Visiting Authors Celebrations: Week 1

When you walk on to campus, you can feel that something special is taking place at ASD. Students, teachers and parents are experiencing a kind of magic. Our community is buzzing with excitement about books and the inspirational people who create them. 

Jacqueline Woodson, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page have delighted our students from K1 right up through High School, as well as our teachers and parents. Thirty-two presentations and workshops were offered in our first week of their visit.

Highlights from the week include the Elementary School welcome assembly, hosted by our Student Librarians, an after-school writing workshop with Jacqueline for ES students and and Steve and Robin's discussions about the design process with AP Art students.

Jacqueline has captivated our Elementary students with readings from Show Way, Brown Girl Dreaming, This is the Rope, Each Kindness and The Other Side. One student described Jacqueline's poetry readings as "mesmerizing" and another said he could listen to her read all day. Jacqueline's insights into her writing and passion are inspiring for our students. Her message is clear, "Do what makes you happy. Do what you love." And writing - writing is what Jacqueline loves.

Steve and Robin engaged our younger students with a book making project in which students each created their own guessing game book. Our upper elementary grades gained insight into many intriguing animal facts and got sneak-peeks at some of Steve and Robin's latest books. Our students are fascinated by the collaborative process that Steve and Robin use to design their intricate books.

Our Library team is proud of the thoughtful questions, responses and enthusiasm of our students as they take full advantage of the learning opportunities with our visiting authors. We can't wait to discover what the second week will bring! 

Upcoming Family Opportunities:

Thursday, March 17: 

ES Art and Movement Workshop with Steve, Robin and their daughter Page 

3:15-4:15pm in the ES Library

Tuesday, March 22:
Talk Tuesday Double Feature: Books as a Mirror and Window to the World (ES Library)

8:15-9:00 Jacqueline Woodson: Diverse Characters in the Hands of All Children
9:15-10:00 Steve Jenkins: Blending Science and Art in Nonfiction

One School, One Book: Reading is Our Own Kind of Show Way

Have you read Brown Girl Dreaming and Show Way? Show your participation in our One School, One Book by adding a patch to our readers quilt in the Elementary Library. 

Each triangle patch on the windows of the library represents one reader. The warm colors of red, orange and yellow show readers of Show Way and the cool colors or blue, green and purple show readers of Brown Girl Dreaming.

Jacqueline tells us that the things that happened before you are your own kind of show way. We believe that all the books you read also make up your own kind of show way.

Stop by to add to our readers quilt and to read the thoughts of our fellow ASD readers.

One School, One Book, One Hero: Salva Dut to Visit ASD

Our community has been touched by the story of Salva Dut. Former Sudanese "Lost Boy" Salva was the inspiration for our One School, One Book, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park. Salva is not only the hero of this story, he is a hero in real life. We are thrilled to announce that ASD will have the unique privilege of a visit from Salva himself on June 4, 2015. 

Salva is the founder of Water for South Sudan (WFSS), a not-for-profit organization with a mission to transform the lives of people in South Sudan by providing clean, safe water. After

reading his story in A Long Walk to Water, Middle School SEENAH and GAIA student clubs were inspired to respond. From their 'Water Walk' at DUCE in January, the clubs raised money to donate to WWFS. Several ASD families also donated funds. Students proudly presented Linda Sue Park with $6,000 which she accepted on behalf of the organization.

The donation qualified ASD to enter WFSS's "Iron Giraffe Challenge" which encouraged schools to collectively raise enough money to purchase a new drilling rig. Eighty-one schools around the world participated and were put into a draw. The winning prize was a visit by Salva himself. ASD is the winning school!

Salva will spend a day engaging with our students on June 4. We are honored to have Salva visit us and look forward to learning even more about his inspirational work and humanitarian efforts. Details about Salva's schedule will follow soon.

Visit Water for South Sudan to learn more. Their mission is about hope and new beginnings: "Hope for a better life springs from a well. Children are healthier and can go to school, expanding their dreams and the possibility to fulfill them. Women don’t spend their days trekking long distances for water. Clinics can be built and sustained when there is a well nearby. Where safe water flows, life can blossom."