Last spring, Ms. Kearney applied to participate in a Children's Book Council (CBC) project. The CBC is the agency that sponsors Children's Book Week each year and endorses Every Child a Reader. The project is simple. Publishers send us their hot off the press books published just this year and any student who reads any of them is asked to rate them. Ms. Kearney collects these ratings or ballots each week and forwards the numbers to the CBC. In April, the CBC will publish the list of the 30 favorite books for middle grades, and Masterman students will have had a hand in choosing them. This project adds 300 new books--mostly fiction--to the school library collection. Students can find the CBC Favorites Form on their Google Classroom.

For many years, Masterman School students have participated in PYRCA. This program encourages reading. Teachers, librarians, and children can submit favorite books written within the last three years to the PYRCA site. From these lists, students can choose books and decide which ones are their favorites. In March, the voting starts and when the state winner is announced, the students celebrate with a gala affair. Ms. Kearney has been successful in accruing the books on the list by writing a Donors Choose Grant and getting it funded quickly. This year, however, the grant has been on the site since late August and the goal has not been reached. To be fully funded and get all the materials, $358 is still needed. The students have not been able to participate in this activity, and usually, at this time of year, they would be deep into the list. The grant is called Pick a PYRCA Book. If you are able to contribute, log on to https://www.donorschoose.org/project/pick-a-pyrca-book/6821017/.

Once again, thanks to the invaluable help of parent volunteers and the generosity of the students and their parents, the annual Scholastic Book Fair was a success. Lasting from October 31st to November 4th, the fair earned over $5,655.80 , entitling the school library to keep 25% or $1,234. These funds form the library budget to purchase DVD adaptors so teachers can show DVDs in class; new immigration books and materials for studying climate regions, and signage. The library is saving up for new seating and small carts for materials for unit projects.

For help with research or inspiration for reading, check out the library website on Masterman School's website. Drill down on the Activities tab and select Library.