January 2018
1st Annual
1st Annual
Students vs. Staff
Students vs. Staff
Reading Competition
Reading Competition
This year we started what I hope will become an annual tradition for Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School. We pitted the students up against the staff to see who could read the most books within 7 weeks! They could read anything they chose; fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc.! All they had to do was read and complete a brief book review as proof that they actually read the book. Of the winning team 3 participants could win gift cards! The person on the winning team that read the most books would win as well as two random participants drawn from the book review entries!
This year we started what I hope will become an annual tradition for Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School. We pitted the students up against the staff to see who could read the most books within 7 weeks! They could read anything they chose; fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc.! All they had to do was read and complete a brief book review as proof that they actually read the book. Of the winning team 3 participants could win gift cards! The person on the winning team that read the most books would win as well as two random participants drawn from the book review entries!
The students started out with a huge lead against the staff but towards the end of the competition the staff caught up and they were neck and neck for a while. In the end the students must have gotten fired up and pulled off a 71 to 47 win!
The students started out with a huge lead against the staff but towards the end of the competition the staff caught up and they were neck and neck for a while. In the end the students must have gotten fired up and pulled off a 71 to 47 win!
The individual gift card winners were:
The individual gift card winners were:
-Arieonna Thomas read the most books! She read 17 books total and won a $40.00 Amazon gift card!
-Arieonna Thomas read the most books! She read 17 books total and won a $40.00 Amazon gift card!
- Diana Boniface and Eh Ku Say were the two other participants drawn at random from the book review entries! They each won two $15.00 gift cards to either Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell or Burger King!
- Diana Boniface and Eh Ku Say were the two other participants drawn at random from the book review entries! They each won two $15.00 gift cards to either Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Taco Bell or Burger King!
Ring in 2018 with the Most Popular Books of 2017!
Ring in 2018 with the Most Popular Books of 2017!
In honor of 2017 the library displayed some of the most popular books of 2017. Several of the books displayed were checked out and read by students to ring in 2018!
In honor of 2017 the library displayed some of the most popular books of 2017. Several of the books displayed were checked out and read by students to ring in 2018!
Here are some of the books that were on display and checked out:
Here are some of the books that were on display and checked out:
Databases
Databases
Research paper time is upon us! To get prepared, start thinking about what databases we have here at Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School to assist you in your research. Below I have listed several databases and other resources with brief descriptions to help you decide which databases might be best for your research.
Research paper time is upon us! To get prepared, start thinking about what databases we have here at Rensselaer Jr./Sr. High School to assist you in your research. Below I have listed several databases and other resources with brief descriptions to help you decide which databases might be best for your research.
Remember, Google is good but these databases/resources are great!
Remember, Google is good but these databases/resources are great!
BrainPop -
BrainPop -
It’s playful, educator-focused, reflective, and global! It gets both teachers and students engaged in the learning process! Covers a variety of subject areas with multiple formats for resources.
It’s playful, educator-focused, reflective, and global! It gets both teachers and students engaged in the learning process! Covers a variety of subject areas with multiple formats for resources.
Biography Reference Center -
Biography Reference Center -
Database provided through EBSCO containing top-ranked biographical reference collections and magazines.
Database provided through EBSCO containing top-ranked biographical reference collections and magazines.
Health and Reference Center -
Health and Reference Center -
Reliable, detailed information on today’s most important health topics.
Reliable, detailed information on today’s most important health topics.
Bloom's Literary Reference Center -
Bloom's Literary Reference Center -
Excellent database for those who are seeking information on any topic related to literature.
Excellent database for those who are seeking information on any topic related to literature.
World Book -
World Book -
Digital version of the classic encyclopedia that has been around since 1917. Contains information of just about any topic you can think of.
Digital version of the classic encyclopedia that has been around since 1917. Contains information of just about any topic you can think of.
NoodleTools -
NoodleTools -
This tool allows students to organize their research easily and correctly. Students can save sources, create citations, create notecards, create outlines, as well as link a paper started on a Google Doc right to their NoodleTools project.
This tool allows students to organize their research easily and correctly. Students can save sources, create citations, create notecards, create outlines, as well as link a paper started on a Google Doc right to their NoodleTools project.
Rosen -
Rosen -
Through Rosen learning center and the SLS we have access to interactive eBooks. Topics for these eBooks include; American History, Ancient Civilizations, Earth Science, Ecology and Life Science, as well as NY.
Through Rosen learning center and the SLS we have access to interactive eBooks. Topics for these eBooks include; American History, Ancient Civilizations, Earth Science, Ecology and Life Science, as well as NY.
NovelNY/Gale -
NovelNY/Gale -
NOVELNY provides us access to a variety of great databases to help our student research hundreds of different topics.
NOVELNY provides us access to a variety of great databases to help our student research hundreds of different topics.
Resource
Resource
ILL = Interlibrary Loan
ILL = Interlibrary Loan
Our library is part of the Questar III School Library System which means that we get to partake in their Interlibrary Loan system. Basically, if you are looking for specific books or topics that we do not have in our library we can search the other school library catalogs in our School Library System to find and borrow them. We are also able to borrow materials from certain college and public libraries as well. Once a book is found and loaned it usually comes to us within 2 weeks. These materials work just like other library materials. There will be a due date for return or renewal and we are held responsible for the materials if anything should happen to them.
Our library is part of the Questar III School Library System which means that we get to partake in their Interlibrary Loan system. Basically, if you are looking for specific books or topics that we do not have in our library we can search the other school library catalogs in our School Library System to find and borrow them. We are also able to borrow materials from certain college and public libraries as well. Once a book is found and loaned it usually comes to us within 2 weeks. These materials work just like other library materials. There will be a due date for return or renewal and we are held responsible for the materials if anything should happen to them.
So, with the in mind, if you are doing a project or want to read a book with your class come to the library and we can see if we can get the materials from other libraries in our system. They wouldn't be ours to keep but it does make sense to utilize this system in order to find and use materials that we might not have available to us right in the school district. Or, if we ever want to stray from the beaten path and read a book or do a project that we typically don't.
So, with the in mind, if you are doing a project or want to read a book with your class come to the library and we can see if we can get the materials from other libraries in our system. They wouldn't be ours to keep but it does make sense to utilize this system in order to find and use materials that we might not have available to us right in the school district. Or, if we ever want to stray from the beaten path and read a book or do a project that we typically don't.