Wanamaker Library Newsletter

The end of the school year brings several special events to the library.

Fifteen 2nd graders completed the Bill Martin, Jr. Challenge. They read all 10 Bill Martin, Jr. picture book nominees and completed a form on each book that asked questions about the book as well as provided space for the student to draw a picture of their favorite scene from the story. These students were rewarded by being invited to eat their lunches in the library, followed by ice cream and brownie sundaes. Congratulations to Chase, Ava, Miyah, Nolan, Saad, Kolton, Brantley, Delaney, Sabella, Macy, Charlotte, Oakley, Vivienne, Jake, and Leana.

The Battle of the Books competition was held on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16, in the WE gym. Ten student teams (60 students) and two staff teams (14 staff members) participated in the competition. Sixty participating students is a record number for WE! Student teams consisted of 4th, 5th, or 6th graders. Team members collaborated and earned points by being able to answer questions and identify quotes from some of the current William Allan White books, including a total of 17 books.

The questions and quotes require participants to be very familiar with the books' details. Seventeen books are a lot of books to know in depth! I am so proud of all the students who exhibited leadership and courage by being willing to get up on stage and be quizzed over the books in front of their peers and some parents who were in the audience. Their perseverance and teamwork paid off!

There were some VERY close contests! The final round consisted of a match between the winning student team and the winning staff team. In the end, the student team pulled off the victory!

Thank you to ALL who participated or helped out in any way to make this exciting end-of-year activity possible!

A Used Book Exchange was held in the library the last week of school to promote summer reading. Students were invited to bring used books in good condition to be exchanged for another book(s) of their choosing. It's exciting to start the summer with a "new to me" book! Students were also given a scented bookmark to try out with their new books. Thank you to everyone who donated used books to the cause!

Did you know that reading during the summer can significantly improve your reading skills? Instead of losing knowledge during those lazy, hot, summer days, reading will help you gain new knowledge. The good news is that you can pick anything to read that interests you. It doesn't matter what you choose to read (the back of the cereal box works, too!); it's just important to do it!

Be part of Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library's Summer Reading & Events June 1- July 31! A trip to the library, bookmobile or tscpl.org is a great way to keep brains active and entertained during the summer months! Learn more about the reading challenge, the gallery's art exhibit for kids and events full of games, crafts and fun at www.tscpl.org/summer.

Wanamaker students who complete the summer reading program at TSCPL and bring their completion certificate to Mrs. Reinert when we return to school in August will be invited to an ice cream sundae/brownie party!

Many good things happened in the library this year! Here is a summary of some of the statistics and happenings that took place during the 2024-25 school year:

• The total number of materials circulated was 19,573.
• The total number of items housed in the WE library was 12,816.
• The total number of library lessons taught was 874.
• The total number of PebbleGo database logins was 12,324.
• Six 6th grade students acted as Library Leaders and helped out in the library on a weekly basis. Thank you to Ameya, Haven, Scarlett, Abby, Adley, and Camryn!
  
• Four adult volunteers helped out in the library on a weekly basis. They were an important part of our village! Thank you to Judy Liezert, Judy Schultz, Sharlene Christensen, and Patty Jolley!
• Ice cream and brownie sundae party held for all students who completed the TSCPL Summer Reading Program.
• There was collaboration with the 6th grade social studies teacher and team on a Skype visit with 9/11 survivor, Robert Matos.
• The library and art department collaborated on a school-wide bookmark contest.
• Kansas Book Festival author, Angela Cervantes, visited in-person with all 5th graders.
• All 2nd graders participated in the Global Read Aloud author study and connected to students from around the world by using Skype, Padlet, and snail mail.
• The 2nd graders took part in two Mystery Skypes with classes from Pennsylvania and California as part of the Global Read Aloud.
• In December classroom teachers were invited to come to the library and choose two new "mystery" books to add to their classroom libraries. Holiday treats were also available.
• Approximately 49 students participated in the Pringles Can Book Character contest.
• All staff were invited to create diamond art bookmarks in the library one day after school. Healthy snacks and light jazz enhanced the camaraderie!
• Picture book author, Josh Funk, visited virtually with all 3rd graders as part of World Read Aloud Day in February.
• A Scholastic Book Fair was held.
  
• Thirteen classes participated in the March Book Madness Tournament.
• The 5th and 6th grade book club met monthly in the library before school. The club also took a field trip to the Heartland Literature Festival held at Washburn University in October and an all-day field trip to TSCPL in March.
• An annual inventory of the library was completed along with appropriate weeding of the collection.
• This was the second year for BookBreak to be available to WE students. The BookBreak program hosted a series of award-winning authors/illustrators in interviews geared to different grade levels. All students benefitted from this wonderful program. Thank you to the WE PTA for funding BookBreak!
• The WE Library was a recipient of an Auburn Washburn Foundation grant. It was used to purchase several new social-emotional book series at different grade levels. Thank you, Auburn Washburn Foundation!
• The Battle of the Books Competition involved 60 students and 14 staff members.
• Fifteen 2nd graders completed the Bill Martin, Jr. Challenge and took part in a celebration held in the library.
  
• A Used Book Exchange was held for all WE students, so they could take a new-to-them book home with them for the summer.
• A Student Council Bucks 4 Books fundraising campaign resulted in a $1,100.00 donation to the Angel House Home and School, helping to build a library for their students. Additionally, the sales of 1700 Boo Grams the week of Halloween resulted in a $650 donation of holiday gifts to the Villages on behalf of Wanamaker Elementary.
• Student Council held 18 meetings in the library and performed several community service projects, including Christmas Caroling and also an Earth Day/Springtime activity at Rolling Hills Health Center. Mrs. Reinert was a co-sponsor of the organization.
• Mrs. Reinert acted as a moderator for a session at the Kansas Book Festival held in September 2024.
• Mrs. Reinert sent monthly newsletters to the WE community to keep them informed on happenings in the library.