Happy New Year! Let's Kickoff One School, One Book!
Hey, NES Hawks!
I am so excited to kickoff our very first "One School, One Book" this month with the book Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater. Thank you so much to the staff members who have generously given their time to record chapters so students have the ability to listen to the recordings with family! Read on for links and info about One School, One Book.
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If you have students in 2nd-5th grades, please make sure to send them with their Chromebooks EVERY time they have library class. Thanks!
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Library Schedule:
January 8-12: Library Week A (rescheduling Mon./Tues. folks for later in the week)
January 11th: Golightly/Marshall at Testing Training Central Services (9-11:30am)
January 15-19: Library Week B (rescheduling Monday holiday classes)
January 22-26: Library Week A
January 29-February 2: Library Week B
One School, One Book: Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
I will be distributing our books to classrooms this week!
We also have some posters to display and bookmarks for everyone. Here is a brief synopsis of the book for those who are unfamiliar with the story (a Newbery honor book from 1938--oldie but goodie!):
"Mr. Popper is a house painter in his hometown of Stillwater, but he dreams of Polar expeditions. As part of his interest in all things Antarctic, he attempts to raise a troop of penguins – in his “neat little bungalow at 432 Proudfoot Avenue.” Fantastical, yes. And yet it has been engaging and beguiling generations of children who have marveled at the silly antics of the penguins. Who wouldn’t love to have giant snowdrifts in your house and learn to slide down them on your belly from actual penguins?
When feeding and housing the penguins gets to be a strain on the family budget, the Popper family trains the penguins to perform and takes them on the road. In the end, though, penguins belong in cold climes, and Mr. Popper finally gets his chance to join a Polar crew with his beloved penguins. No special effects and pyrotechnics needed, just a sweet story, well told, from yesteryear.
This simplicity allows readers and listeners of this novel to re-acquaint themselves with the value and beauty of lovely English prose – meant to amuse and entertain. It also gives students and families a chance to discuss how society has changed in the intervening decades. So, while the antics of the penguins will delight your students, there is a little more to consider as you read together.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins tells the story of aspirations and adventures in 150 pages, with delightful illustrations to support younger listeners. It is a great first step into family read-alouds, and will lead your families to eagerly look for their next book."
We will be following the 15-day reading schedule, which gives folks who may fall behind a day here or there a *small* buffer in which to catch up if needed so everyone can be done with the book prior to our Family Night on February 8th.
Time to get excited! 🐧🤩🐧
Book Distribution: January 10th
Start Date: January 16th
Finish Date: February 5th
Family Night: February 8th
15-Day Reading Schedule for
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
by Richard and Florence Atwater
Day One: pp. 1-12
Chapter 1 – Stillwater
Chapter 2 – The Voice in the Air
Day Two: pp. 13-20
Chapter 3 – Out of the Antarctic
Day Three: pp. 21-28
Chapter 4 – Captain Cook
Day Four: pp. 29-36
Chapter 5 – Troubles with a Penguin
Day Five: pp. 37-48
Chapter 6 – More Troubles
Chapter 7 – Captain Cook Builds a Nest
Day Six: pp. 49-56
Chapter 8 – Penguin’s Promenade
Day Seven: pp. 57-68
Chapter 9 – In the Barber Shop
Chapter 10 – Shadows
Day Eight: pp. 69-82
Chapter 11 – Greta
Chapter 12 – More Mouths to Feed
Day Nine: pp. 83-96
Chapter 13 – Money Worries
Chapter 14 – Mr. Greenbaum
Day Ten: pp. 97-106
Chapter 15 – Popper’s Performing Penguins
Day Eleven: pp. 107-114
Chapter 16 – On the Road
Day Twelve: pp. 115-122
Chapter 17 – Fame
Day Thirteen: pp. 123-130
Chapter 18 – April Winds
Day Fourteen: pp. 131-140
Chapter 19 – Admiral Drake
Day Fifteen: pp. 141-148
Chapter 20 – Farewell, Mr. Popper
"All for O.W.L.S." Coin Drive January 16th-February 8th!
To help students make a real-world connection to our school-wide "One School, One Book" event, we wanted to encourage our students to look outside of their own little bubbles of experience and see what we could do to help a local organization, the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter (OWLS) with some recent visitors they've received from the Arctic!
A small group of Arctic dovekies, migratory birds related to puffins who were on their way to Nova Scotia, blew into our area recently, and their care and upkeep is very expensive. In talking with Mrs. Parish about how we could help, we landed on a coin drive. Here's how this will work:
1. Each classroom will have a bin (whatever you choose for collection--it does not matter as long as it holds a daily donation of coins) to collect coins/donations in each day. The donations will be dropped off in the office to a larger collection container, and at the end of our "One School, One Book" event, we will count up all of our collected coins and monies and give this as a donation to the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter to help support them in caring for the dovekies and other animals they receive on a daily basis.
2. Students are not required to give anything, and shouldn't feel any pressure, but we want to encourage those who are able to send in what they can to help.
3. I am introducing this in the library with classes, and we will be featuring it on the morning news as well.
4. Staff members and local businesses who have the means are certainly encouraged to do what they can to support this worthy cause as well, but we are not considering this a competition because we know that every home situation is different, and we do not want anyone to feel guilty or pressured if they are not able to contribute at this time.
5. After the money is counted, I have talked with Mrs. Parish about selecting a few students to come with us to the wildlife shelter to give the donation, and hopefully get to see the dovekies if possible. These students will be selected at a later date.
6. This money will not need to be receipted, but it does need to be turned in to the collection bin in the office daily before 10:00 am.
7. More info will go out to families via a letter and Dojo/social media message on Tuesday when we kick off "One School, One Book".
8. STAFF MEMBERS who may want to write a check for their donation--see Cole in the office, because she is setting up an account just for this fundraiser, so she can tell you what to do if you want to write a check.
Battle of the Books Update
Our Battle of the Books team is working hard to read and learn all about the books on our list for this year! In the pic above, you can see teammates playing "Trashketball" to review info from the books. They LOVE this game, and "Grudgeball", and let me tell you--they are competitive! 😄
Please remind your BOB team students to stay after on Thursdays. I try to send weekly reminders as well, but several kids have forgotten. Competition will be here before we know it!
Here is the book list. It is recommended that they read each book at least once, preferably more than once, to ensure the information "sticks", so getting an early start is a HUGE benefit! You can also send them down to me if they have questions. Parents can also reach out to me or Ms. Rhodes via ClassDojo with questions.
School News Team
Our news team is up and running! Please help your students remember to arrive on time. Latecomers do not get their preferred jobs, and it delays production, so we appreciate everyone on news team getting to the newsroom at 7:30.
Be sure to follow our NES News Team channel for the latest news episodes. We also post the most recent episodes on our school website.
The News Team Schedule for January is below:
January 8-12: Team 8
January 15-19: Team 1
January 22-26: Team 2
January 29-February 2: Team 3
Tech Tidbits...
Using Podcasts in the Classroom:
A number of teachers have begun using podcasting with students (yay!), so I wanted to share this great compilation of kid-friendly podcasts, broken down by age-appropriateness. This is a great supplementary material that helps students hone their listening skills, and it is a fun way to share information with students. Check out this list of great kid-friendly podcasts!
Missing Devices:
Just a friendly reminder--if a student loses their device, please let Mr. Daniels know ASAP. There have been several instances where he was not notified for quite some time, and that leaves the student without a device, and it prolongs the process of us finding it or securing a replacement. Thanks for your help with this!
Staff Survey:
Mr. Daniels and I are working to create some great tech PD opportunities for our staff, but we want to make sure what we are offering is what you actually WANT, so please fill out this short survey so we know what you want and need for this year! CLICK HERE
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What is the Crystal Coast Reading Council?
The Crystal Coast Reading Council is SO excited to be hosting NC author/poet Allan Wolf right here at NES this month! He has had books featured on the Battle of the Books list, he's hilarious and engaging, and he can share ways you can integrate poetry and writing into your day-to-day instruction. Please join us in the library for this awesome event on January 18th at 5pm! FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WELCOME ALSO!!
Mission Statement: To foster lifelong literacy for all citizens by partnering with educators, parents, and community members through programs, meetings, and scholarships.
We provide monthly PD (both virtual and face-to-face opportunities), and we also sponsor a statewide Young Authors and Illustrators Contest. Check out the meetings we have scheduled so far for this year below:
January 18: Allan Wolf Meet the Author Event (Newport Elementary School)
February 15: Sheila Turnage Meet the Author Event (Beaufort Middle School)
March 17-19: NC Reading Association's Annual Literacy Conference, Winston-Salem
April 18: Conference Sharing Meeting
May 8: Planning Meeting
Contact Me!
Email: emily.golightly@carteretk12.org
Website: bit.ly/golightlyreads
Location: 219 Chatham Street, Newport, NC, USA
Phone: 252.223.4201 x324426
Facebook: facebook.com/nesmediacenter
Twitter/X: @EmilyGolightly3
Contact Me!
Email: john.daniels@carteretk12.org
Location: 219 Chatham Street, Newport, NC, USA
Phone: 252.223.4201 x324501