Wednesday, 16 November 2022

MΓ©tis Week

This is MΓ©tis Week and today is Louis Riel Day!

Each year on November 16, people across Canada pay tribute to the Right Honourable Louis Riel by holding a commemorative ceremony on this date. In Alberta, the week surrounding November 16 is known as MΓ©tis Week.

To learn more, click πŸ‘‡

For more information and activities, click πŸ‘‡




Monday, 7 November 2022

Remembrance Day

Friday, November 11th is Remembrance Day. 

We will be honouring Remembrance Day on Thursday, November 10th at Willow Park School. 

November is a good time to reflect on our history.

We have a great collection of fiction and non-fiction books on display in the Learning Commons to honour Remembrance Day.


Online resources

Indignous Veterans : Indigenous Veteran's Day is on November 8th. The First Nations, Inuit, and MΓ©tis of Canada have a long and proud tradition of military service to our country. See here for more information. 


Historica Canada : Heritage Minutes are a collection of 60 second short films, each depicting an important person, event, or story in Canadian History. Watch here. Go to "By Category" and choose "Military" for relevant videos. 


Poppy Stories : The Canadian Legion has added a new dimension to wearing a poppy. Go to poppystories.ca on your cell phone. Scan your poppy. Yes, your poppy. A story of a Canadian soldier will appear on your phone. Do it again to get another story. 


For more resources, please see my slide πŸ‘‡







Tuesday, 1 November 2022

I READ CANADIAN Day!

November 2nd is I READ CANADIAN Day!



From the I READ CANADIAN website . . .

I READ CANADIAN Day is a national day of celebration of Canadian books for young people. This is a day dedicated to reading Canadian and will empower families, schools, libraries, and organizations to host local activities and events within the week.

Goal : The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of Canadian books and celebrate the richness, diversity, and breadth of Canadian literature.

Action : We challenge the nation to Read Canadian for 15 minutes and to share their experiences at their library, in their school, with their families and friends, or on social media. Young people are encouraged to read, or be read to, a Canadian book of their choice.

Sign up your readers here!

Sign up for free livestreamed events here!

Come on up to the Learning Commons and choose a book by a Canadian author! This display is a small sample of what we have in our collection!


Happy reading!


 

Monday, 24 October 2022

Media Literacy Week and Digital Citizen Day

Media Litercy Week is an annual event promoting digital media literacy across Canada, taking place each October. Schools, libraries, museums and community groups organize events and activities throughout the week. Media Literacy Week 2022 takes place October 24 to 28. πŸ‘‡


We all have a role to play in our online world and we are all digital citizens. The first annual Digital Citizen Day takes place during Media Literacy Week on October 26, encouraging all Canadians to share what it means to be a digital citizen using #DigitalCitizenDay. πŸ‘‡


Looking for more Digital Literacy Resources? πŸ‘‡



Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Women's History Month

October is Women's History Month in Canada!

Government of Canada 

From early trailblazers to today's powerful agents of change, from the long journey for women's suffrage towards equality of rights and opportunities for all, women have and continue to blaze a trail to create a better, more equal world for everyone.


Heritage Minutes

Have a look at these short video clips that highlight important women in Canada's history.


The Canadian Encyclopedia

Take the Women in Canadian History quiz. These questions are baed on the real citizenship test taken by newcomers on the path to citizenship.


MediaSmarts

Images of men and women in media are often based on stereotypical roles of males and females in our society. Because stereotyping can affect how children feel about themselves and how they relate to others, it's important they learn to recognize and understand gender stereotypes in different media. Here are some tips to help kids understand how boys and girls and men and women are stereotyped in the media. 


The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

For many readers, The Paper Bag Princess with its strong female character NOT needing the prince, nor his approval, was revolutionary. Watch Robert Munsch perform The Paper Bag Princess. 



Come on up to the Learning Commons and borrow a book from our display!


Happy reading!

Looking for more? 

Check out the links on my slides! Great for students, families, and teachers!



Thursday, 13 October 2022

More Spooky Stuff for You!

πŸ‘» Looking for more spoooooky stuff to do? Check out these links!


How to draw a haunted house


Nat Geo Kids Halloween Hangout


More How to Draw Halloween Stuff


CBC Kids All About Halloween


CBC Kids Halloween Games


πŸ‘» Have some spoooooky fun! πŸ‘»





Wednesday, 12 October 2022

Spooky Month : Two Sentence Horror Stories

πŸ‘» October is the Spooooookiest Month! πŸ‘»

Are you prepared to be scared?

Come on up to the Learning Commons and check out one of our creepy books . . . if you dare . . . 


Two Sentence Horror Stories

Do you have a spooky, creepy, scary story just waiting to burst out? Can you give us goosebumps with just two sentences? 

Try writing a Two Sentence Horror Story and hand it in to Mrs. Dickson in the Learning Commons. Include your name and homeroom. Stories will be displayed anonymously.


I dare you to read these sample stories . . . πŸ‘»





Sunday, 9 October 2022

Islamic Heritage Month in Canada

October is Islamic Heritage Month in Canada!

This month recognizes the significant role that Muslim communities play in Canadian society and hightlights their extraordinary contributions.

Canadians have an opportunity this month to learn more about the history of Islam in Canada and recognize the many achievements of Muslim Canadians in the arts, sports, academics, sciences, literature, and their communities. It is also a time to acknowledge the ongoing challenges and barriers that Muslim Canadians face. 

Canadian Encyclopedia : What is Islam?

CBC Kids : What is Ramadan?


CBC Kids : What is Eid?


CBC Kids : Islamophobia in Canada


Come up to the Learning Commons and borrow a book from our Islamic Heritage Month display!



Wednesday, 5 October 2022

New Art in the Learning Commons

Come on up to the Learning Commons to see the colourful skateboard decks painted by artist Harvey Nichol. 

Harvey is a first-generation immigrant and multidisciplinary artist who is currently pursuing a BFA at Alberta University of the Arts, majoring in Sculpture and minoring in Printmaking. 

His work embodies elements of various art movements such as neo-expressionism, social realism (in the Philippines), street and folk art which he married to create his version, which he coined as "Street Folk Expressionist Art."

Harvey moves between different art-making practices such as painting, sculptures, clothing design and storytelling. Inspired by his life experience as an immigrant, becoming homeless as a youth, and living through the foster system, he channels all of this through visual auto ethnography (self-reflection exploring personal experience and connecting it to wider cultural, political, and social meanings and understandings) along with elements of folklore and mythologies and socio-political commentary on today's world.

"I painted in black and white for the first few years of my time here in Canada; the melancholy feel that my paintings expressed was coherent with my feelings of depression and of being different; it was about my identity and where I fit in this country. The melting-pot that is Canada, made fitting in or sticking with traditions a choice that I had not anticipated being difficult before I moved."



Wednesday, 28 September 2022

Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Tomorrow we wear ORANGE to honour Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.


What is reconciliation? Watch here πŸ‘‡


Orange Shirt Day explained by Phyllis Webstad here πŸ‘‡


Read more about Phyllis' story here πŸ‘‡


More videos for kids here πŸ‘‡


Come on up to the Learning Commons and borrow a book from our display!



So wear your orange shirt tomorrow and Friday! 



Thursday, 22 September 2022

Welcome Back to School

September is such a great month! The weather is getting crisp and a new school year begins. There are so many possibilities to make this a great year!

Great news for visiting the Learning Commons . . . the beanbags are back in business! Yay! πŸ₯³

Reminders for how to use beanbags

  • Take one beanbag from corner to use
  • Beanbags must stay in large area of the LC (from Fantasy shelves to the whiteboard)
  • Please do not block shelves so everyone has access to all the books
  • Be gentle! No jumping or flopping. These beanbags have to last!
  • Return the beanbag to the corner Beanbag Corral!



Other Learning Commons Reminders

Please use a browsing stick to keep our books in order on the shelves!


Add a bead to the bottle each time you finish a book!


Put the foam squares back on the table so they don't get stepped on!


Bring your student card to use the Self Check Out!


Check out the new books on display!


Can't wait to see you in the Learning Commons! 

Wednesday, 27 July 2022

Calgary Public Library Digital Resources

Are you bored? Looking for something to do?

Check out these fabulous Calgary Public Library digital resources! They are accessible anywhere at any time!

Some resources are accessed using your school email ID and others require a Calgary Public Library card number. 

Don't have a library card? Get one here πŸ‘‰ https://events.calgarylibrary.ca/ 

Use your school Google account to log in and see these resources πŸ‘‡



To access even more online resources look here πŸ‘‰ https://calgarylibrary.ca/read-learn-and-explore/digital-library/

Have a great Summer! Happy reading!


Wednesday, 8 June 2022

National Indigenous History Month in Canada

In June, we commemorate National Indigenous History Month. During this month, take time to recognize the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples across Canada.

Learn more about First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples across Canada here or πŸ‘‡.


Check out my collection of Indigenous resources here or πŸ‘‡.


Have a look at our fabulous Indgenous books in the Learning Commons!