Stanwood Middle School Library Newsletter
Stanwood Middle School Library Newsletter
January 2024 in the SMS Library
January 2024 in the SMS Library
Ms. Byrum & Mrs. Palmer
Embedded Files
What are the Sasquatch Awards?
What are the Sasquatch Awards?
The Sasquatch Awards are novels for grades 4-6, open nominations, committee selected, student voted. Twelve great books are nominees. But only one will win. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders can participate in the voting process by reading at least two of the nominees.
2024 Sasquatch Award Nominees!
And the 2023 Winner is:
TWINS, BY VARIAN JOHNSON AND SHANNON WRIGHT
Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran -- a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister! Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there's nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?
Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards; The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Children’s book and Kirkus Reviews Best Book; and the graphic novel Twins, illustrated by Shannon Wright, an NPR Best Book.
Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family.
Relax with a good book!
Relax with a good book!
BOOKMARK CONTEST
Attention Stanwood Middle School Students: We are having a bookmark contest. Prizes will be awarded!
The theme is: “Kindness.”
Bookmarks judged on originality, design, and reproducibility. Stop by the SMS Library to get a form and bookmark template!
Deadline to enter is March 31, 2024.
Warm up to a good book!
Important Literacy Dates in January
2 - National Science Fiction Day
3 - J.R.R. Tolkien Day
9 - National Word Nerd Day
9-15 - Universal Letter Writing Week
11 - Poetry at Work Day
16 - Book Publishers Day
18 - National Thesaurus Day
19 - Edgar Allan Poe’s Birthday
23 - National Handwriting Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15. Here are five surprising Facts about Martin Luther King.
Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. Day
on January 15, 2024
Poetry at Work Day is celebrated every second Tuesday in January, On this day, workers enjoy poetry as a means of relaxation and recreation while at work. Poems are a creative way to boost mental ability and improve efficiency at work. Poetry involves conveying messages and emotions in words, using structure, style, and rhyme.
January is Braille Literacy Month, which also honors Louie Braille (born on January 4, 1809), creator of the braille system. Braille created this code system at the age of 12 after an accident left him blind at three-years-old. He discovered a French military code called "night writing" that allowed soldiers to communicate in darkness without having to speak. He used their coding to create his very own version and made it accessible for the blind and reading impaired.
Braille Literacy Month
Pick up a pen and paper and write to someone!
Copyright Law Day, celebrated every January 1, is set aside for all creatives to appreciate the role of copyright law in ensuring legal use of their creations and encourage people to support and uphold copyright law. The first copyright statute was enacted over 311 years ago by the British parliament. Copyright law is a set of rights automatically vested on someone who creates an original work of authorship. These rights include reproduction, derivative works, distribution, public performance and display, and digital distribution. Copyright covers all literary works, software, movies, and songs. Copyrights are exclusive to the creator, preventing other people from using their work without permission.
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