Wanamaker Library Newsletter

This newsletter will bring you information to highlight the experiences our students have in our school library. We will also inform you of learning resources, new books, reading programs, research projects, tech tips, special events, and other news. We hope you find this information useful and value any feedback that you care to share. Enjoy!

Mrs. Reinert begins her twelfth year as a teacher-librarian at Wanamaker Elementary. Her favorite part of the position is getting to work with every student and staff member at WE. She also loves that her position allows for creativity and a place for her to indulge her love for books AND people! In her free time, she enjoys exercising, traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and of course, reading. She and her husband, Mark, are the parents of four grown children--Caitlin (and husband Carl), Austin (and wife Bridget), Alex, and Claire. Watching their grandchildren-- Amelia (7), Elaine (4), twins Cora and Colin (2), and Wesley (1) grow and change has been the cherry on the sundae!

Mrs. Armstrong starts her fifteenth year as the part-time library assistant at Wanamaker Elementary. We share her with Indian Hills Elementary where she is also the library assistant. She says the best part of her job is getting to interact with the students. In her free time, she enjoys Jazzercise, watching TV and movies, and spending time with her husband and kids. She and her husband, Jeff, are the parents of three grown children--Lanee, Ellie (doing her student teaching at Indian Hills), and Rylan.

I want to give Jenny a shout-out in advance for being the talent behind the WE Library's bulletin boards! I will never tire of her colorful, awesome creations! Thank you, Jenny!

Scan the QR code with a mobile device, using an app such as QR Reader, and visit the library's website by clicking on the Wanamaker Elementary link. The website has links to many resources for students, teachers, and families.

This summer parents and staff were invited to catch their student(s) reading, take a photo of them, and submit the photo to Mrs. Reinert to be used in a Back-to-School hallway display! It has been a lot of fun to see all the different places kids and staff were caught reading---at home, in nature, on vacation, with their pet, even next to a Barbie car! Summertime reading for pleasure can't be beat!

The students completing the summer reading program at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library were treated to an ice cream sundae and brownie party when they returned to school in August. Students chose from whipped cream, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, and cherries to top their sundaes--yum!

Additionally, Karis was the lucky recipient of the $15 Barnes and Noble gift card drawing.

Fifty-two students earned their summer reading certificate from TSCPL---you should be proud, Wanamaker readers!

The party was a great way to end the week, start the new school year, and to celebrate reading for pleasure!

The 14th annual Kansas Book Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washburn University, hosted by the Washburn Library. The 2025 Festival will bring another amazing lineup of 50 authors, including NY Times Bestsellers and winners of national book awards. The festival will also feature outdoor performances, a book-art exhibit, food trucks, and exhibitor tents with 40 publishers, nonprofits, and individual authors.

The Kansas Book Festival is for all ages and interests, and all events are free. A number of presentations and performances are aimed at young attendees! For instance, the festival hosts the youth awards of the Kansas Authors Club, youth performers with Kyler Carpenter, and a presentation by the winner of the Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award. Also offered will be outdoor children's activities in partnership with Kansas Children's Discovery Center and the Mulvane Art Lab.

I am honored to moderate a session with authors Lesa Cline-Ransome and Susan Lynn Meyer on the topic of New Settler Stories for New Readers. They will talk about ex-slaves and Ukrainian refugees migrating to the 19th century plains. I can't wait to meet Lesa and Susan and learn from them!

Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity for a fun free literary experience for the whole family! Please click below for Festival details and to view the full schedule.

All WE students will have access to the BookBreak Author Series again this year. The program will bring 2-3 bestselling children's author events to a network of schools each month via live stream, including Q & A from the students. The events will be geared toward specific grade levels (K-1st, 2nd- 3rd, or 4th- 5th). Each grade level will have the opportunity to hear from an age-appropriate author at least once per month. Recordings of the talks will also be available for future use.

The live talks will be 10- 15 minutes long. They are designed as a short "brain break" for teachers or librarians to share with their classes. This length offers value while fitting into busy schedules. Most authors will present two live talks at different times during the school day for even more flexibility. Recordings will be available for those who cannot be on live.

Some of the bestselling authors who will be participating this year include Kevin Henkes, Aaron Reynolds, Kate DiCamillo, Eric Litwin, Lois Lowry, and more.

A huge THANK YOU to our PTA for funding this wonderful opportunity for our students. Your support is very much appreciated!

WE students celebrated their grandparents and other loved ones by inviting them to enjoy a donut with them before school on Friday, Sept. 5. The weather turned off nice and the entire front lawn was filled with young and old alike. After finishing their sweet treats, many loved ones peeked into their students' classrooms.

We read the book titled The Hole Story of the Doughnut in our 3rd and 4th grade library classes that week, ending our class with all students sampling a donut hole. I reminded the students to think of 16-year-old sailor Gregory Henry, the creator of the doughnut, as they bit into their yummy pastries with their loved ones on Friday morning!

Sept. 19-- Kansas Book Festival presenting author Kristin Gray will come to WE and visit with our 4th graders about her career as an author.

Sept. 20-- Kansas Book Festival held at Washburn University from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Mrs. Reinert will moderate a session with authors Lesa Cline-Ransome and Susan Lynn Meyer on the topic of New Settler Stories for New Readers.

Sept. 12 & 26-- Student Council meetings held in the library at 8:00 A.M.

Sept. 26-- 2nd grade classes will participate in Mystery Skypes to meet and determine the location of our Buddy Classes for the Global Read Aloud 2025.

Oct. 6- Nov. 14-- All 2nd graders will participate in the Global Read Aloud Picture Book Study in their library classes by connecting with our buddy classes in a variety of ways.