Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Auction- Thank you!

As you know from my earlier blog post about the state of the library, the library is in need of some major updating. Many of you reached out and generously donated funds to the library at our recent school auctions. THANK YOU to parents and grandparents for your support! We raised a total of $1940 for the library.

If you didn’t make it to the auctions and are still interested in supporting the library-- there are other ways parents and families can help.

Option 1)    Browse the Enatai Library Wish List on Amazon and purchase a book in honor of a student or a teacher, for a birthday, as a thank-you, or just because! Be sure to check the box that indicates the book is a gift – you can then enter a gift message, so that I can be sure to add a note inside the book mentioning who donated it. (This is free – as long as you don’t choose gift-wrap!)  Books from Amazon can be shipped directly to the school, and it’s a great way to get your order up to the $25 minimum for free shipping on Amazon.  

Option 2)    Spring cleaning! Anytime you decide your child has outgrown a book at home and you don’t want to hang on to it, think of donating it to the library. We are accepting books in good condition (preferably hardbacks). The librarian will decide if it’s a good fit for the collection. Best of both worlds— a clean house and a “new” book in the hands of a child!

Look for the book donation area outside the library!



Thank you to the following GRANDPARENTS who donated money to help us buy books!

Leo and Desa Gese

Phelps and Christel Fisher

John and Margaret Luccio

Betty Kulp

Jean Ann Hodges

Steve and Susan Day

Madeline Hamilton

Hisashi Iwakuma

Kate Casey

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Magic Tree House Live Reading Tour!


Meet Jack and Annie from the beloved Magic Tree House series!
 
* Live performance and songs
* Book stamping
* Photos with Jack and Annie... and more!
 
Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 2:00 pm
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
 
For event information, call 206-634-3400


Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Beckoning Cat – Exhibit at the Bellevue Art Museum


MANEKI NEKO: JAPAN'S BECKONING CATS – FROM TALISMAN TO POP ICON
Long-considered to be an object of good fortune, this exhibition features over 150 cats, made between the 19th - 20th centuries, depicted with an upright paw in the Japanese gesture of beckoning. These enigmatically artful felines express aspects of both historic Japanese lore and contemporary pop culture. Through August 4, 2013.

Book that was a Washington Children’s Choice nominee a couple of years ago.
 



 

Monday, March 11, 2013

Current State of Our Library

If you didn't make it to the PTSA General Meeting in January, you can still view the presentation I gave about the current state of our library.

After getting to know the library collection during my first few months at Enatai, I wanted to share my findings with the school community.

At the end of the slideshow, you'll find ways you can help. As always, thank you for your support!

 
 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Accessing Databases from Home

Students at Enatai are learning to be responsible digital citizens. They are also learning that information can be viewed in a variety of formats-- audio, video, print, and online.

Our school district subscribes to a number of online databases to support student learning. Students use many of these databases in their classrooms and in the library.  These databases are also accessible from home through the library catalog, or directly through the library blog. If you did not a receive a bookmark with the password information that was handed out on Back to School Night, feel free to contact the librarian. (Due to license agreements, password information cannot be shared on our blog.)

Just what are these databases all about?

  • Choose from 4 databases:  Animals, Earth and Science, Social Studies, or Biographies
  • Includes a read-aloud feature, photographs, videos, and games
  • Designed for beginning researchers, especially in grades K-3
 
 
  • Includes 25,000 encyclopedia articles & numerous reference articles
  • Other features include: Today in History, online dictionary, videos, audio, and science projects
  • Students looking for more detailed information at a higher reading level should try World Book Student (accessible by clicking on "Switch to another World Book Site" on the bottom of the World Book Kids page)
  • Read e-books on your computer or iPad
  • Includes a growing collection of Sasquatch Award nominees, non-fiction, picture books, chapter books, and books that enhance the curriculum
  • (Note: If there is a title you would like to have available in e-book format, please send a request to the librarian.)
  • Animated talking picture books in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and French
  • Includes some non-fiction titles
  • Bonus: puzzles, quizzes, games, and book report forms
  • Narrate and record your own books
CultureGrams
  • Includes 187 reports on cultures of countries at a simple reading level
  • Also includes facts about all 50 states
  • Includes timelines, photos, recipes, interviews, fun facts and more
 
  • Designed for students in grades 1-9
  • Includes full-text articles and images from more than 1,900 domestic and international newspapers, magazines, and government documents
  • Provides access to vetted weblinks, current events, maps of the world, biographies, and encyclopedia articles