Thank You

Tremendous thanks to all of the parent volunteers who staffed the book fair! Thanks, also, to everyone who shopped. Your support makes good things possible.

The book fair earned over $600 in cash for us to spend on materials needed to help our students learn. We also received over $150 in free books from the fair. Thanks to all those students who showed me which ones we should choose!

Last, but definitely not least, thank you to the teachers who made time for their classes to visit the fair. Your willingness to participate is key to the book fair's success as a library fundraiser. Yay!

Congratulations to great kids!

Congratulations to all of the following GMS students, who did great things and won free books at our recent book fair:

Evelyn E. of 6B
Tameka
Olivia K.
Quinn
Cynthia S.
Masha
Julien of 6B
Jason P.

Keep it up!

Ms. Harrington and Ms. Shtulman want to encourage all students to keep doing their best work and being kind GMS citizens -- We'll come up with another prize for January.

Teachers: Keep nominating your students! All stundents who were nominated in December will be included in January's drawing.

Happy New Year!

Book Fair

Come to the GMS Book Fair during school on December 18th, 19th, and 20th! We will be open all day and during Flex I and Flex II. The book fair will also be open on Wednesday night, before and after the band concert. Families are welcome. Come support our school and pick up some wonderful new books!

Live and Learn

It takes a lot longer to walk to the library with 27 middle schoolers than it does by one's self! The good news is that the GPL will welcome us back for a second attempt and the kids want to go. We will definitely go again before winter break.

Walk to Read

Ms. Marchefka & Ms. Shtulman's Flex 2 group will be walking to read on December 10th! We're taking an on-foot field trip to the Greenfield Public Libary, where Children's Librarian Kay Lyons will show us around and sign us up for library cards.

World Eye Wow!

Our World Eye book-raiser is really taking off! Here are just a few of the titles we now have, thanks to community spirit: Meg Cabot's All-American Girl; The Last Holiday Concert; Naruto, The Lake of Souls; Winter of the Ice Wizard; Wabi: A Hero's Tale; and, Parvana's Journey. Many thanks to the Klein family, Lynda Leitner, Tom Carlson & Robyn S. Provost-Carlson, the de Bord family, and all our amazing anonymous donors!

See the Trees!

Fifth graders at GMS have been studying the science of trees. As a culminating project, each student created a 3-D model of a tree, real or imaginary. We have everything from electric trees to shoe trees to truffula trees, and they're all on display in the GMS library. They will be here until the book fair, Dec. 17th. Come see!

Feed People

The United Nations has a vocabulary game called Free Rice. Each time you correctly define a vocabulary word, UN sponsors donate actual food (rice) to people who need it around the globe.

It is free, it's for real, and here's the link:

Free Rice
http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Win a Great Book!

Get Caught Doing GREAT!

Earn an A on a project?
Get 100% on a test?
Do something especially kind or caring?

You can win a FREE paperback book of your choosing at the upcoming GMS Book Fair!

One of your teachers must nominate you. Bring your note of nomination (signed by a teacher) down to the library and put your name in the Big Jar of Doing Great. On the first day of the book fair, Ms. Harrington and Ms. Shtulman will draw at least 5 names (maybe more!). If your name is chosen, you will get to come down to the book fair and pick out your favorite paperback book.

The more GOOD you do, the GREATER your chances of winning!

All About Newsbank

And here is another resource we may use courtesy of our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System: Newsbank!

At Newsbank, you can search the following periodicals:
The Springfield Republican newspaper

~and~

BUSINESS (5 titles)
Business 2.0 (11/1/2002-Current)
Fortune (1/11/1993-Current)
Fortune International (5/29/2000-Current)
FSB: Fortune Small Business (2/1/2000-Current)
Money (11/1/1993-Current)
ENTERTAINMENT (3 titles)
Entertainment Weekly (1/8/1999-Current)
People Weekly (1/11/1993-Current)
Teen People (2/1/2000-Current)
LIFESTYLE (7 titles)
Baby Talk (9/1/1999-Current)
Essence (1/1/2003-Current)
Family Life (12/1/1999-12/1/2001)
In Style (1/1/2000-Current)
Life (9/1/1993-5/1/2000)
Parenting (9/1/1999-Current)
Real Simple (4/1/2000-Current)
NEWS (7 titles)
Foreign Affairs (2/1/1994-Current)
Newsweek (2/25/1991-Current)
Slate (6/25/1996-Current)
Time (1/4/1993-Current)
Time For Kids (1/16/1998-Current)
Time International (6/1/1998-Current)
U.S. News & World Report (1/1/1993-Current)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (2 titles)
ON Magazine (includes Time Digital) (5/1/2000-1/1/2002)
Popular Science (11/1/2002-Current)
SPORTS (3 titles)
Sports Illustrated (1/11/1993-Current)
Sports Illustrated For Kids (1/1/1996-Current)
Sports Illustrated Women (5/1/2000-12/1/2002)

Newsbank also has special reports on hot topics such as oil prices, world health, the 2008 election, the war, and more.

Simply look to your right under "Helpful Links" and click on "Newsbank." You will need to get the user name and password from Ms. Shtulman in the library.

Happy reading!

About Those Databases

Courtesy of the Greenfield Public Library, here are some descriptions of the Gale InfoTrac Databases that you may find helpful.

InfoTrac is broken down into separate units that index magazines, reference books, and newspapers for information on current events, popular culture, sports, medicine, arts and humanities, science and technology; provide company profiles, company rankings, investment reports, market trends; and much more. Search them one at a time or search several simultaneously. InfoTrac now has podcasts available as well as the ability to change the text into one of eight languages.

Databases include:

Academic OneFile (academic journals; contains transcripts and podcasts from NPR, CNN, and the CBC; also includes full-text NY Times content back to 1995)
Biography Resource Center (includes over 1 million thumbnail biographies)
Business and Company ASAP (research businesses; no investment analysts' reports)
Contemporary Literary Criticism Select (essays on contemporary writers; includes biography and list of sources for further review)
Expanded Academic ASAP (full-text articles on Astronomy, Religion, Lay, History, Pyschology, Humanities, Current Events, Sociology, Communications, and the General Sciences)
General BusinessFile ASAP (use to research all business and management topics; directory listings for 150,000 companies as well as investment analysts' reports on major companies and industries)
General Reference Center Gold (general interest database on current events, arts and culture, sports, etc.)
Health Reference Center Academic (full-text articles designed for nursing and allied health students as well as consumer health research)
InfoTrac K-12 Junior Edition (for junior high and middle school students)
InfoTrac K-12 Student Edition (for high school students)
InfoTrac OneFile (comprehensive periodical resources; content goes back to 1980)
Kids InfoBits (targets grades K-5 with 75 full-text curriculum related magazines and 7 reference books)
Educator's Reference Complete (over 300 full-text journals for educators, administrators, and librarians)
Gale Virtual Reference Library (over 20 full-text reference books covering the arts, biography, business, environment, history, literature, medicine, multicultural studies, geography, and science)
Massachusetts History Online
New York Times 1995 - present

Start Your Search HERE!

Need biographical information on your favorite founding father? Want to know what causes a tsunami? Do you want to browse the latest issue of Africa News, American Art Journal, Anthropology Today, Guitar Player, Drama Review, Time, Seventeen, Gardening Life, Skateboarder, or any of hundreds of magazines, encyclopedias, and other resources?

Start by searching in the Gale InfoTrac Databases. Again, these are brought to us via our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System (and how grateful we are!).

In this amazing resource, you will find the following:

• Academic OneFile
• Biography Resource Center
• Contemporary Literary Criticism Select
• Educator's Reference Complete
• Expanded Academic ASAP
• General BusinessFile ASAP
• General Reference Center Gold
• Health Reference Center Academic
• InfoTrac K-12 Junior Edition
• InfoTrac K-12 Student Edition
• InfoTrac OneFile
• Kids InfoBits
• Massachusetts History Online
• New York Times (1955-)
• Gale Virtual Reference Library

These are all edited, reviewed, authoritative sources where you will find true and useful information!

You can find these great resources by looking in the list of "Helpful Links" to your right. Click on "Gale InfoTrac Databases." You will need to see Ms. Shtulman for the password.

Need a Newspaper Article?

Start here!

As a benefit of our membership in the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, we have access to full archives of the following newspapers:

• Boston Globe


• Berkshire Eagle


• Boston Herald


• BusinessWest (Chicopee)


• Gazette (Haverhill)


• North Adams Transcript


• Patriot Ledger (Quincy)


• Plymouth County Business Review


• Sentinel and Enterprise (Fitchburg)


• Standard Times (New Bedford)


• The Sun (Lowell)


• Telegram & Gazette (Worcester)

You can also reach these newspapers by clicking on "Massachusetts Newspapers" in the "Helpful Links" menu to your right.

You can search the newspapers individually or all of them at once! Search by subject, by date, by journalist, by page number, and so many other ways!

Please see Ms. Shtulman in the library for the password and for searching tips.

Have fun!

Great Reads for Teens and Pre-teens

The Springfield, MA Public Library maintains a very cool website full of reading recommendations for YOU! You can find it at:
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/reading/teenbooks.html
There are separate lists for 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, as well as "Teen Books that Don't
Make You Blush," "Going Places: True Tales of Travel and Adventure for Teens," "It's Alive! A Booklist of Horror Novels for Teens," and more. Take a look!

Gms Turns

We interviewed Gms Turns. The kids we interviewed were Alex ,Laurana, and Maggie. The kids we interviewed liked their flex. In their flex they are going to act out a play and put it on film. The kids picked GMS Turns because they thought that acting was interesting. They said it was cool and the best. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they read or write. These are the kids that we interviewed and they thought that it was really fun to act.
By Crystal and Holly

raising salmon

The first thing we asked is how it has been there? They said that it has been fun. We also asked them what they have learned? They said that they that learned how to raise salmon. We asked them if they had fish yet. They said no they will be getting them soon. We asked them what they will be feeding them? They would be eggs.

We also asked them where they would be. They said that they would be in the greenhouse which is on the second floor, in January. They went on a field trip and did college work. Someone will be giving the salmon to the school. And once they get them the salmon have to be in cool water, which has to be about 34 degrees.

They also have been reading about salmon. We don't like eating salmon, if you like salmon you can eat it.

Band Interview

We interviewed the band Flex 2 and we got some answers to all of our questions.

What kind of instruments are in the GMS band?

The kind of instruments that band plays are the Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Tuba, Saxophone, Trombone, Drums, Xylophone, Electric Guitar, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, and the Baritone.

What are the loudest instruments?

The loudest instruments are the drums, trumpet, baritone, tenor tax.

What are the softest instruments?

The softest instruments are the flute and the alto sax.

What are the brass instruments?

Some of the brass instruments are the trombone, the tuba, the trumpet and the french horn.

What are the string instruments?

There is only one string instrument : the electric guitar.

Playing the instruments look hard, are they what they seem? Why?

A lot harder than what they seem. It's hard to pay attention to the conductor with all the instruments playing, almost every note is hard to play. Especially the brass. Some of them are easy, it depends on the person.

What have you guys been doing in band?

Practicing Hot Cross Buns and Go Tell Aunt Rhody.

(Thanks to Kayla, Kellie, James, and Danny for being the lucky ones to answer our questions. Thanks again guys!)

Typed by Stephen, Nicole, Amber, and Nathaniel.

Read, Watch, and Complain!

Do you like to read? Watch movies? Whine a bit?

We will read (aloud, together) great books that have been made into movies. Then, we’ll watch the movies! Our first book will be Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson. Is the movie as good as the book? Better? A total dud?

If there is time, we will read a second novel. The Outsiders? The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe? Wizard of Earthsea? Hatchet? Bring your suggestions.

Please note that we will be reading every day. Pick “Read, Watch, & Complain” if that sounds fun to you!

Interview Tyler

What I've been doing in the past few weeks is making signs for the library and helped put things up on the bulletin boards. I put blue construction paper on the front bulletin board. I put "Reading is Fun"on the small board. I made signs so research is easier. I've been fixing old signs that needed fixing. I've been working with Mia. Now it is much better.

Intevew Mia

What I have been doing in the library is making posters for the GMS library. I wanted people to read books there. And I have also helped other people with their projects. I work with someone named Nicole. She has been helping me with the posters, and we worked together to make this.


I have been also working with someone named Tyler. He has made posters to show where the books were. He has also made posters to where to get a book checked out. I am glad to be in this Library Apprentices class.

Our partnership with World Eye Bookshop!

The Greenfield Middle School Library has entered into a fabulous partnership with local bookseller, World Eye. Ms. Ann Smith, the owner of World Eye, has agreed to help put new, current books in the hands of our kids.

Here's how it works: I send World Eye a list of all the books GMS kids have been wishing we had here in our library. Anyone who wants to help -- parents, grandparents, community members -- can go to World Eye, look at our wish list, and buy a copy for our school library! World Eye will offer a discount on any books purchased for our school library. You may donate anonymously or let me know what you've donated & I'll put a commemorative book plate inside the front cover.

Our kids get to read great books, our money stays local, and we all win.

If you would like more information, please contact me in the library.

World Eye is located at 156 Main Street in downtown Greenfield. 413-772-2186.

Love Graphic Novels?

Check out this great site: Sidekicks! You'll find reviews and suggestions for good reading.

Here's what it's about:

"Graphic novels, the focus of this site, take the whole storytelling format one step further. The shortest definition of a graphic novel is this:
a book-length comic
It's that simple. Artists and writers create longer tales, ranging from 50 to over 300 pages worth of work, using all the trademark comics pieces, from text bubbles to panels. As with comic books, they are often quite complex in terms of artwork and the look of the pages get more adventurous."

http://www.noflyingnotights.com/sidekicks/what.html

Anime Club!

Yes!

For all of you 7th and 8th graders who have been lamenting our lack of anime and manga -- The Greenfield Public Library has a club for you! The Greenfield Anime Club meets Saturdays from 10-12 at the GPL. Read books, watch movies, make costumes! It's free! Call the GPL for more information: 772-1544.

Thank You, North Parish School!

Wow!

A week ago Friday, Joan Schell, principal of the North Parish School, donated a car-full of wonderful books to the Greenfield Middle School Library. Among the books were: Bridge to Terabithia, titles from the Chronicles of Narnia, How to Eat Fried Worms, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Just Juice, and so many others that no school library should be without!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

What i'm doing in library apprentices

In library apprentices we are working on posters and a webpage for the internet. Crystal and athaniel are working ona song about books. Also putting pictures on the wepage also. For posters we did a sign out on the bullitien board. It said " Welcome to gms library" The song that crystal and athaniel are doing is actually a rap. Lidnsey ,stephen and rory are also working on the webpage with the blog. Me, amber,tyler,amelia , and nicole are working on posters and decorating the library.


by holly

What I am working on atGMS library.

What I am working on is...Making signs for the GMS library. Why I want do this is because I like to be creative with writing and drawing. What signs I made said Biography Books are great! Check them out! Also I made a welcome to the GMS library. Another sign I made said What Books do you like?Why I Like to do these signs is because I like to catch the persons attention with them.

Nicole

Why I like airplanes so much?

I am reading books or reading airplane books and ofter kind of books. I like airplanes books because Airplanes are awsome and Here a list of my favorite airplanes: B-17 Flying Fortress and the P-51 Mustang and the P-38 Lightning and The Supermarine Spitfire and the Hawker Hurricane and the Memphis Belle the Famous Beautiful B-17 Flying Fortress.

Kyle

What I am doing at the Library

What I am doing in Library is The GMS-Library Web Page because I have a large interest in computers. I think what we should add to it is more book recommendations, put down a book of the Day. For that we can get any book from the shelves and see if we want it there. There should be a list of events happening in the library.

Stephen

Student-Created Web Page

Flex 2 Library Apprentice kids are working on a library web page. They are using a free web design program from McGraw-Hill.



As with any group project, there are lively discussions about what is important to include, the importance of spelling and truthfulness, and the fact that sometimes you just need to be a bit silly.



Please take a look at their work from time to time. Praise what you like, and give us suggestions, too!

Work

On the computer I have been making songs with Nathaniel and Lindsey. It's funny hanging out with Nathaniel. We write about what we have done to the library We put pictures on the blog.

Iam Crystal

nathaniel

The GMS library is a really good library to go and rent books from there are realy good books such as harry potter and fengshui if your wondering what it means, feng means wind and shui means water. The library has over a million of books to chose from.



My name is Nathaniel and my partner is crystal weve been workingon a song for the GMS library and also on logos and many other things so the library to be the best we can make it,so come on down to the GMS library and rent whatever book you find and like and rent it if you like.

Amber

If you stepped into the GMS library two weeks ago, you would want to change it. Well, Amber wanted to decorate it too! She and her partners worked together to re-create three bulletin boards. One said "Read! Imagine! Create!" Another said, "Welcome to GMS library" right outside the library so everyone walkin' by could see it and check out a book. and the last one said,"Reading is Fun!" So she and her two friends worked together to make the library look cool and more put together and composed. Here's a message to all those readers out there, "Recommend Reading!"

An Opportunity from the Public Library

Our friends at the Greenfield Public Library asked me to spread the word:

GMS students are invited to sign up for the book-to-movie fantasy reading club. Sign up for The Golden Compass (a.k.a. Northern Lights) starts October 1. You'll get your own copy of this amazing book by Philip Pullman! Then you'll be invited to participate in a book discussion at the GPL on Monday, November 5th, and everyone gets to go to the movie opening night (12/7) at the Garden Theatre.

National Punctuation Day!

Today is National Punctuation Day! Celebrate by writing a well-crafted and accurately punctuated letter to a dear friend or relative, why don't you? Did you know that this national festival of the comma and semi colon has its own web site? If you go there, you may learn about many punctuation marks and their proper use. Hooray!

a song bye Lindsey

Hi I'm Lindsey and I have been working on a song and it goes like this:
All the books in the library bring the students to the yard,
so drop it like your reading..like your reading ♥

What to Read Next in a Series

Which comes first, The Two Towers or The Fellowship of the Ring? Party Princess or Princess in Love? Prisoner of Azkaban or Half-Blood Prince? Click on "What to Read Next in a Series" under "Helpful Links" to your left. This is a database maintained by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri. You can search by series title to discover what to read next!

Yarr! It's International Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 19th is always International Talk Like a Pirate Day! So, double-up on all your adjectives, drop your gs and vs, and always speak in the present tense!

Speaking of Grants . . .

The GMS Library has applied for 2 grants: one, in partnership with teacher Suzanne Schropfer, is an Ezra Jack Keats Foundation mini-grant; the other is an American Library Association "We the People" Bookshelf. We won't know for several months whether we've been selected to receive them. We'll let you know!

Parent Volunteers Sought

Parents, if you are interested in volunteering in the GMS Library, please contact Robin Shtulman at robsht1@gpsk12.org. You can also call me at 772-1360, ext. 221. Especially needed are parents willing to serve on the Library Advisory Council, which will help me write the GMS Library Long Range Plan, a pre-requisite to applying for Library Service and Technology Act Federal grants.

Welcome

The Greenfield Middle School Library is open Monday through Friday, 7:45 - 12:00 and 12:30 - 3:45.

We have a growing collection of print, audio, video, and electronic resources for staff and students to use.