October DDS Library News!

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