TV4ED system

I have sent through an update of all staff to TV4ED (AKA Functional Solutions) so you should be getting a welcome email with information re logging on and using the system - hopefully very soon.  For those of you new to the school, this is a video streaming system we subscribe to - that allows you to login and stream whatever documentary or film that you need for your class.  Whatever you download will be under your name and stored on your 'bookshelf'.  

However, I can still download requests and put it onto our system for you if this is easier ... and sometimes this is the better option, as depending on the Internet and the day, it can hiccup and stagger all over the place.  Most of the time, the items I have downloaded and stored on our network don't really seem to have this problem.  

Just let me know what you are looking for, and if it is there, I can often get it down in a few hours and have it ready to go.  Anything that has been screened on TV is usually available to access - unless it is something brand new being screened - that takes at least a couple of days.  All adverts are cut out as well, which is a bonus. 

New Graphic Novels and others

Having had a few requests from students about some more and updated graphic novels, we now have some new ones on display .. or at least what hasn't gone out already.  They are mainly Marvel/Superhero type ones - Wonder Woman, Wolverine and so on.  Plus there is a DragonWing one, which is about the Dragonnet Prophecy and the RainWings disappearing from the forest without even the smallest trace. 

We are also currently processing a few new Fiction books as well - a puzzle type adventure that looks quite intriguing, titled 'The Inheritance Games', that will be catalogued under Mystery. 

As well, there is the 'Darkest Minds' trilogy, all about mysterious powers and government control, and runaway kids who are out to save the world while trying to keep themselves alive somehow. This series has a movie connection being released this year .. or maybe it has already been released? (*)   As I don't watch movies, I'm not sure about this.  These will be catalogued into the Science Fiction genre area.

These should be available for borrowing in the next week. A reminder to all that if there is anything you would really like to read, please see me.  I can organise an Inter-Library-Loan,depending on the location of the item -  or try to find a way to add it to our Library collection.

* Edit:  The movie 'Darkest Minds was released 3rd August 2018.  There is a sequel planned which will probably be released late 2021 or 2022.

Some 'Days' to celebrate

March 3rd is World Maths Day, is a chance to put your skills to the test, practice math skills and to get involved in a worldwide event that celebrates the history of maths.  This is a competition run through Mathletics. 

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-maths-day/

March 20th is World Story Telling Day, where you can celebrate the art of oral storytelling.  It's also a day for people around the globe to listen to, and tell stories in as many different languages as possible.  Most of us go through the day engaging in oral storytelling without even realising that we are doing so.  Have you made up a bedtime story for your child?  Told a friend about your most embarrassing moment? or retold a childhood memory with a sibling?  These are all oral storytelling examples. 

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/world-storytelling-day-march-20/

World Poetry Day is 21st March.  This is a day to encourage people to read, write, teach and publish poetry, and to recognise the amazing cultural contribution poetry makes to the human society.  Poetry is another form of story telling, and has been used for centuries to pass along knowledge, history and information.  The ancient Bards travelled around the countries, taking their stories, in verse format, to share.

https://observances.global/world-poetry-day/

(Oh, and February 14th is Library Lovers Day - just saying!)   😉

Welcome to 2021

Welcome back to everyone - and an extra big welcome to all of our new staff - looking forward to getting to know you all ... and don't listen to anything that the other staff tell you about me!  It is all exaggeration and untruths, I swear!! 

Hope you all had a wonderful break - lots of relaxing, and lots of reading happening.  2021 .. here we go again and hopefully it will be a better year than 2020! 

For the new staff - and a reminder as well for our previous staff - below is a list of some of what we can help you with. I put this list up each year, so if you go back through the posts, it is all there. 
Anything else? If there is something that you think we can help with, just come and have a chat. We are reasonably good at pulling rabbits out of hats and challenges are always interesting ...well, depending on the day, anyway.  

• Looking for a particular book or resource? Come and talk to us. We can organise an Inter-library-Loan or help you find where to purchase it.  
• Resources: Books, Magazines, iPad sets, Digital Cameras, Video Recorders, Computer Mice sets, Data Projectors, Teacher Reference, Headphone sets (a few) Chess sets, Kits........
• IWB area and a bank of computers, as well as laptop trolleys that are available to be booked for classes.  The B3/B4 laptop trolley is only to be used in the Library area, however.
• Help with research, proofreading of assignments, suggestions for books to read - we are your people.  (Maybe not so much with downloading stuff - just trust me on this) 
• A place to display your amazing class work.
• Collation of websites for subjects/classes
• Booking sheets for: Library areas, F Block Laptops, Headphones, Ipads, Corro 'stuff'...

Students have a 3 week borrowing period while staff have a month. Students can borrow 2 items, while staff are pretty much unlimited in capacity to borrow.  For most of the resources, we can adjust the loaning period for whatever is needed - at least till the end of term. However, this doesn't include the AV materials - that is a 1 week loan period only.

I am always looking for ideas or ways to use this blog with teachers and students - so if you have any ideas and suggestions, please come see me.