware of the risks and costs of being a free
democracy is a cornerstone in our government … and we have a duty as
educators in that regard.
The library has
applied for a grant from National History Day to supply a team from DDS
with the materials needed to research the “Breaking Barriers” theme for
2019-2020. Our vision for this project involves the world of music as it
applies to the theme. We are enlisting the help of our music teacher Joe
(David) Winans to take his team to competition in March of 2020! Along
the journey, the DDS library will be there every step of the way for
space, research, and veteran help (I’ve been a judge for NHD for years!) Eileen
Finnegan will be assisting Joe because simply, she has done NHD before.
Go team DDS!
Kathleen
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