Visiting Authors Coming Soon: Linda Sue Park and John Coy

ASD Libraries are thrilled to host awarding-winning authors Linda Sue Park and John Coy from March 8-19, 2015. Park and Coy will engage students from K1-Grade 12, faculty and parents in a series of workshops and presentations. 

Authors Work
Linda Sue Park has published more than 20 books for young people ranging from pictures books to young adult novels. Her book A Single Shard was awarded the 2002 Newbery Medal. ASD readers have embraced Park's book A Long Walk to Water as our One School One Book community reading experience.

John Coy is the author of nonfiction, poetry and sports fiction books including the popular true story, Hoop Genius and the junior fiction series 4 for 4. John Coy is known for his work in teaching the importance of quality nonfiction in schools.

Program Highlights
In the Elementary School, our low grades K1-Grade 2 will engage with Park and Coy in their range of historical fiction, poetry and sports stories. With Grade 3-5, Park will examine the true story of A Long Walk to Water in more depth and John Coy will conduct writing workshops.

In Middle School, Grade 7 students will participate in discussions about the writing process and and explore A Long Walk to Water as part of their Social Studies class. High School students will work with the authors in specific courses, such as Global Studies and Grade 9 English. MS and HS will also host assemblies for each author and have the option to attend after school writing workshops.

Books for Sale and Check Out
The libraries have multiple copies of Park and Coy's books available for check out and a limited supply for sale. Students may have their personal copies signed by the authors. Visit your library for prices and details.

Opportunities for Parents
On Tuesday, March 10 parents are invited to join a double-bill Talk Tuesday with the Authors.

• 7:30-8:30 am: Raising Readers: The Importance of Dads by John Coy 
• 8:15-9:15 am: Reading Matters by Linda Sue Park

One School, One Book: Parent Discussion and Water Walk

Discussion Group for Parents: A Long Walk to Water

Join us on Wednesday, February 11 from 8:15-9:15am in the ES Library for a discussion about our One School, One Book, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. We will discuss the book and it's message as it can be shared by our children.

Please view a video to watch Newbery medalist, Linda Sue Park, share the true story behind her book, that follows the stories of two young people over a generation in Sudan.

Copies of A Long Walk to Water are available for check out and for sale in the ES Library.

Walk In Their Shoes: SEENAH/GAIA Empathy Water Walk at DUCE

Inspired by A Long Walk to Water student clubs SEENAH and GAIA invited our school community to join a ‘Water Walk’ around the track at DUCE on January 30. The walk raised awareness of the millions of people without access to fresh water and to raise funds to help drill water wells in South Sudan. Funds raised on the walk will be donated directly to Salva Dut's organization, Water for South Sudan.

Parent Workshops on Information and Technology

Next Week Workshop for ES Parents: eBooks and Electronic Resources

Join us on Wednesday, January 28 from 8:15-9:15am in the ES LIbrary for a tour of the hundreds of ebooks and other electronic resources available to our elementary students through the ES Library. Parents are invited to bring their own devices to use during the workshops to set up resources for use at home.

Revised Schedule for Workshops on Information and Technology

In an effort to consolidate and reach our parent community, we have adjusted some of our information and technology workshops for parents. Please notice that some of the sessions take place as a part of the Talk Tuesday series and some take place on Wednesdays.

The sessions are designed to be practical, hands-on and to help parents support their children as learners. We encourage both new and returning parents to attend.

The following sessions will be held from 8:15-9:15 am:

• Wednesday, January 28 - eBooks and Electronic Resources (ES Library) 
• Wednesday, February 11 - A Long Walk to Water Discussion Group (ES Library) 
• Tuesday, February 24 - Digital Citizenship (E 215) 
• Tuesday, March 10 - Visiting Authors Presentations (E 215) 
• Wednesday, March 25 - Great Apps for Home (ES Library) 
• Tuesday, April 21 - InFlow Research Model K-12 (E 215) 
• Tuesday, May 12 - Safe Internet Searching (E 215) 
• Tuesday, June 2 - Summer Reading (ES Library) 

Please look for more detailed information closer to the date of each workshop.

One School, One Book: Join the Water Walk January 30

Our ASD community of readers continue to participate in our shared reading experience of One School, One Book. When you read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park you’ll be inspired to take action to help the people of South Sudan

The Middle School SEENAH and GAIA clubs were inspired and will offer an opportunity for the ASD community to take action at DUCE on Friday, January 30.

The ASD community is invited to join student clubs SEENAH and GAIA on a ‘Water Walk’ around the track to gain empathy for the millions of people without access to fresh water and to raise funds to help drill water wells in South Sudan.

The walk is for 15 - 20 minutes between 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. A suggested donation of AED 10 is appreciated and will be donated directly to Salva Dut's organization, Water for South Sudan. All participants receive a free bottle of water to enjoy when they complete the walk.

Hope hope to see you there in support of an important cause that has touched many of us as we read Salva's memorable story in A Long Walk to Water.

Book Fair Success

The Elementary School Library wishes our community a happy New Year! With a new year, comes new books to read! 

We'd like to say a big thank you to those who shopped at the Book Worm Book Fair in December. The ASD Libraries benefit by receiving 10 percent of total purchases in store credit at Bookworm Book Shop. As a result, the ES Library has more than 200 new books for our readers to check out!

There is something new for everyone! Some of the highlights include several new National Geographic books such as Extreme Illusions, Myths Busted and Everything Battle. We also have several new cookbooks and baking guides as well as some new origami, paper airplane, pet and sports books. 

Some of our new junior fiction books are Gordon Korman's latest installment, Jackpot, several titles in the Seekers series by Erin Hunter and the latest in Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Many of our readers will also be happy to know that we have several new books in the My Weirder School series by Dan Gutman including Ms. Beard is Weird and Mr. Harrison is Embarrassin'.

Make sure to stop by the library to explore our new titles. Here is a sneak peak of some covers in the slide show below: