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Happenings from the JC Library Learning Commons

GRAND FINALE: The Battle of the Books 2022

What an amazing evening celebrating love of literacy, dedication to life-long learning and commitment to growing as global citizens of the world! We, Greenwich Public School Library Media Specialists, hosted our 3rd Annual Battle of the Books in-person with limited-capacity at the brand-new auditorium of Greenwich Public Library on Tuesday, February 1st at 6:30 PM. The session was also live-streamed via Zoom.

In a very tight battle with 6 other schools, these five amazing readers represented Julian Curtiss: Grace B., Emma O., Joseph M., Lester R., and Teddy G. (in the order as pictured above). Readers from Riverside Elementary School took the trophy home. "The finalists," Dr. Benjamin Markus, the Interim Director of English Language Arts and Social Studies, who MC'ed our event, said, "have already demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of the books...And most importantly, we hope they had fun reading and learning about the world we live in from these selections."

Our selection ten age-appropriate novels were hand-picked by my colleagues and I after considerable time, expertise, and thought. Our selection represented a motley of outstanding literature, mostly award nominees and winners such as Nutmeg, Caldecott and Newberry. As we were gearing up for the finals, one of our selections, Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca was given with the 2022 Newberry Honor Award, in addition to the many accolades it has already received.

One of our JC parents who wrote to me after the event echoed my thoughts: "It was beautiful to watch the readers on stage, thinking and talking and getting to know these powerful books closely." On behalf of all my colleagues, I thank you for recognizing all the thought and care we put into raising our readers.

A huge shout-out to Bevan Talbott and Melissa Spencer who created the most beautiful 2022 Battle of the Books JC spirit-wear! We love our tshirts and will wear them with pride.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE to immerse yourself and your child into great literature! Here's the list of 2022 Battle of the Books selection.

ARE YOU A FOURTH GRADE PARENT and would like to consider encouraging your child to participate in next year's Battle of the Books? Then please continue reading your emails! Each year, we share our selection for next year's competition by early June. Please stay tuned!

IT'S HERE: 2022 Nutmeg Award Book Bowl!

Strongly encouraged by the interest in the Battle of the Books, we are extending the spirit of reading to our Grade 4 as well as our Grade 5 readers! This year, Julian Curtiss is hosting the Nutmeg Award Book Bowl!

The Nutmeg Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of nominated titles. A Book Bowl is a game show like event where teams who have read the books compete against each other to show their knowledge. Combined together is the, drum roll please, Nutmeg Award Book Bowl! For details on what this will look like for JC readers, please check out the presentation we pulled together for the students, including a book trailer for each selection.

For a list of books in the Nutmeg Award Book Bowl, please click here.

MARCH MADNESS is COMING BACK!

Our annual March Madness is coming back! In recognition of READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY, we will kick-off a month-long read aloud challenge: MARCH MADNESS: PICTURE BOOK EDITION.

March Book Madness is a bracket-style book tournament that matches books to one-on-one games. The games are decided by the JC readers. Students vote either individually or as a class to decide the winner of each game. After each round of voting, we will update the brackets and the next round of voting will take place. We attempt to match the dates of the brackets to the NCAA March Madness as closely a we can!

Each year, our K-5 school-wide reading program focuses on a theme. In the past couple of years, we have had themes that included "books that bring joy to your heart" and kindness. We will unveil our theme and our bracket shortly!

OUR K-2 CORNER

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Not A Box by Antoinette Portis

"A box is just a box...unless it's not a box. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box will go as far as the imagination allows."

Through our read aloud, our K-2 learners indulged in exploring how "pretend" becomes "real" through imagination. Readers looked for patterns and identified rhythms and then made predictions based on their findings. Oh the joy!

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Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis

"With a stick in hand, the options are endless—whether it's conducting an orchestra, painting a masterpiece, or slaying a dragon—give a child a stick and let imagination take over and the magic begin."

And that's what our K-2 readers exactly did! As we read aloud the Not A Stick, we let our imagination take us to places far away... We also had the opportunity to make connections and develop our skills in comparing/contrasting with Ms. Portis's other book, Not A Box.

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Not a Box & Not a Stick by JC Readers

Complementing our reading comprehension muscles, our K-2 learners also worked out their fine-motor skills, pumped up their audio/visual creativity and learned quite a few technology skills along the way.

We started with all K-2 readers pushing their own imagination in creating their unique Not-A-Box. Then, thanks to Ms. Laccetti who gathered many sticks from her yard, K-2 students had the opportunity to create their own Not-A-Stick using the digital tool, Chatterpix. Our Grade 2 learners took it one step further, and started app-smashing Chatterpix with other creativity apps in our toolbox, such as Draw and Tell and Puppet Pals.

GRADES 3-5 CODING OPPORTUNITY

We presented our grade 3-5 the opportunity to follow computer science fundamentals courses to delve in deeper into computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and digital citizenship. Each course includes 10-25 hours of instructed learning over several lessons. Students have the opportunity to create their own games, art, and digital stories. Students have the choice to continue their progress during our Media time, and also at home.

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Grade 3

The course begins with a review of the concepts they learned through our K-2 coding platforms, including loops and events. Afterward, students will develop their understanding of algorithms, nested loops, while loops, conditionals, and more.

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Grade 4

Students will learn to make fun, interactive projects that reinforce what they’re learning about online safety. Following these lessons, students will engage in more complex coding. Students will learn about nested loops, functions, and conditionals.

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Grade 5

The course begins by looking at how users make choices in the apps they use. Students then learn to make a variety of Sprite Lab apps that also offer choices for the user. In the later lessons in the course, students will learn more advanced concepts, including variables and “for” loops.

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS

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Grades K-5

Spearheaded by our amazing PTA, we are partnering with the Bruce Museum in bringing in curricular enrichment programs to every single one of our grade levels! Our first round of programming from their Permanent Science Galleries include some enticing options like Walking in the Foot of Dinosaurs, Coastal Ecology and from their Art Galleries, the Native Nations Artwork.

JC will also partner with the Bruce Museum in bringing their brand-new Art Outreach programs to our learners.

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Grade 4: Forces & Motion

In collaboration with the Grade 4 classroom teachers, students will be creating their own roller coasters using the principals of Design Thinking during their Makerspace time in the Library Learning Commons. Currently, learners are exploring available materials they can use in thinking about designing their construction.

As part of the design challenge, students explore and use concepts kinetic and potential energy as well as law of conservation of energy. They will assume the roles of engineers and users, create drafts and proposals, and design a prototype.

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Grade 5: Weather & Climate

In collaboration with the Grade 5 classroom teachers, students launched into their inquiry into their unit of study in Weather & Climate in the Library Learning Commons.

The launch incorporated a provocation in the form of viewing a photo journal aimed to promote curiosity, inspire questioning, and activate schema. Students then made their thinking visible to each other using a platform that also allowed them to make connections between their thoughts.

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Notes from Ms. Laccetti & Mrs. Ripegno

We are wishing everyone a well-deserved rest over the February break!

Ms. Laccetti would like to remind readers to bring back their overdue books. She will be sending out notices in the Friday folders as reminders.

Mrs. Ripegno would like to remind the students to be mindful when using their devices and to please adhere to the district norms.

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About Us

Esra Murray, Library Media Specialist

Arlene Laccetti, Library Media Assistant

Anna Ripegno, IT Support Technician

Email: esra_murray@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: https://www.greenwichschools.org/julian-curtiss-school/learning-commons
Location: 180 East Elm Street, Greenwich, CT 06830
Phone: (203) 869-1896
Twitter: @ezziemur

The Hub

Happenings from the JC Library Learning Commons