Leanne Robichaux, Librarian
mailto: lrobichaux@maryqueenofpeace.org
Welcome to our library! I am Ms. Leanne, the Librarian, and this is my eighth year at M.Q.P. The library keeps getting better and better, and I am so excited to welcome our new students and see the smiling faces of our existing students! Library is a critical part of our curriculum. In library, students will participate in the many exciting activities I have planned for them. Here is a sampling of what I have prepared:
· Our preschoolers will enjoy story time every other week, which will reinforce their weekly classroom theme.
· Our kindergarteners will learn basic library skills and engage in author studies every other week. They will have an opportunity to check out one book.
· Our first through seventh graders will visit the library weekly. They will learn a variety of library skills using computers, the Smart Board and other library resources. Each child will also have an opportunity to check out a library book weekly.
My goal is to help create a life long love of reading in all of our students!
Library Procedures:
All students will attend library during their scheduled library time. Using books and the laptops, the students will research and practice various library skills. They will also be exposed to various types of literature and have an opportunity to check out a book. Please help your child to remember his or her book on library day, so he or she can get a new book each week. As a general rule, each child is allowed to check out one book at a time. There are two exceptions to this rule: Birthday Book Club books and class projects. If a class is working on a project, students will be allowed to check out one reading book plus the book(s) needed for the project. Books being used for a project will be due the library period after the project is due. I will work closely with the individual teacher to make appropriate books available for each project.
If a book is out for more than four weeks, I will send an overdue notice home with your child. If the book is lost or damaged the replacement fee found on the notice should be sent in with your child. Since a student is only allowed one book out at a time, the replacement fee must be paid before the student will be allowed to check out another book.
Read for the Gold!
Accelerated Reader:
Starting the second nine weeks, all students in grades first through seventh will participate in our new Accelerated Reader program (A.R.). His or her reading teacher will assign each student an individualized reading goal for each nine-week period. Students will read books on their reading level and take an A.R. test to reach their reading goal with at least an 85% accuracy rate. The A.R. program will be incentive based. Our new A.R. program is web-based. We now have access to all A.R. tests that are available. During library, I will help students find an A.R. book on their reading level to help them reach the goal. Students are also welcome to read A.R. books from other sources, as long as the book is on their level. A complete list of A.R. tests is available on the school web site found at www.mqpcs.org.
At the end of each nine-week period, all students who have reached their individualized reading goal with at least an 85% rate of accuracy will be rewarded. This program is a part of our reading curriculum. Please encourage your child to read daily to help foster his or her reading skills.
A.R. goal due dates are as follows:
Second Quarter December 19
Third Quarter March 5
Fourth Quarter May 18
Scholastic Book Fair:
Our first fair was a huge success! The library now has a budget of $2,800 to buy new library bound books for all of our students to read and enjoy. Thank you all for your support. Look for our second fair in March. We will have many quality books and items for sale. Books make a great gift and at the same time you will be supporting our reading program at M.Q.P. The library keeps 30% of all profits, which represents the library’s total budget. So remember, the more we earn during the Scholastic fair, the more books I can purchase and make available to our students! Look for more information about our book fair in our News Notes.
Birthday Book Club:
You can also help out our library by enrolling your child into the birthday book club. This is a fun way to get new books and A.R. tests in our library plus it helps make your child’s special day even more memorable. For a $25 donation your child will be presented a special book at morning meeting on his or her special day. A book plate will be affixed on the inside cover to commemorate the special occasion. The student will be crowned King or Queen of the library and sit in our throne during their library time. The student will read and enjoy the book for two weeks and then return it to the library, so all of our students can read and enjoy the book too! Kings and Queens will be able to check out a library book during library along with their birthday book. Enrollment forms are in your parent packet and extra forms are available in the office.
Fun Websites
www.carolhurst.com Book reviews, activities, related reading and more.
www.kidsclick.org Web search for kids by librarians.
www.kids.gov Government websites for kids.
www.deweybrowse.org Have fun learning about the Dewey Decimal System.
www.ala.org/greatsites American Library Association site for great websites for kids.