Arlaina Tibensky Knows a Thing or Two

Arlaina Tibensky

The National English Honor Society (NEHS) inducted 53 students on Tuesday, April 24th 2012. Our keynote speaker, Arlaina Tibensky truly connected to our students, teachers, and parents on a level I have not seen before.

She quotes the main character, Keek, in her debut novel, And Then Things Fall Apart, “This is the thing about great literature. It reads like truth and sticks to you forever and lets you know that you are not alone.” That line spoke to my heart. She posted her entire keynote address on her blog, More Than I Say Outloud.

We hope to be seeing more of you Ms. Tibensky.

Poem in Your Pocket

Celebrate national Poem In Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 26, 2012 with Mobile Poetry!   
The idea is simple: select a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends. It's easier than ever with Mobile Poetry. "The entire collection of over 2,500 poems on Poets.org, as well as hundreds of biographies and essays, is also available in a mobile format which provides free and direct access to poetry in the palm of a hand."

To reach the mobile site, go to www.poets.org/m. "Poems can be browsed by author, title, occasion, or form, and searched easily by keyword. Visitors can read a poem, anytime, anywhere—whether to fill a spare moment, woo a darling, toast a friend, find solace, or recite a few immortal lines—verse is now at your fingertips."

You can also share your poem selection on Twitter by using the hashtag #pocketpoem.

Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

Written by guest blogger, Janice Cosenza, graduate student at C.U.N.Y. Queens College 

April 23rd marks the birthday of William Shakespeare in 1564.

Here are some suggestions for how to celebrate the Bard's 448th:

• Read a Play: Shakespeare is said to have written over 39 plays which are published in more than 80 languages today.
• Write a Sonnet: A Shakespearean, or English, sonnet is 14 lines line, each line containing ten syllables and written in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets in his lifetime.
• See a performance: Shakespeare's plays are performed all over the world, but why not catch one close to home this weekend.
• Watch a movie at home: There have been over 250 movies made inspired by Shakespeare's life and works. Throw some popcorn in the microwave and check one out.
• Take a virtual tour: Many of Shakespeare's plays were performed at the Globe Theatre.  A "New Globe" Theatre was constructed in 1996.
• Have fun :Click here for some fun games and activites.

Did you know ?

Written by guest blogger, Janice Cosenza,  graduate student at C.U.N.Y. Queens College 
This week marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic during its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Shortly after 11:40pm on April 14, 1912, after 4 days at sea, the Titanic struck an iceberg on its starboard (right) side.  Two hours and 40 minutes later, at 2:20am on April 15, the Titanic was sunk.

Among the cargo on board were 5 Grand Pianos, 1750 pounds of ice cream, 40,000 fresh eggs, 15,000 bottles of beer and an automobile.

The RMS Titanic was equipped with a heated pool, 2 libraries, a gym, 2 barber shops and a dark room and printing press in order to publish a daily newspaper each day, but there were only enough lifeboats to accommodate half of the ship's passengers.

After the Titanic was struck, many lifeboats were lowered that were only partially filled. Almost 500 more passengers could have survived had the boats been filled to capacity.  

Over 1500 passengers and crew members perished during the sinking, including the ship's captain, Edward Smith, 80% of the male passengers, 25% of the female passengers and 9 pet dogs.  The youngest victim was 19 months old.

For further reading:
Green, Rod. Building the Titanic: an epic tale of the creation of history's most famous ocean liner.       Pleasantville, N.Y.: Reader's Digest, 2005. Print. 

Ballard, Robert D., and Michael S. Sweeney. Return to Titanic: a new look at the world's most famous lost ship. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2004.

Click here to see video

D.E.A.R.

D.E.A.R. - Drop Everything And Read Day
National D.E.A.R. Day is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. The birthday of beloved author Beverly Cleary is the official event date, April 12^th. So... D.E.A.R.!

You Belong @ Your Library®

Today's school libraries provide a wide range of opportunities for students with diverse learning needs and interests. That means providing their school communities with tailor made collections and services for students of diverse backgrounds, language abilities and technological skills. School libraries help level the playing field by making both print and digital information affordable, available and accessible to all students. Libraries have historically served as our nation’s great equalizers of knowledge.

The heart of our school community is our school library, and the heart of the library is the people we serve. There’s something for everyone at the Mepham High School Library. The only piece missing is you! You belong @ your library. Celebrate National Library Week, April 8-14.

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April.

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April is School Library Month

Ten reasons why you belong at your school library:

1. Get a global perspective
2. Expand your world online
3. Find endless opportunities
4. Research anything... well, almost anything...
5. Lose yourself in a good book
6. Explore new ideas
7. Enjoy great programs
8. Study in a quiet place...well, almost quiet
9. Feel safe
10. Hang out with friends

April is School Library Month. Get ready to celebrate!