New Year, New Panthers

Welcome back Panthers! I don't know about you, but while I enjoyed my summer adventures, I am excited to be back in the library and around all of you! I am looking forward to getting the library open and getting Panthers in here. We have added a few new things to our Maker Space that I think you will enjoy. I have added chess sets, MORE Lego bricks, an iPad to use with our robots and a Makey Makey. I am working with one of our new teachers to get a maker club going and I am trying to purchase some more technology equipment. Exciting things are happening, and with that comes changes to how we do things. The library will be more accessible before, during and after school each day. There will be more rules and procedures on how and when students can access the technology in the library. We have a lot of new students and a lot of new staff that will help us as we make this year fantastic!

Dates to know:
9/4: Library opens
9/17-21: Scholastic Book Fair, library will be closed
10/22-26: Library closed
12/14: All library books are due

ACT Testing

This month the library has been taken over for ACT testing. **Big high five to our juniors who are taking the test!** I've been doing a mobile library so that students are still being taught what they need to and can still check out books. If there are any books you would like to make sure get added to my cart, please let me know. This Friday is also the UELMA (Utah Education Library Media Association) Conference so I'm looking forward to getting some great new information to help us make the library the best it can be! The students have been given the list for Battle of the Books that will take place in May so get those read!

I've started gathering supplies to create a maker space here in the library! It will give students an opportunity to do some hands-on learning while exploring some of the topics they read about. We are still looking for donations of Legos, snap circuits, Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars and any other hands-on tools we can get. We have a current Donors Choose project that will provide us with some robotic equipment as well. Please share it and donate if you can! Great things are happening in the library and we are looking forward to finishing the year strong!

2018 is Your Year!

2017 has come and gone. It's amazing how fast it went, but we are really looking forward to bringing you some great things in 2018! The library has been repainted and is getting a much needed face lift, the summer reading program is going to be fantastic, we are working on bringing our own version of Battle of the Books to Spectrum and the book fairs always bring excitement! Our shelves are gradually filling up and much of that is attributed to our amazing supporters through Donors Choose! We have had 2 projects fund that provided nearly 20 audio books to our library and over 50 books requested by our students. Things are headed in the right direction and I couldn't be more excited for what's in store here in the library for 2018!

Welcome Back

Welcome back Panthers! Hopefully by now you are settling into your new routine and schedule. We are working hard to get the library ready for you and can't wait to get you in here. With the Book Fair coming up September 18-22, we will start scheduled library time on the 25th (Monday). Classes will come every two weeks based on Friday being an A day or B day. The schedule is set up so that there are no classes on Mondays and only one class every other Tuesday so that students can use the library on their own time and teachers can schedule time to come in for research or anything else they may need it for. This year we have the opportunity to have Penny the service dog joining us in the library much of the time and she is looking forward to meeting her new high school friends.

We have some great things planned this year so make sure to watch the blog and website to stay up to date. Congrats to those who participated in the BINGO game over the summer and earned their free book from the book fair. We will be posting winners of the drawings soon!

Summer Reading...Just Do It!

Don't let summer blues get you down! With it coming quickly I'm sure there are some big plans in the works for some of you and others are wondering how you are going to fill you time. Never fear, your library staff is here! This year, Spectrum is doing a summer literacy program. We have introduced it briefly, but we will be doing a BINGO game. Parents and students decide together whether the picture book or chapter book game is appropriate for the student's reading level then get to work reading! In the chapter book game you may use one book for up to 3 squares and in the picture book game you can only use each book for one square. Return your cards by September 1 with at least one BINGO and you will receive a free book at the book fair (up to $10). Each BINGO will earn you an entry into our drawing for some great prizes and BLACKOUT will earn you an extra entry (13 total).


Also if you have a business that is interested in donating some prizes or money to purchase prizes feel free to contact myself (melanie.castillo@spectrumcharter.org) or Dobby (sdobson@spectrumcharter.org) and we can work out the details. Who is ready to win???

READY......

SET......

READ!!

Book Club CANCELLED...School Winding Down

Hey there Panthers! With everything going on next week, we are going to have to cancel book club. Please plan on joining us when we start up next year in September!

School is winding down this year so the library staff is getting geared up for next year so we can hit the ground running! Look for exciting programs coming your way! Next week we will be sending out information about the summer reading program! You can win free books and fun items from community partners so practice your BINGO skills.

As always, if you have books you would like to donate to the library or if you have book requests, please talk to Ms. Melanie so we can get that worked out. Keep working hard...just 3 more weeks!

Book Fair!

Next week, May 1-5, is our Scholastic Book Fair! The best part is that we qualified to have this fair as a Buy One, Get One FREE sale! Everything is BOGO! It is a great time to stock up on books for the summer and a great time to help us stock the library ;)! Buy a book for you and get one for the library free! Look for the high school library basket at the fair for our wishlist and if you want to see a book from the fair in our library please ask Ms. Melanie before adding it to our basket. For parents that want to volunteer at the fair, they can earn even more free stuff plus it counts toward their volunteer hours. We hope to see you at the BOGO Book Fair!