One for the Record Books

by Nicole H. Cruz

Denise Cirlos hosted a Summer Karaoke Celebration at her home in July. It was well attended and spouses were included. Librarians worked summer school, worked STEM Camp, volunteered for Summer Reading Program, traveled, enjoyed their children, and relaxed.

by Alma Paredes

A huge thank you to all of our amazing Shimotsu families who came out to support our Book Fair!

We loved seeing families explore new books, discover new favorites, and share the joy of reading together. Your support makes such a difference in helping us bring more books and exciting reading opportunities to our students.

Thank you for making our Book Fair Family Night such a special evening!

Happy reading, Shimotsu families!

by Josie Saldaña

Our library recently welcomed our very own library pets —two guinea pigs! Their arrival brought excitement and curiosity to the library. These furry friends have quickly become a wonderful addition to our library community! To make their arrival even more special, we held a contest for students to name one of the girl guinea pigs. After many creative suggestions, the students chose the perfect name: Pumpkin! We love seeing our students take ownership and get involved in making our library a welcoming and engaging space.

by Jose Guerrero

It’s been a wonderful start to the year in the library at Bentsen Elementary! Our students have jumped right into our new reading program, Book Taco! They are excited about reading, learning, and working toward their personal reading goals. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm for reading grow each day. Our students and teachers have truly embraced Book Taco, helping create a positive reading culture and inspiring a love of reading throughout our school.

This month, the McAllen Public Library will join us for our Family Reading Night as we celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month and encourage families to discover all the wonderful resources their local library has to offer.

Our students also celebrated their love of reading through Dot Day, proudly showing off their creativity and their dots as we celebrated the message of “making your mark.” It’s been a wonderful beginning to a year filled with reading, learning, creativity, and a love for the library!

by Adalberto Ramos

Jessie Jensen will be participating in two of the Battle of the Books Competitions this year! Second Grade teacher Mrs. Propst will be the coach for the BOTB Jr. Competition. Librarian Mr. Ramos will be the coach for the Elementary Schools BOTB Competition! We hope to have a great BOTB Competition again this year and good luck to all the Sharyland ISD Teams!

by Nicole H. Cruz

Three days, five resource presentations, lots of friendly faces, and loads of learning were the result of the LevelUP Conference for Sharyland ISD Lead Librarian Nicole Cruz. Mrs. Cruz has served the school district since 2009 as the lead librarian. She shared information with teachers about ebooks, audiobooks, and digital resources that can be accessed through MackinVIA.

by Wally Trevino

Instead of opening the year with a list of rules, try teaching classroom expectations through story. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein and My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook both tackle the same challenge — the urge to blurt or interrupt — in ways kids instantly recognize and laugh at.

Read Interrupting Chicken first and discuss why the chicken keeps jumping into the story. Then read My Mouth Is a Volcano! and introduce its "simmer, don't erupt" strategy for holding a thought until it's your turn.

Together, the books give your class shared shorthand — "chicken moments" and "volcano moments" — that turns correction into gentle coaching all year, rather than repeated scolding.

by Oneida Aleman

Students are back in the library!! It is wonderful to see our shelves buzzing with activity again as students explore new books, discover exciting stories, and reconnect with their love of reading.

The library is already filled with curious minds, happy readers, and the excitement of finding that perfect book. From adventures and mysteries to graphic novels and nonfiction treasures, there is something waiting for every student to discover.

Here's to a year full of reading, learning, imagining, creating, and growing together. Welcome back, readers... your next great adventure is just a page away!

by Nancy P. Garza

Pioneer High School Librarian Mrs. Nancy Garza recently welcomed English I and English II classes to the library for their annual Library Orientation.

During the orientation, students learned about library policies and procedures, available resources, and expectations for using the library throughout the school year. Mrs.Garza also reviewed important Chromebook care guidelines, reminding students of their responsibility to properly care for their district-issued devices.

Students also got a look back at some of the exciting library events and challenges from last school year. From special activities to opportunities for students to participate, create, and connect, the library was a busy place and this year promises even more!

Mrs. Garza shared that many new events, challenges, and activities are planned for the 2026–2027 school year, giving students plenty of reasons to stop by throughout the year.

Be sure to visit the Pioneer High School Library and see what exciting things are happening. There is always something new waiting for you at the library!

by Thanya Montemayor

Ruben Hinojosa Library hosted the Honorable Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt for our 2026 Student Council Induction Ceremony. Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt spoke to our students about the importance of serving our community. The student’s parents were invited to witness their student’s achievements and were given a delicious breakfast.

by Monica Arguelles

Our kindergarten classes recently learned how to be responsible library book caretakers by sorting items that are helpful to use with a library book and items that should be kept away from books. Students learned that bookmarks are a great choice for saving their place because they help protect the pages. They also learned that food and water should always be kept away from library books because spills and crumbs can damage them. Crayons, glue, and scissors should also stay away from library books because they can mark, stain, or tear up the pages. By learning these simple habits, students are becoming responsible library users and showing respect for the books they borrow. Let’s remember to use a bookmark, keep books away from food and drinks, and always handle our library books with care!

by Oneida Aleman

Families shopping, families reading, students testing, and smiles all around. There is nothing better than seeing our school community come together to celebrate the love of reading.

Thank you to all of our students, families, teachers, and staff who helped make this event such a wonderful success. Your support helps create a community where reading thrives and learning never stops!

Building readers, creating memories, and growing together, one book at a time.

by Monica Silva

Our first library lesson of the year was all about learning library expectations while having fun! We began by reading A Perfectly Messed-Up Story and watching a short video to review how we can be respectful, responsible, and ready to learn in the library.

Students then put their knowledge to the test with a fun game of Roll & Tell: Library Orientation! Students rolled large foam dice, and the number they landed on determined which library scenario they had to answer. They discussed what they would do in different situations and demonstrated their understanding of library expectations.

This interactive lesson was a great way to review library procedures, encourage student participation, and get everyone ready for another fantastic year of reading and learning in the library!

by Nicole H. Cruz

Alison Young, STC Academic Outreach Librarian, partnered with Nicole Cruz to visit students on August 25th at the West Cafe during Lunch A and Lunch B. She shared resources with dual enrollment students and answered questions from students interested in taking Dual Credit courses. On the evening of August 26th she presented to parents and students about opportunities like Online Tutoring, Ask a Librarian, Writing Center submissions, and online resources. Freshmen Mia Lopez won a $10 gift card from Chick Fil A.

by Josie Saldaña

The library also had the opportunity to provide training for our RLA (Reading Language Arts) teachers on two important resources: HB 900 and Beanstack. The training focused on helping teachers better understand the requirements of HB 900 while exploring how Beanstack can support reading engagement, tracking, and student participation. It was an opportunity to collaborate, learn, and equip our teachers with tools that can strengthen literacy and encourage a love of reading across our schools.

by Nicole H. Cruz

On July 30th, the Sharyland ISD Librarians attended the annual full day workshop to learn and grow professionally. One of the guest speakers was Kate Horan. Ms. Horan is the Director of the McAllen Public Libraries. She is also the TLA President-Elect. She shared the importance of belonging to a professional organization as well as strategies to relieve anxiety such as breathing and yoga. It was a great honor to have her speak to us.

by Wally Trevino

Classrooms everywhere are buzzing about Book Taco, a gamified reading platform that's redefining what independent reading feels like for students. Think of it as a modern, digital-age upgrade to traditional book quiz programs — one built around fun, motivation, and real engagement.

Here's why students and teachers love it: as kids finish books, they take interactive quizzes to show what they've learned, then earn coins, badges, and avatars along the way. They can even care for Pookie, a virtual reading pet who "grows" the more a student reads. Suddenly, finishing a chapter feels less like a task and more like leveling up in a game.

Book Taco also builds in vocabulary lessons, writing prompts, and graphic organizers, so comprehension and creativity grow together. Teachers can launch friendly reading contests, track real-time progress through detailed reports, and celebrate milestones with printable certificates — giving every student a visible, exciting reason to keep turning pages.

For reluctant readers especially, the payoff is huge: what once felt like a chore becomes something to look forward to. Book Taco turns independent reading time into an adventure kids actually ask for — proof that a little gamification can spark a lifelong love of books.

by Monica Silva

We kicked off the new school year with a fun and exciting first week in the library! Students were welcomed back with an interactive prize wheel that added a little extra excitement to their library visit.

After checking out their books, students had the opportunity to spin the wheel for a chance to win fun prizes such as books, pencils, bookmarks, and other small goodies. The students loved seeing what the wheel would land on and cheering on their classmates as they took their turns.

It was a wonderful way to welcome students back, encourage excitement about visiting the library, and start the year with smiles, books, and a little bit of fun!

We are looking forward to another amazing year of reading, learning, and making memories in the library!

by Nicole H. Cruz

The first students to check out books on Wednesday August 19th were seniors. Both SHS and SA3 seniors came to check out a book. Each of them was rewarded with a library t-shirt in their size and favorite color. Readers are Leaders. Studies show that students who read outside of academic texts and assignments score better on SAT, ACT, and TSI exams.

by Nancy P. Garza

The Pioneer High School Library was buzzing with creativity as Mr. Torres’s class visited the library to create spirit buttons for the upcoming pep rally and football game!

Mr. Torres guided students through the design and printing process, allowing them to use their creativity and technology skills to develop their own unique designs. Once their designs were ready, Librarian Mrs. Garza guided students through the button assembly process, teaching them how to use the library’s button-making equipment to turn their designs into finished products.

Activities like this demonstrate that the Pioneer High School Library is more than a place to check out books. It is a space where students and teachers can collaborate, explore technology, create, learn, and build connections. The library looks forward to providing even more opportunities for students to create, discover, and celebrate Pioneer spirit throughout the school