TEDxWCMephamHigh: Grey Matters

Remember when W.C. Mepham High School hosted their first ever TEDx? Hope so. It was just a little over a month ago. TEDxWCMephamHigh (the very first TEDx event at a public Long Island high school) showcased a variety of speakers. One of our many talented speakers, Alex Schmelkin, spoke about a matter very close to my heart (and my career as your librarian)... the grey area between right and wrong as it relates to technology. Take a look at the video below. These are certainly "ideas worth spreading."



About Alex:
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Cake & Arrow
An impassioned digital leader who shares his insights with clients and the industry, Alex Schmelkin has been helping companies build their businesses online since 1994. As Co-Founder and CEO of New York-based customer experience agency Cake & Arrow, he's created an award-winning, results driven agency that is also a three-time recipient of Crain's Business and Advertising Age 'Best Places to Work' awards.

‘Post-truth’

According to Oxford Dictionaries, "After much discussion, debate, and research, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016 is post-truth – an adjective defined as ‘relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’." You can read more about it here. 

From year's past Oxford's Word of the Year (US):
2015 -  ‘emoji’
2014 - vape
2013 - selfie
2012 - GIF (verb)
2011 - squeezed middle
2010 - refudiate
2009 - unfriend
2008 - hypermiling
2007 - locavore
2006 - carbon-neutral
2005 - podcast
2004 - chav

Literary Circle Book Club

Join us as we discuss Jon Krakauer's National Bestseller, Into the Wild, on Wednesday, December 14th at 2:30 pm in room 232. This is an ELITE event. Sign up by clinking on this link.

Mepham Gives Back

Thank you to all the students who attended yesterday's MakerSpace ELITE event, Crafting Holiday Cards in the library. The beautiful cards that you made will be distributed to the families at Mercy Haven, a non -sectarian, non-profit organization located in Islip Terrace that offers assistance to over 3,000 Long Islanders, approximately half of which are children. Mercy Haven’s mission is to acknowledge the dignity and potential of people who are homeless, living with mental illness, or living in poverty by providing housing, advocacy, education, and life skills development. Mercy Haven operates dozens of residences throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. For some, the housing is temporary. For others, it’s a permanent alternative to living on the streets.

Students in Ms. Geller's Leadership Class attend Mepham's MakerSpace event: Crafting Holiday Cards.

Thank you for crafting these beautiful cards. 

The CRAAP Test

When you search for information, you’re going to find lots of it… but is it good information? How can we tell if a source is a source that we would want to take information from? These are questions that our students are having trouble answering. According to this article from NPR reporter, Camila Domonoske, states that "if the children are the future, the future might be very ill-informed." This article by the Huffington Post, states that, "what we have now is not only uninformed but misinformed masses."

In light of all the misleading, biased, and plain wrong information that is out there on the Internet, we need a way to decipher which information is reliable. Thanks to a BMCHSD curriculum writing project from the summer of 2015, we have resources to help us. In comes, the CRAAP test - a clever acronym and a framework for evaluating online resources. See info-graphic below.

Created by Maddie Clybourn

When we do research, websites are useful because they provide easy access to information. However, not all websites are reliable. In order to check for reliability, we must consider, currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. Otherwise, we might be misinformed.

The video below was curated by our Principal, Mr. Harrington, and shown at a recent faculty meeting. It demonstrates the consequences when we do not use the CRAAP test!

MakerSpace presents... Crafting Holiday Cards

Flyer created at Canva.com

Join us in the school library on Monday, December 12th at 2;15 p.m. in our MakerSpace to craft holiday cards for Mercy Haven’s network of families. Mercy Haven is a non-sectarian, non-profit organization located in Islip Terrace that offers assistance to over 3,000 Long Islanders, approximately half of which are children. Mercy Haven’s mission is to acknowledge the dignity and potential of people who are homeless, living with mental illness, or living in poverty by providing housing, advocacy, education, and life skills development. All craft supplies will be provided. This is an ELITE event. Sign up by clicking here.

New Winter Books

Image created at Canva.com

We just got in a bunch of new books. To view the complete list click here. It's a resource list titled, "New Winter Books 2016-2017."

Campaign Buttons

Students use the button maker in Mepham's MakerSpace

Every semester the students in Participation in Government run a campaign for President. Broken down into teams of 4-5 students, they learn about the topics facing our nation including national debt, education, social policy, foreign policy, and so much more. They debate these topics in round table discussions, town hall meetings, and debate-style forums. In years past, students have been required to make a campaign commercial and posters/flyers. This year students had the opportunity to create their very own button, which is a time-honored tradition in campaigning. The students created these buttons with a button maker in Mepham's MakerSpace during class time. This is our way of demonstrating that making can take part in learning, not a part from learning. Go pirates and may the best candidate win!

Barnes & Noble Mini Maker Faire

Barnes & Noble is hosting a special event called the "Mini Maker Faire: Make Workspace" on Saturday, November 5, 2016 and Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 12-5 pm on both days.

"Immerse yourself in the process of ideating, creating & constructing with a vast array of materials ideally suited for making anything possible... Experience the latest in virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, pen-invent technology, robotics, coding and programming with demonstrations from Bloxels, sphero SPRK, Air Hogs Connect, VEX Robotics, XYZprinting and more."

Mepham's Makers will have a booth there and our station will focus on button-making. We will also be there promoting our TEDxWCMephamHigh event, which is coming up so soon! Join us!

Book Bandit

Appropriately so, Ms. Stack's Halloween costume is book-related once again this year. Here she is as the "Book Bandit."

Ms. Stack as the "Book Bandit"

Computer Club with Matt Russell

You may have seen Matt Russell in your classroom fixing an Interactive Flat Panel or computer. He is our new IT guy. Yesterday, he was our guest speaker for computer club. Mr. Russell explained the different parts of a computer (motherboard, fan, processor, graphics card, etc.) and the functions of each. He also showed us how to properly clean our computers. I had no idea how much dust can accumulate after just one year! If you missed this presentation, you can catch him again Monday, November 7th. Computer club meets every Monday in the learning center until 3:15 pm (so students can catch the late bus).

Matt Russell explains the parts of a computer.

Getting our hands dirty. 

nErD Camp LI

Jericho Middle School is hosting the second annual FREE nErD Camp LI on Saturday, November 5th. #nerdcampLI

For those of you who have never been to a nErD Camp- It is a FREE “unconference” that follows the Ed Camp model but focuses on literacy. There will be over 50 authors and illustrators in attendance! Including Todd Strasser, Sarah Littmann, Aija Mayrock and Lynda Mullaly Hunt just to name a few!

All TEACHERS are welcome to attend this event! Check out the website for registration information: www.nerdcampLI.weebly.com Click here for a flyer and bookmark for educators: https://www.smore.com/7egfj-nerdcampli-2016

STUDENTS & PARENTS are also welcome to come for our Author and Illustrator Meet and Greet. It is open to all families and students (from 2:00 - 3:30 pm). Our special guests will be signing and copies of their books will be available for purchase. They can even bring books from home to be signed too! Please consider attending and invite your friends!

Jericho Middle School 

99 Old Cedar Swamp Road

Jericho, NY 11753

Octobers...

 Image created at Canva.com

Fragments: Home

Fragments (Mepham's literary magazine) has a new contest!

Submit your original poetry, short stories, essays, artwork, or photography on the topic "Home" to win a prize and the chance to be published!

Deadline: November 1, 2016

Place all entries in Mrs. Maresca's mailbox in the main office or email them to Fragments at FragmentsEmail@gmail.com.

What is Your Story?

"PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. Students of all grades and abilities may participate and explore the arts based on the 2016-2017 theme: What Is Your Story?" Deadline for submission is Friday, November 4, 2016.

MHS Library Orientation 2016

Hey Mepham Pirates! Are you new to Mepham High School? Part of the Class of 2020? Welcome! We are so glad to have you. Click here to view our library orientation video. It is a virtual tour of your fabulous library in just six minutes! Questions? Swing by and ask the librarian!

Banned Books Week 2016

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, (this year it is from September 25 - October 1) it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Click on the video below to see the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2015. I was surprised by some of the titles on this list and I think you will be too! Then come to the library to check (some) of them out!

 

New Books Fall 2016

Image created at Canva.com

We have over 150 new fiction and non-fiction books in the Mepham Library. Most of them are on display. Come check them out! Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know and we will try to get you a copy.

TEDxWCMephamHigh

TEDxWCMephamHigh: What Now? comes to Mepham High School on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 9:00 am. Tickets for Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District students are only $10! All the info you need is here. 

Bookmark? You mean QUITTER STRIP?

Mepham Library Bulletin Board

Mepham Library 360°

Taken with the Ricoh Theta S

We just captured the Mepham Library in 360° with a single shot using the Ricoh Theta S. Pretty cool, huh? Interested in a selfie? Stay tuned. We will have more information soon.

A message from Ms. Stack

Mepham Library Bulletin Board

Welcome Back Pirates!

A huge "Pirate" welcome to our freshman - The Class of 2020! You have arrived.  We are officially open for business... The school library is open from 7:30 AM until 3:30 PM, unless otherwise posted. All students are welcome to use the library during any free period, lunch, or after school. 

We cannot wait to see you in the library - that's in room 300 (on the third floor)! Stop in and say hello or "ahoy matey." 

On Your Mark, Get Set... READ!

We are pleased to present the W.C. Mepham High School Summer Reading Program. Summer should be filled with joyful times, and we hope that reading will be an important part of your child’s summer plans.

Students entering Grade 9 are required to read one of the books on the list. While all of the books on the list clearly have literary merit, some may be suitable for more mature students. Therefore, we urge you to carefully review the list and to help your son or daughter make a selection that is appropriate based upon his or her interests, age, reading level, and maturity. To assist students in making their book selections, the Mepham High School website will have short summaries on each book. Students who are having difficulty choosing a book should ask their teachers, a librarian, or the English Department Chairperson for help. All students will be assessed on their summer reading in September.

Students entering Grades 10 – 12 are required to read the book(s) listed below for the grade level they will enter in September. This approach to summer reading will enable students and teachers to start school with meaningful, focused discussions. The “common read” format will help to increase participation and create a community of readers on each grade level. Through whole class discussions and lessons, students will have the opportunity to thoroughly analyze the text and to exchange ideas and opinions. Additionally, the required text will add value to the summer reading assessment as a springboard exercise to the school year.

Please note, students entering Senior Experience and Advanced Placement English courses will also be given a writing assignment to complete over the summer. Assignments are up on the school's Website.

Enjoy the summer with a good book!
Incoming Ninth Grade (E1) 

Alexie, Sherman - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 

Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only Native American is the school mascot. While this book is not a graphic novel, it does contain several inspiring illustrations.

Defoe, Daniel - Robinson Crusoe 

In 1659, after becoming the sole survivor of a shipwreck, Englishman Robinson Crusoe lives on a deserted island for more than twenty-eight years.

Hoffman, Alice - Green Angel 

Haunted by grief and by her past after losing her family in a fire, fifteen-year-old Green retreats into her ruined garden as she struggles to survive emotionally and physically on her own.

Lupica, Mike - Million-Dollar Throw 

Eighth-grade star quarterback Nate Brodie's family is feeling the stress of the troubled economy, and Nate is frantic because his best friend Abby is going blind, so when he gets a chance to win a million dollars if he can complete a pass during the halftime of a New England Patriot's game, he is nearly overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed.

Murray, Liz - Breaking Night 

Liz Murray, who was homeless at the age of fifteen and had drug-addicted parents, reflects on how she overcame obstacles and eventually attended Harvard University.

     Ransom, Riggs - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Sixteen-year-old Jacob, having traveled to a remote island after a family tragedy, discovers an abandoned orphanage, and, after some investi-gating, he learns the children who lived there may have been dangerous and quarantined and may also still be alive.

Swanson, James L. - Chasing Lincoln’s Killer 

Recounts the twelve-day pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth, covering the chase through Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, with a discussion of Abraham Lincoln as a father, husband, and friend that examines the impact of his death on those close to him.

Incoming Tenth Grade (E2)

Salinger, J.D. – The Catcher in the Rye 

An adolescent boy, knowing he is about to be dropped by his school, spends three days and nights in New York City on a quest for self-discovery.

Incoming Eleventh Grade (E3) 

and Incoming Eleventh Grade Advanced Placement (11 AP Language)

O'Brien, Tim – The Things They Carried 

Related stories, linked by recurring characters and an interwoven plot, recreate an American foot soldier's experience in the Vietnam War.

Incoming Twelfth Grade (E4)

Gladwell, Malcolm – Outliers: The Story of Success 

The author explores why some people are high achievers and others are not, citing culture, family, and upbringing as possible reasons some people are not as successful as others.

Incoming Twelfth Grade Advanced Placement (12 AP Literature)

Foster, Thomas C. – How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Presents a discussion on how to understand symbolism in literature, discussing the appearance of journeys, eating, drowning, rain, violence, sex, illness, geography, Christ figures, and other signifiers, and how to see patterns the way literature professors do.

And one of the following:

The Awakening — Kate Chopin 

The Color Purple — Alice Walker 

The Handmaid’s Tale — Margaret Atwood 

Heart of Darkness — Joseph Conrad 

In the Time of Butterflies — Julia Alvarez  

Invisible Man — Ralph Ellison 

The Jungle — John Updike  

The Mayor of Casterbridge — Thomas Hardy  

Moby Dick — Herman Melville  

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man — James Joyce  

The Portrait of a Lady — Henry James  

Ragtime — E. L. Doctorow  

Reservation Blues — Sherman Alexie  

The Scarlet Letter — Nathaniel Hawthorne  

Sula — Toni Morrison  

The Sun Also Rises — Ernest Hemingway  

Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston  

Things Fall Apart — Chinua Achebe  

A Thousand Splendid Suns — Khaled Hosseini  

The Turn of the Screw — Henry James  

We Were the Mulvaneys — Joyce Carol Oates  

Wuthering Heights—Emily Bronte 

Be a Super Hero! Return Your Books!

Image source unknown - is it yours? Email me.

UPDATED: Spine Poetry

Come join us in the school library on Monday, May 23rd at 2:30 pm to participate in an afternoon of Spine Poetry. What is Spine Poetry, you ask? Well, you take the title of books which appear on the spine label and place them on top of each other to create poetry. When you have completed a poem, Ms. Stack will come around to take a photo of your poem. The photographs will then be displayed in the library and on this blog.

We got this idea from Jennifer Freedman at the Lindenhurst Middle School Library. Remember to always cite your sources! Here are some Google Photos of their Spine Poetry.

Everyone is invited to attend this ELITE event. Sign up here.

UPDATE: Spine Poetry was a ton of fun. We could have stayed all night creating and recreating poems from our bookshelves. Below are photos of some of the poems created from the titles of books.   

DonorsChoose.org & Mrs. Joosten's 2nd Grade

I recently had the opportunity to hear Charles Best, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, who is the founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, speak at a conference. DonorsChoose.org is a crowdfunding platform for K-12 teachers serving in US schools. At the end of his keynote session, he gave each attendee a $30 gift card to use on the site to fund a project of our choosing. I selected Mrs. Joosten's 2nd grade class from the Ulysses Byas Elementary School in nearby Roosevelt, NY. Her students were in need a class set of carpet squares and a set of enjoyable books. I just received notification that this project is fully funded. Hooray! This project will reach 24 students who live in an extremely impoverished, underprivileged school district, not too far from Mepham High School.

This was my first experience with DonorsChoose.org and I loved it! You get to pick from thousands of projects from school districts near and far. The person asking for the donation gives you a description of the student population and the project. On the site, you can see exactly where and how your donation is spent. To see the details for Mrs Joosten's request click here.

Online Student Portfolios

Why should we create an online student portfolio?

By the time students start thinking about where to apply to college, some of them have totally forgotten all the things that they have accomplished. In an effort not to leave any accomplishment, big or small off of their resumes, we decided to offer classes in creating online activity sheets. Many teachers took us up on this offer, most notably Freshman Seminar and several of our art classes.

Sample: Online Portfolio using Weebly

We began by having students create websites using Weebly. It's FREE, easy to use, and offers several templates. First we talked about what does a "good" website look like? Students scoured the web and shared websites that they thought were "good." We discussed what made those sites "good" and the following is what we came up with:

• Appearance: Visual-appealing
• Content: Informative
• Functionality: Works quickly and correctly 
• Usability: Easy to navigate, read, and understand

We then worked on a site map, and sketched out the different categories that could be included in an online student portfolios. This is what our students brainstormed:

• Biography
• Writing samples (best and showing progress)
• Reflections
• Artwork
• Music
• Athletics (highlight reels, stats, newspaper clippings, travel teams etc.)
• Intramurals  
• Clubs (offices, committees, activities, etc.)  
• Hobbies (all activities outside of school)
• Field trips
• ELITE events (specific activities in our school)
• School-wide events (blood drive, Battle of the Classes, So They Think They Can Dance, St. Baldrick's, Mr. Mepham, Open Mic Night, Talent Show, Multicultural Night, etc.) 
• Community Service/Volunteerism
• Awards (Student of the Month, Athlete of the Month, Intel, etc.)
• Honor Societies
• Contests
• School concerts
• Spring Arts
• PTA 
• Skills (computer, Photoshop, iMovie, etc.)
• After-school/summer jobs
•  Babysitting/dog walker
• Letters of recommendation
• Photographs

We considered what sources would need to be cited. Then we got started. Students had the remaining period to create their sites and include as much information under each tab as they could.

Why should we create an online student portfolio? Short answer: college applications and future employment. Online student portfolios have a BIG impact. All of your accomplishments are in one place. You can stand out from the competition. These websites highlight your personality and focus on you as a person.

MakerSpaces in Education

Thank you to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School district, Long Island School Media Association (LISMA), and Mepham's Alumni Association for helping to finance our MakerSpace, because like the title of this video suggests, everyone is a maker, but not everyone has access.

#whyiwrite

Why do you write? This is the question posed down in the learning center on the bulletin board. You can add your own answer to the board by picking up a marker and adding it to the butcher block paper. The answers are varied and unique. Maybe one will speak to your soul. #whyiwrite

Bulletin Board in Learning Center

Kate Karyus Quinn

Kate Karyus Quinn

Young adult author, Kate Karyus Quinn, will be visiting us for our National English Honor Society Induction ceremony on Tuesday, April 19th. She has penned four novels, Down with the Shine, Among the Shadows, (Don't You) Forget About Me, and Another Little Piece.  

About the author from her website:
Kate Karyus Quinn is a chapstick addict with a love for live theater and a BFA from Niagara University to prove it.

After growing up in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY, Kate left her hometown for Southern California and film school, where she earned an MFA in Film and Television Production from Chapman University.

After finishing her degree, she moved with her husband to Knoxville, Tennessee. However, she recently made the move back home, with her husband and two children in tow. She promised them wonderful people, amazing food, and weather that would... build character.

Kate is first and foremost an avid reader and unapologetic booknerd. Although, she mostly reads YA and romance, she often samples different genres in her constant search for the next great read.

Literary Circle: Eleanor and Park

Literary Circle Book Selection

The next literary circle will take place on Thursday, April 14th after school in Room 232. The book discussion will be on Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.

Eleanor, 15, is the new girl at school and bullied because she's overweight and dresses in a flamboyant manner. Park is a half-Korean boy who has lived in Omaha, Nebraska, all his life but still feels like an outsider. This is a story of first love, which very slowly builds from the first day Eleanor sits next to Park on the school bus. First they ignore each other, and then they slowly become friends through their love of comic books and 1980s alternative music. Park is the only good thing in Eleanor's life. Her home life is a miserable exercise in trying to stay out of her abusive stepfather's way, and finding new ways to wear the same clothes repeatedly since there is no money for anything extra. Park adores everything about Eleanor, and she finds refuge at his house after school with his understanding parents. Things finally explode at Eleanor's house and Eleanor and Park's relationship is truly tested.

Dear Poet

Image Source

The Academy of American Poets for National Poetry Month 2016, presents Dear Poet, a multimedia education project that invites young people in grades 5-12 to write letters in response to poems written and read by seven of the award-winning poets who serve on the Academy of American Poets Board of Chancellors: Linda Gregerson, Juan Felipe Herrera, Jane Hirshfield, Marilyn Nelson, Alicia Ostriker, Alberto Ríos, and Anne Waldman.

Students—to participate in this year’s Dear Poet project, watch the videos here (scroll down) of Chancellors reading and discussing one of their poems. Then, write them a letter in response and send it by post or email to the Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038 or dearpoet@poets.org by April 30, 2016. Please include your name and the name of the poet to whom you’ve written. We will consider all letters for publication on Poets.org in May 2016. And our Chancellors will reply to select letters of their choosing.

My Weekend is All BOOKED!

Library Bulletin Board

National Poetry Month

The Academy of American Poets founded National Poetry Month in April 1996 with an aim to:

• highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets,
• encourage the reading of poems,
• assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms,
• increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media,
• encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and 
• encourage support for poets and poetry.

One way that we are celebrating here at W.C. Mepham High School is by reciting a short (45-second or less) poem over the PA system each Monday and Friday morning during the month of April. 

You can also follow the thousands of National Poetry Month celebrations taking place using #npm16 and follow the Academy of American Poets on Twitter @POETSorg.

Open Mic Night

Jessica Wise Presents How Fiction Can Change Reality on TedEd

Another wonderful video from TedEd that highlights the importance of fiction reading.

From TedEd:

"Reading and stories can be an escape from real life, a window into another world -- but have you ever considered how new fictional experiences might change your perspective on real, everyday life? From Pride and Prejudice to Harry Potter, learn how popular fiction can spark public dialogue and shape culture."

So Many Books... So Little Time

A gentle reminder in the Mepham High School Library

Create it @ your library!

Celebrate the next Teen Tech Week with us, March 6-12, 2016, with the theme "Create it at your library." Visit the Mepham High School Library all week to explore, create and share the world of technology. Your library offers more than just books, so check out our new MakerSpace!

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technology, especially they types offered through libraries. Teen Tech Week encourages teens to take advantage of the technology at libraries for education and recreation, and to recognize that librarians are qualified, trusted professionals who can help them achieve greater digital literacy.

Shari Stack, Librarian, W.C. Mepham High School, feels that "Getting teens into libraries is essential. Offering gaming, access to computers, and online homework help is important, and letting them know that we can help educate them on how to use these resources will get them in the door. Once they’re in the door, we can show teens that with technology at the library, anything is possible.”

"Teen Tech Week is a way for librarians and educators to collaborate with and educate teens about technology,” says Marla Gellerman, Senior Library Clerk, W.C. Mepham High School. “Over the last several years the library’s role in increasing digital literacy has become more and more important, equal to that of reading literacy.”

MakerSpace: Adult Coloring Pages

Coloring is not an activity only for kids, on the contrary, teens and grown-ups can also have fun with coloring pages too! At this session, students will have the opportunity to use colored pencils and take home “adult” – very intricate – coloring pages. Come join us and let your creativity sore!

Monday, March 21, 2016 at 2:15 PM

School Library MakerSpace

- Free Colored Pencils

- Free Coloring Pages 

This is an ELITE Event. Sign up here.

SUCCESS: Adult Coloring Pages ELITE Event

Seen in the library

The color of...

Fragments (Mepham's literary magazine) has a new contest!

The color of... 

Submit your original poetry, short stories, essays, artwork, or photography on the topic of color to win a prize and the chance to be published!

Due date: 3/15/16

Submit to: fragmentsemail@gmail.com 

Mepham High School Library: Lunch & Learn: Apple iMacs

Flyer made from Smore

We continue our Lunch & Learn series with a session on the Apple iMacs. This is a beginner course designed to teach you about the following:

• Operating System (iOS)
• Navigation
• Applications (Programs)

Please join us on Tuesday, February 23rd anytime during the day (periods 1-9) in the school library. Bring breakfast, lunch or a snack. Participants will leave with a command short cut list and ideas for implementation into their curriculum. 

Snow What? Author Visits via Skype

Author Courtney Sheinmel Visits via Skype 

Book Raffle Winner Kat Galgano

We did not let weather conditions stop us from having a great time yesterday afternoon with young adult author, Courtney Sheinmel. Since she could not make it to our school, we decided to Skype instead. Courtney spoke to our students about how she made the transition from law school to writer. She discussed her writing process and her strategy for being self-employed - she writes 1,000 words or more a day (sometimes in a half an hour and sometimes in 8 hours)! Her presentation was insightful and witty. Courtney also read a chapter in her latest novel, Edgewater, which is about sisters. Coincidentally, her own sister, Alyssa Sheinmel is a writer as well. Our students had a chance to ask her questions and we raffled off a copy of her book, which went to National English Honor Society officer, Katherine Galgano.  

She left us with this thought, "Do what you love." We couldn't agree more. Thanks Courtney! 

The Book Fairies

Mepham's Senior Experience is holding a book drive for The Book Fairies, an organization that donates gently used books to children and adults who do not have access to books. The drive is from February 1st until February 11th. Please bring your children’s, teen, and/or adult books to the Main Office. For more information on The Book Fairies, click here.