A Fond Farewell to Ms. Santha

Santha Nair has given 36 years of dedicated service to the ASD Elementary Library. Her warm smile, gentle manner and kind nature have touched the hearts of hundreds of students, teachers and parents. 

From reading with students to helping find the perfect book to repairing our most loved books to perfectly setting up for each and every class, Santha's passion and commitment for her work shine through every day.

She will be dearly missed and the library won't be the same without her. We wish her all the best on her new adventure in India.

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

Excitement was in the air on campus on Thursday, June 4. Salva Dut's visit marked an occasion to celebrate as a school. The hero whose story touched the lives of our community actually visited ASD. Our students, teachers and parents were brought together by the story of Salva's journey in A Long Walk to Water.

Salva spent his morning with the Elementary School, presenting to three groups about his work and life mission to bring clean water to the people of South Sudan, transforming lives one well at a time. Salva shared his work with Water for South Sudan and graciously answered many questions about his life. Salva's encouraged our students not to take what they have for granted. He urged them to continue to use their good fortune to help those in need. His message to work for peace and to help others was heard by our community of learners.

Representatives from the ES Student Council and Student Librarians gave a presentation to show Salva the work that was done in the Elementary School with reading A Long Walk to Water and planning for our ES Water Walk. Salva thanked the ASD students and community for their contributions to the Iron Giraffe Challenge and for changing the lives of people in South Sudan.

Middle School students from clubs SEENAH and GAIA also had the opportunity to present their work in raising funds and awareness through the Water Walk at DUCE in January. Salva then addressed the entire Middle School in an assembly where he received a standing ovation.

We ended our day with Salva, with a community celebration. Families were invited to a talk and reception with Salva. Once again, he generously answered all questions, shook hands and took photos with everyone who attended.

Salva is an example for us all. He is a person who lives by core values and who is dedicated to the pursuit of his dreams. He is a person that is changing the world for the better. Salva's visit marked a full circle for ASD's experience of One School, One Book. First the reading of a remarkable book as a community. Then the opportunity to work with Linda Sue Park who lit a spark in us as readers. And finally, the honor of meeting Salva, the hero himself. Salva's story, his work, his visit to ASD will be with us for a lifetime.

One School, One Book: Brown Girl Dreaming

Next school year, ASD will have a great opportunity to share Jacqueline Woodson’s 2014 National Book Award winner, Brown Girl Dreaming in a school-wide reading event, One School, One Book. 

In addition, we will celebrate Woodson's Newbery Honor picture book, Show Way, as a supplemental reading experience that will include even our youngest readers.

One School, One Book is a program designed to create a shared reading experience within a school community. Each grade level across the school will participate in voluntary activities to promote and enrich the shared reading experience.

The goals for ASD's One School, One Book event are to celebrate literacy, build community, encourage intergenerational conversation and promote our Visiting Author Program.

ASD students in Grades 4 through 12, staff and parents are encouraged to read Brown Girl Dreaming in anticipation of Jacqueline Woodson’s visit. In addition, we we encourage all of our community to read Show Way. We plan to offer a range of opportunities to allow community members to engage in discussion about these powerful stories.

Brown Girl Dreaming, recipient of the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award as well as the National Book Award for 2014, tells the story of Jacqueline's childhood, in verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, she shares a poetic memoir of growing up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Jacqueline reflects on finding her voice through writing stories, despite struggling with reading as a child.

Show Way is also based on Jacqueline's family history. "Show Ways”, or quilts, once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves. This is the story of seven generations of girls and women who were quilters and artists and freedom fighters.

The libraries will have multiple copies of Brown Girl Dreaming and Show Way for check out and for sale next school year. Alternatively, community members can pick up their own copy over the summer. Stayed tuned for more information on how to participate in our One Book, One School event.

Visiting Authors 2016: Jacqueline Woodson and Steve Jenkins

ASD Libraries are thrilled to announce our visiting authors for the next school year. We will have the privilege to host awarding-winning authors Jacqueline Woodson and Steve Jenkins from March 13-24, 2016. During their 10-day visit, Woodson and Jenkins will engage our students from K1 through Grade 12, our staff and our parents in a series of workshops and presentations.

Jacqueline Woodson is the prolific author of 28 books for young people ranging from pictures books to young adult novels. Woodson has won the Newbery Honor three times, the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Coretta Scott King Award. Some of her well know books include The Other Side, Locomotion, Show Way and Hush. Most recently, she won the National Book Award for Brown Girl Dreaming.

Steve Jenkins is the author of nonfiction 35 beautifully illustrated nonfiction science books for early and middle grades. A winner the Caldecott Honor and of many awards, Jenkins work brings animals, habits and nature to life through fascinating facts and intricate paper collage art. Some titles our students love are Actual Size, Creature Features and Eye to Eye. Jenkins' cowriter and wife, Robin Page, will also join him in presenting at ASD.

We look forward to working with these two talented authors next year. The libraries have multiple copies of Woodson's and Jenkins' books available for check out. More details about the authors' schedules and opportunities to purchase books for signing will be shared after the summer.

ES Student Librarians: Learning, Leading and Lending a Hand

Do you ever wonder where your friends are during recess and after school in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade? They are volunteering and making a difference in the ES Library and school by making sure the books are cleaned, shelved and many other important tasks. These students are providing community service to make the Elementary School at ASD a better place. If you are a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader interested in the Student Librarian Program next year, you will be eligible to apply in the Fall!

--Written by Sejal Mehta

The ES Student Librarian program began informally with a few keen students offering their time to help in the library. These volunteers’ dedication soon became noticed by other students who also wanted to volunteer. It became clear that the elementary library needed an organised system for scheduling and training students who were committed to the library.

The goal of the Student Librarian program is to give students leadership opportunities, to help students take ownership of their library and to offer students a place to obtain work experience while giving back to the school community in a meaningful way. The program offers a series of training sessions throughout the year for building library skills. Student Librarians assist the library staff in daily library operations and assist library visitors.

Student Librarians are expected to commit to at least one session per week and attend after-school training sessions. The Student Librarian Team warmly greet and help library visitors. They complete various housekeeping tasks such as front facing books, straightening shelves and organising magazines. As Student Librarians acquire more training, they also “read” shelves, shelve books, work at the circulation desk and manage iPads and Laptops.

The entire ES Library team is proud of this extraordinary group of students! We thank you for your commitment, continuous learning and the contributions you have made to your library and school.

-- by Ms. Carly Brown and Ms. Pollock

The ES Student Librarian Team:

Walaa Al Alamin
Hannah Caudill
Rania Harryanto
Nihal Khatwani
Sara Mitri
Alia Dasmal
Tyson McCarty
Fiona Knight
Lucia Franco
Sarah Elzein
Maya Abdel-Wadood
Sejal Mehta
Mashal Shaikhani