Horizon Dec 2023 - Flipbook - Page 22
OFF THE SHELF LIBRARY UPDATE
Kelli Yonker, Library Media Coordinator
The Shelton libraries are multi-faceted,
full of stories, activities and connections.
Students at Shelton visited our libraries
to access information, collaborate on
projects, study, meet or just relax. The
librarians this year evolved with the
needs of the staff and students. They
collaborated with teachers to create
inquiry-based projects, share exciting and
new literature and share integrated library
skills with the academic curriculum.
Authors Visits
Several authors visited Shelton throughout the year. Dorayne
Breedlove, a Native-American storyteller, delighted Lower
Elementary students with stories, music and artifacts during
Native American Heritage Month.
Lower Elementary students were surprised with a virtual visit
from authors John Schu and Kate DiCamillo. The big screen in
the Black Box brought Schu and DiCamillo to life as they read
aloud from DiCamillo’s book about Mercy Watson, the pig
with an appetite for buttered toast. During lunch, hot buttered
toast was shared with the students.
John Schu, author of “This is a Story,” “This is a School” and
“The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading
Life,” visited Upper Elementary students in November. After
sharing an energetic presentation about the gift of story and
celebrating the work of several authors, he gifted each student
a copy of “The One and Only Ivan.”
Book Fair
The librarians held the Shelton Book Fair on Oct. 7-20. It was
a huge success with more than $28,000 in books sold, which
means 4,500 books are in our students’ hands! Upper School
students helped Lower School students complete their wish
lists. The coordinated events with dads and special friends
were thoroughly enjoyed by all. A huge thank you to our
parent volunteers who made everything run smoothly.
BY THE NUMBERS
56,057
56
28,485
27,572
21,787
386,694
213,671
Total cataloged items
Books per student (American Library Association
recommends 18, Texas recommends eight)
Secondary books and
cataloged items
Elementary books and
cataloged items
Database
searches
Digital pages read in the Learning
Ally Reading Program
DECEMBER 2023
THE HORIZON
National Library Week was
April 23-29. The theme this
year was “There’s More to
the Story.” In celebration
of reading, all students
and teachers from Early
Childhood through 12th
grade read stories in their
classrooms from 8:30-8:40
a.m. on Monday, April 24.
Middle and Upper School
students read stories to the
Lower and Upper Elementary
classes.
Librarian Assistant Hali Garner, Library Media
Coordinator Kelli Yonker, Elementary Media
Specialist Mary Drexler, Upper Elementary
Librarian Marissa Montgomery and Middle
School Librarian Deanna Wallace.
Youth Creator Award Winners
The Shelton Upper School Library sponsored entries by 12 students
in ninth-twelfth grades in the Texas Youth Creators Awards. This is
an annual program through the Texas Library Association. Three
students won with their submissions and were honored at the state
library conference in April. The winning students were River Evans,
who won second place in Black & White Photography, Christina
Cook, who won second place in Video, and James Chanez, who
won third place in Video. Thank you to the teachers of these
students, Evan Hampton and Hunter Duesing.
Read Across America
Shelton students celebrated National Read Across America
Day on March 2 by listening to Pulitzer Prize winner and author
Alice Walker. Through the video, she shared her newest book,
“Sweet People Are Everywhere,” which is about students taking a
trip around the globe and discovering how sweet people can be
found worldwide. Middle and Upper School students learned about
the author’s book-writing process and her inspiration for writing
the book.
Reading Celebrations
Lower School, from Early Childhood through second grade,
participated in the Spring Trot Into Reading Adventure. One
hundred and twelve students participated, reading a total of 1,107
books. Fifteen students read more than 20 books each. They
were rewarded with a pizza and ice cream social, a certificate
of achievement and a book of their choice. Ninety-five students
participated in Upper Elementary’s Spring Reading Challenge, and
14 of them reached the topmost goal of reading 25 titles. A total
of 1,056 books were read by these 95 students. We celebrated
by dancing to fun tunes, eating frozen treats, playing games and
picking out new books. The 14 participants who went the extra
mile received trophies and Barnes & Noble gift cards. Students in
third-sixth grade were also given the opportunity to participate in
the Texas Bluebonnet Program.
Library Staff
Library materials
circulated
20
National Library Week
SHELTON SCHOOL
Kelli Yonker
Library Media Coordinator and
Upper School Librarian
Mary Drexler
Early Childhood Librarian
Marissa Montgomery
Upper Elementary Librarian
Deanna Wallace
Middle School Librarian
Hali Garner
Library/Development Assistant