Farewell and Introduction

Farewell from Mrs. H

Dear Indian River School Families,

It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform you of my departure from Indian River School as the Library Media Specialist. While it is difficult to say goodbye to such a wonderful community, I am excited to share that my family and I will be relocating to Minnesota to support our son's pursuit of a hockey career.

Over the past few years, it has been an absolute privilege to work with your children and to be a part of their educational journey here at Indian River School. I have treasured the relationships formed with both students and parents alike, and I will sincerely miss the daily interactions and shared experiences.

Our decision to move comes after much consideration and discussion within our family. Our son has been accepted into a few private schools well-known for their hockey programs, and we believe that this move will provide him with the best opportunities to pursue his passion.

As I embark on this new chapter in Minnesota, I am excited to share that I have accepted a position at a private school where I will continue to teach and inspire students in areas such as growth mindset, digital citizenship, and STEM. It is a role that aligns perfectly with my skills and interests, and I am eager to see where this journey takes me.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's educational experience at Indian River School. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Library Media Specialist, and I will carry with me fond memories of our time together.

Wishing you all the very best for the future.

Warmly,

Mrs. H

Introduction from Mr. Guilford

I have been a librarian for thirteen years and before that was a social studies teacher at Mascoma Valley Regional High School. I am also a member of the Canaan Fire Department. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, fly fishing and biking. I am looking forward to working with students and staff at Indian River.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

Earn a FREE BOOK through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program for kids in Grades 1-6.

SIMPLY FOLLOW THESE THREE EASY STEPS:

1. Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Summer Reading Journal. Tell us which part of the book is your favorite, and why.
2. Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between July 1 and August 31, 2024.
3. Choose your free reading adventure.

For more information and to download the reading journal, click here.

Sora Sweet Reads

Join us this summer with Sora's annual reading program. Sora Sweet Reads is designed to encourage students to keep reading all year long. They are offering a collection of always available ebooks (and select audiobooks) for our middle schoolers. These titles will be prominently displayed in Sora so it’s easy for students to find their next sweet read.

How to Access Sora

Step 1: Install the Sora app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or go to soraapp.com.

Step 2: In Sora, find your school (or enter your school’s setup code), then sign. Use the "Sign in with Google" option using your @mvrsd.org account.

Step 3: Browse the Explore tab and borrow a book. Your book will open so you can start reading right away.

Step 4: Close the book and go to shelf to see all your books (including assignments). From there, you can:

• Select Open book or Open audiobook to read or listen to the book.
• Select Options to renew or return the book, see your notes and highlights, and more.

Comic Plus - NOW AVAILABLE AT IRS!

What is Comics Plus®?

Comics Plus is a digital platform offering thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga to readers, exclusively through school, public, and academic libraries. It is powered by LibraryPass™.

How Do I Access Comics Plus?

To create an account:

1. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
2. Click "Sign Up Now!
3. Enter registration code- irstigers
4. Sign up using your MVRSD.ORG email and create your own password

After you create an account, to sign in again:

1. Find Comics Plus on your school or library’s website; visit indianriverschoolnh.librarypass.com or, download and install the LibraryPass app for iOS or Android.
2. Enter your login credentials.
3. Browse the collection or search for a specific title.
4. Hover or tap on the cover of the title you want to read, and click/tap Read Now or Add to My Shelf.
5. Read all the comics!

When is Comics Plus Available?

All titles are available 24/7 for online and offline reading. An internet connection is required to browse the collection and check out titles, while downloaded titles are accessible offline via the LibraryPass app for iOS or Android.

How Do I Find Comics to Read?

You can browse our curated lists on the homepage; by category, publisher, or age level; or use the search box to look for specific titles and keywords.

How Do I Place a Hold?

There are no holds! All titles are available for unlimited, simultaneous access, so you can read all the comics anytime you want.

Kati Preston: Holocaust Survivor, Speaker, and Author

Indian River School had the privilege of welcoming Kati Preston to share her story with our 7th grade students. Through their study of the Holocaust, our students have been introduced to her through her young adult graphic novel memoir, Hidden.

We are incredibly fortunate that our students had the opportunity to meet her and hear her story firsthand. She began by noting that, at this point, most Holocaust survivors have passed away, leaving her with the vital responsibility of preserving and sharing the truth of the Holocaust.

Her story of surviving the horrors of WWII, inflicted not only by German Nazis but also by her Hungarian neighbors, was profoundly powerful and moving. Remarkably, she managed to infuse humor into such a dark narrative. The students were deeply engaged and connected, and I am certain she touched many hearts with her messages of kindness and compassion, standing firmly against hate and bigotry. She reminded our students that they are the future and have the power to "save the world." This is an experience I am sure they will carry with them forever.

Scholastic Book Fair 5.20 - 5.24.2024

Summer is around the corner and I’d like to remind everyone about the importance of Summer Reading. While summer gives students and teachers a much needed break, it’s also a time when many children forget to read. Children who don’t have access to books, learning opportunities, or summer school lose 1-3 months of learning during the summer. In addition, teachers spend the first six weeks of school re-teaching forgotten information. Therefore, let’s make a pledge to get students reading this summer! We understand it gets difficult with family travels and sports, but remember it only takes 20 minutes a day. Read together, aloud and/or during dinner… Just Read! It’s an important habit to maintain.

• Reading 4 Books Improves the Summer Slide by 85%
• Reading 12 Books is Equivalent to Attending Summer School
• Teachers can spend the first 60 DAYS in the fall Recovering Students Lost Academic Knowledge.

Summer learning loss is real and it takes very little to prevent. Let’s spread the word and make this summer one filled with memories and reading! Remember our Book Fair is returning to IRS from May 22-26th. It’s a perfect opportunity to start obtaining summer reading titles. And -- as always, every purchase supports the school library program.

Lastly, make it easier for your child to shop by creating an eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy. At the conclusion of the Book Fair, any eWallet balances with less than $1.00 will automatically donated to the school library. *Please note: If students had an eWallet for a previous book fair, and have leftover funds, they will still need to set up a NEW eWallet.*

For more information about our Book Fair, or to shop online or fund an eWallet, please visit: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/indianriverschool

April is School Library Month

In honor of school library month, play Library Bingo!

Stay Entertained and Engaged This Spring Break

Great Podcasts for Tweens and Teens

Spring Break Activities for Families

Eclipse Viewing Events & Links to Learn

 

Total Eclipse Viewing Event

Join the Rockefeller Center, the Office of the Provost, and the Department of Physics & Astronomy on The Dartmouth Green on Monday, April 8 to safely view the Solar Eclipse!

Links to Learn More:

• SpacePlace by NASA
• Science.NASA.Gov - Eclipses
• Great North American Eclipse (Total Solar Eclipse

How to Safely View the Total Eclipse

Remember, it's never safe to stare directly at the sun.

"It is very important to protect your eyes. We cannot stress that enough. But if you take the correct precautions, you, too, can enjoy this once-in-a-generation event," says Michael Zegans, MD, an Ophthalmologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

All students at Indian River School will receive a pair of official eclipse viewing glasses.

Eclipse 101

On April 8, 2024, New Hampshire will be one of only 13 states to experience an awe-inspiring, (for many of us) ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME event.

For 3 minutes and 15 seconds, skies will dim, temperatures will drop, and the country will pause to watch as the Moon passes over the light of the Sun, completely blocking its light in an phenomenon known as a Total Solar Eclipse.

Want to know what the eclipse might look like in your location? Click here to view an eclipse simulation for your town.

What is an eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular event. On average, one happens somewhere on the Earth only once every 1.5 years.

When will we see another Total Solar Eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States won't happen until August 23, 2044. In the U.S., the path of totality will cross over Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Bulletin Board

Bulletin board created by Makenna Houston, MVRHS student.

Read Across America Week

Despite me battling Covid from home that week, our Read Across America week was a huge success! Thank you to all the students and teachers that participated in our events.

Author Visits

We had an amazing time visiting with authors spanning from middle grade to YA and across all genres.

Read Across Mascoma

As part of our annual RAA tradition, our middle schoolers read to our elementary students to foster a love of reading.

Digital Citizenship for Parents: Sextortion

What?

Though not a new trend, sextortion cases have increased. This involves threatening someone online with either the exposure of nude/revealing photos or in an effort to get nude photos.

There have been recent cases of teens ending their lives after this kind of threat, and dealing with it all alone.

Now What?

Online threats, like sextortion and ransomware, aren't new, but they are increasingly sophisticated. Kids need to be aware, not to increase their anxiety, but to know what to do if it happens to them (and to open the conversation).

First, sharing nude or revealing photos with anyone is risky, as it's easy for the pictures to be posted and shared. Conversations about sexting and kids' digital footprint need to focus on understanding the risk, rather than shaming or blaming if sextortion were to happen.

Whether someone is threatening them for pictures, money, or something else, they do not have to feel trapped! They should tell someone they trust so they don't feel alone and can get help. You can also contact the FBI to start an investigation.

Read more...

2024 Book Award Nominees

This year's Isinglass and Great Stone Face Award Nominees are available in the library and on Sora! Students that read 6 or more nominated books will be invited to vote for their favorites in April. Happy Reading!

Isinglass Book Award (7th & 8th Grade)

The Isinglass Teen Read Award was begun in 2001 by the Barrington Public Library and the Barrington Middle School in order to promote teen reading, the participation of teens in the creation of their own reading list, and to honor those authors whose works speak to youth.

The Great Stone Face Book Award (5th & 6th Grade)

The Great Stone Face Book Award is sponsored by the Children's Librarians of New Hampshire (CHILIS) and is given each year to an author whose book receives the most votes from fourth through sixth graders throughout the state.

World Read Aloud Day

We had an amazing time with our author visits this year! We had quite the array of genres as well, from superhero adventures to mysteries to romantic comedy. The books the authors introduced were flying off the shelves. The students also had the opportunity to chat with the authors and learn about the writing process. They were extremely thoughtful and engaged. It was a great day of reading aloud!

IRS Spelling Bee

The annual Scripps Spelling Bee takes place in the hopes of "inspiring the exploration of words, illuminating pathways to lifelong curiosity, and celebrating academic achievement. Every year, students from all walks of life have the opportunity to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. They progress from classroom to cafeteria, from auditorium to civic center, just as millions of other students have done before them." https://spellingbee.com/about

The IRS Spelling Bee was hosted in the IRS library this year. We had a champion from every classroom participate in the schoolwide Spelling Bee. Our judges consisted of Mrs. Fryer (Reading Specialist, Spelling Bee Coordinator), Ms. Hollander (Library Media Specialist), and Mrs. Meltzer (Reading Specialist).

Thanks to Seth Marrotte and the AV Club, the entire school was able to cheer on our participants as they watched via a livestream.

It was an especially fierce competition this year. Our final two contenders were a close matchup, but August ended up besting Cosette at the end. Both our winner, August, and runner-up, Cosette, have won an online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica. August will also move on to the next level of the competition. We wish him the best of luck in representing IRS!

The Great Kindness Challenge

IRS celebrated the Great Kindness Challenge during the week of January 22-26, 2024, which is a week devoted to performing as many acts of kindness as possible. It is a proactive and positive initiative that improves the school climate. Our students were challenged to complete a checklist of kind acts to earn a prize at the library. We also turned the week into a spirit week with kindness-themed dress up days. For more information about the Great Kindness Challenge and how it originated, please click here.

Social Media Game

How challenging is it to make social media safer? A new educational game allows players to give it a try and set content rules for a fictional site.

Learn more here or click the link below to try at home.

https://trustandsafety.fun/

Digital Citizenship: 11 Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About

The article "11 Social Media Red Flags Parents Should Know About" from Common Sense Media outlines key warning signs for parents to be aware of regarding children's social media activity. The red flags include issues such as excessive screen time, secretive behavior, cyberbullying, sharing inappropriate content, engaging with strangers, changes in behavior, and more. The article emphasizes the importance of open communication between parents and children, setting clear guidelines, and staying informed about the platforms and apps kids use. Overall, the goal is to help parents identify potential risks and promote a safe and responsible use of social media among their children.

Click here to access the full article.