Eagle Eyes

What better way to kick off the month of May than Free Comic Book Day at the SJCPL Main Library on Saturday, May 2. Free Comic Book Day was started in 2002 and occurs annually on the first Saturday in May. It is no accident that it occurs the day after the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine! Activities at the library will start at 9 am and there will be free comic books, while they last, courtesy of BuyMeToys.com . Ages 12-18 can participate in comic book gaming from 9:30-noon. Stick around to learn how to make your own folded book from noon until 1:30. SJCPL always puts on terrific programs. Check this one out.

Tags: community, SJCPL

We were fortunate to have three of the University of Notre Dame Women’s Basketball players visit and read to our classes. Brittany Mallory visited with Miss K’s 1st Grade class and Amanda Tsipis with Mrs. M’s 3rd Grade class. Both classes heard Jimmy’s Boa and the Bungee Jump Slam Dunk, by Trinka Hakes Noble and Hoops with Swoopes, by Susan Kuklin with Sheryl Swoopes. Erica Williamson read some basketball poetry from the book Hoop Kings, by Charles R. Smith, Jr. One of the most amazing poems illustrated an “actual size” print of Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe sole on a fold-out page! Stephanie Menio accompanied each of the women and the classes were excited to find out that she had brought T-shirts for all three classes of students. The players were all gracious enough to stay and autograph t-shirts and bookmarks for the students. Thank you, from all of us. 

Tags: basketball, Notre Dame, reading

Our own Fr. Nate was our guest reader for Mrs. L’s 2nd grade class. He read one of his favorites, You Are Special, by Max Lucado. The students always enjoy this special book that reminds them of their own uniqueness .  Mr. Tom Coxey from the YMCA of Michiana read to Mrs. L’s Kindergarten class.  Teamwork was the theme of the story Mim, Gym, and June, by Denis Roche that the class heard. Working as a team and staying active can make anyone successful! Mr. Coxey also passed out copies of the Spring schedule and encouraged everyone to come and visit the YMCA.

Tags: Books, community, reading

As part of Catholic Schools’ Week the library is hosting Community Readers during library class times for grades K-5 for the next 2 weeks. We kicked off our Community Reader program with our own Fr. Steve reading to Mrs. Y’s 2nd grade class this morning right after our Catholic Schools’ Week “Kick-off” prayer service. Fr. Steve read Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect, by Richard H. Schneider. It was a wonderful story about generosity and not judging someone by looks alone. 

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Miss K’s First Grade class was fortunate enough to have Mr. Lynn Coleman, Mayor Steve Luecke’s Assistant. Mr. Coleman spoke about some of his responsibilities as the Assistant to Mayor Luecke and his former work as a police officer. Mr. Coleman brought 2 of his favorite books to share with the class, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and Harry’s Sweet Dreams by Mark Tarner. Most of the students had heard both books so Mr. Coleman read a really lovely book called Our Tree Named Steve, by Alan Zweibel.  

Tags: , Books, community

Madeleine L’Engle died last Thursday at the age of 88. She was probably best known for her book A Wrinkle in Time, part of the Time Quartet Series and winner of the 1963 John Newbery Medal. Madeleine L’Engle is remembered not only for the children’s classics that she wrote, but also for her poetry, plays and books on prayer. Madeleine L’Engle herself described why she wrote: ”Why does anybody tell a story?” she once asked, even though she knew the answer.”It does indeed have something to do with faith,” she said, “faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically.” She will be missed. 

Tags: Authors, Newbery, obit

I’ve been reading blogs for a while and decided it was time to take the plunge and try it for myself. This is a slow week with the holiday, but parent/teacher conferences are going on for the next two days. The library is open for parents to complete our online school surveys powered by SurveyMonkey.com.

While the teachers have conferences I will be finishing previewing some books and reading Marc Prensky’s “Don’t Bother Me Mom—I’m Learning!”