Crocker Farm Library - Library Programming 2024 to the Present

Crocker Farm Elementary School Library Programming

From September 2024 through the Present

A Collaboration between CF Library, Parents, and Students.

UMASS Graduate Students visit our Library

Professor Laura Valdiviezo
Course description : Foundations of Bilingual/ESL/Multicultural EducationThe course Foundations of Bilingual ESL and Multicultural Education explores the historical-political, philosophical, and pedagogical foundations of multicultural education through engaging various approaches to teaching culturally and linguistically diverse student population. (September 18, 2024 4;00-6:00pm)

Practicing Kindness

August, 2024

CF Students is reading the picture book You Are My Friend: the story of Mr. Rogers. Through this biography, we were inspire to practice kindness.

Using their own interpretation and imagination each one of my students has the chance to write, draw or both (using color pencils and index card) what is kind or how to practice kindness. At the end we are creating a wall of kind/Kindness. To be kind is...

"Kind to each other," "kind to animals," "kind to our planet earth," "kind to elders," "kind to our families," "kind and care to other," kind to our friends"

and one of the most important one is to be kind with ourselves."

The Magic Library Programming

2024-2025

The Magic Library (TML) will be a year-long, ongoing project that will be comprised of special programs. Some of these programs have already begun to be implemented. Others have already been conceptualized. Yet others will be designed in the future.This project will emphasize the importance CF and its library place on the development and empowerment of all students, social justice, and diverse learning styles.I Examples of programs already (begun) to be implementedThe Memory Project – was implemented during March, April and May of 2024. Inspired by an exhibition at the Museum at Eldridge Street, on New York City’s Lower East Side, it brought together student awareness and concerns about international Women’s Day, world Book Day and International Earth Day.Guest Speakers/performance Series – Our library has already hosted Adrienne Ottenberg the artist who designed and installed an exhibit at the Museum at Eldridge Street. In a collaboration with the Eric Carle Museum our CF Library will be hosting internationally-recognized authors/illustrators of picture books like Roger Mello from Brazil. Roger Mello visit: (K-6) Cafeteria/Auditorium – Friday, October 11, 2024

Authors and Illustrator Roger Mello visits our school

Friday, October 11, 2024

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that this event is made possible by a collaboration between the Eric Carle Museum of Pictures Books and our CF library.

We are very fortunate to have with us a renowned Brazilian author and illustrator. He has published more than a hundred titles, including poetry, short stories, screenplays, and children’s books.His art and writing are deeply rooted in his home country of Brazil. His illustrations use the bright, hot colors of his native country.He has won numerous awards. In 2014, he became the first Latin America author and illustrator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award.His work is currently exhibited at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Books. And this is his first exhibition in the United States.Also, two other Authors and Illustrators from Brazil came along to visit CF, Mariana Massarani and Felipe Cavalcante. 10-11-24

Thank you to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for its support

Brazilian Authors and Illustrators:

Mariana Massarani and Roger Mello

Brazilian Authors and Illustrators:

Felipe Cavalcante, Roger Mello and Mariana Massarani

Celebrating Indigenous History Month 2024

November 22, 2024

The Magic Library (TML) year-long, ongoing project is celebrating Indigenous History Month 2024.

The library is having an Indigenous dance and storytelling performance by Hector LeBeau, who is a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe from South Dakota, and Taino.

Notes about the performance of Hector LeBeau.

Here is a link to his performance at Jacobs Pillow 2019 https://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/hector-lebeau/

Storytelling

through a Family Recipe 2024

Arts Block- 5th and 6th graders

Inspired by these two stories, Fry Bread and Platanos go with Everything, each student will provide a family recipe from home. Them, each one will write and illustrate the story about their family recipe. Finally, the family recipe & story will be put together in class to make a CF Family cooking book. Bonus: The students will pick a recipe to be tasted in class.

Indigenous History Celebration: The Crocker Farm Memory Pole - Library Project

November, 2024-2025

The Crocker Farm Memory Pole - Library Project

The Library, in Collaboration with our Art Teacher Ms. Ferrer, has undertaking the construction of a memory pole. This is inspired by the Indigenous People of Northwest Pacific Indigenous Cultures and the Māori People of New Zealand, Pepeha.

Pepeha is an important part for the Māori culture, it is a way of acknowledging and honoring one's connection to the land and our ancestors. It will be constructed at the metal column that is in the center of the library. The design and the removable art work will be carried out by our students from 1-6 graders. We will be using recycling shopping paper bag, markers, crayons, as well as painting to tell our own story.

Totem poles have been used historically by Native Americans to convey awareness of families, clans, tribes, nations, regions and occupations. Our totem pole would convey awareness of the experience and concerns of the group of third graders who construct it. The project would present to all of our school’s students and staff, as well as visitors, an opportunity to remember how the original inhabitants of what is today the United States and Canada have culturally influenced our sense of oral/local histories and public art. It will also encourage the project’s participants to appreciate their own group histories and collective memories.

As the students and I are currently discussing Indigenous people from the Northwest Pacific of North America culture, during the month of November, the topic of totem poles and their purpose has caught their attention. The students are enthused by the idea of a group project that promotes team work, gives each individual participant a voice, and encourages narratives about their families and communities, and their school.

The project will be something the entire school community can feel proud of, and should be a press-worthy opportunity to highlight the achievements of our students.

As part of the Library’s Community Engagement effort there will be scheduled an unveiling event. (TBA)

Why a Memory Pole?

Students' stories are at the center of our library.

Their experiences become cherished memories that narrate an important and unique story. This give them a voice that empower our CF Community.

This project introduces students from first to sixth grade to the concept and understanding of oral history. Must people are not exposed to this important documentation of the past until they are college students.

At CF Elementary School students will gain an intuitive understanding of oral history while in elementary school.

Many thanks to all of our supporters, specially to Amherst College Campus Print & Mail Service Department: Jen Kendall, and Rob Kleindienst. Their assistance with printing and digitalizing the project was invaluable.

I would like to thank My principal, Mr. Derek Shea. Due to his vision, CF is a place where my ideas and innovation about librarianship and social justice are welcome and encouraged. I also, would like to express my gratitude to my assistant principal Alicia Lopez.

Amherst College Campus Print & Mail

The Town of Amherst Invites CF Community to be part of the Town Celebration of Dr. MLK Day with Cards of Gratitude or Compassion

Celebrate Dr. MLK Jr. Day with a Card of Gratitude or Compassion!

Let's come together to honor Dr. King's legacy of service and compassion.Monday, January 20, 2025This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, show your appreciation for the dedicated individuals who serve our community.Write a card to thank our Amherst DPW, Police, Fire, and CRESS departments. Their hard work ensures our safety and well-being.Let's come together to honor Dr. King's legacy of service and compassion.All ages welcome. Materials provided.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that this event is made possible by a collaboration between the Eric Carle Museum of Pictures Books and our CF library.

Authors and Illustrator Raul Colon visits our school

Friday, January 17, 2025

We are very fortunate to have with us a renowned author and illustrator., Raul Colon.

Tribute to Raul Colon Imagine Interpretation through the Music

From Throw-Away to Art

Arts Block Project February 2025

Using everyday materials, our 5th and 6th graders create messages by constructing art pieces that show how to take care of our environment, by Recycling - Repurposing - Reusing.

In doing so our students engage in such national conversations as fast fashion, and vortex, and how to take care our planes.

Arts Block - May 2025

New Stories Under the Shade Tree

Inspire by the picture book, Planting Stories the Life of Librarian Pura Belpre

Every week we will enjoy snacks outdoors while browsing and reading new stories that the library just received. Every week, we will select a new theme.

Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2025

May, 30 2025

Guess Speaker Wang Yung-Hsin Rachel Visits our Library

Ms. Rachel is a writer, a translator and a community member who visited our library.

The 5th graders were delighted by the reading of the picture book from Taiwan tittle Rain by Hsu-Kung Liu (劉旭恭) in Chinese Mandarin and English.

"The story is about an orphan who was found in the forest by a Monk. The boy couldn't read and many member of the village make fun of him. In the monastery, and under the tutelage of an elderly monk he learned to write one Chinese character, rain. You would be surprise to find out what his writing caused in an entire village."

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