Silver Birch news on CTS with Connie Smith

Silver Birch is reported on CTS "Always Good News" with Connie Smith. The May 20, 2011 broadcast she interviews several authors and students involved in this year's Harbourfront Festival of Reading event.

The Silver Birch clip starts at about the 4 minute mark:

http://www.ctstv.com/agn/

Thanks to Arthur Slade for posting on Facebook!

Guardian Librarian
aka Mrs. Dassios

CBC National News!! Forest of Reading

Along with Silver Birch and Blue Spruce the Red Maple Non-Fiction Award was granted to an amazing young woman, Mariatu Kamara, a child refugee from Sierra Leone.

This was a particularly heart-wrenching story, told with dignity, grace and courage beyond belief. CBC National News reporters were at the Festival of Reading Harbourfront event
when Mariatu won the Red Maple Non-Fiction Award:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/books/story/2011/05/12/forest-reading-awards.html

To find out more about "Bite of the Mango" go to Annick Press website:

http://site.annickpress.com/catalog/catalog.aspx?Title=Bite+of+the+Mango,+The

Silver Birch Fiction Award Ceremony - Video clip

From Youtube, Debbie Ohi was in attendance of the Festival of Trees and produced this short video of the Silver Birch Fiction Award Ceremony. Energy CUBED!! Thanks, Debbie!! Enjoy!

http://j.mp/lSSeMz

Mrs. D
aka Guardian Librarian

Silver Birch Ceremonies - Harbourfront

Marvelous day had by all! Congratulations to our student presenters and sign carriers, in the Silver Birch Fiction and Express Ceremonies. You did Chine Drive PROUD!

Klarissa & Sadhbh (Irish pron. "Sive") for SB Fiction author Jill McLean
Eric & Tess for SB Express - author Thomas King and illustrator Gary Clement

View the HARBOURFRONT
2011 Silver Birch Ceremonies pictures on line:

http://j.mp/iUMCS2

Red Maple, Blue Spruce & White Pine HARBOURFRONT

My very fashionable Forest of Reading - Canadian book covers HAT! With Red Maple Non-Fiction author Susan Hughes, "No Girls Allowed: Tales of Daring Women who Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure!! (do I qualify???)

Chine Grade 2 students get to meet Dave Whamond, author and illustrator of "My Think-a-ma-Jink" the Winner - Blue Spruce Award 2011!! The reading and interview will be published on the Owl Kids website. We were very proud of our sign carriers from Chine: Tyler L. and Emelia P. Great job!

Today at Harbourfront there were 3,500 students to celebrate the great Canadian writers and illustrators nominated for the OLA Red Maple, Blue Spruce and White Pine awards. Fun was had by all, especially the authors and illustrators in Toronto from across Canada, being feted by their exuberant reading fans. The weather was excellent, sunny, clear as the students made their way to the West Jet stage and spent the day in craft, arts and game activities relating to the themes and books nominated this year. Day one over, and volunteers gearing up for the 3 Silver Birch Awards: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Express.

Elin Kelsey - Silver Birch Nominee visits Chine

Dr. Elin Kelsey, Ph.D. was in town from Pacific Grove, California. She was born and raised in Toronto, but now lives and works on the West Coast. She earned a B.Sc in Zoology at UoGuelph, M.A. at the UoBritish Columbia and her Doctorate from King's College, London, England.

She has published many science books for children over the past 25 years. She is leading change within governmental, non-governmental and non-profit organizations. From her Maple Tree Press interview she says she likes to interview scientists directly. She tape records information then refers back to do her writing.

Her personal motto: "Celebrate life!"

Shadows on the Train-Movie trailor by Mrs. D grade 4-5 class

The Grade 4-5 students of Mrs. Daskalakis' class have been working on Literature Circles.

One group read the book, Shadows on the Train by Melanie Jackson and produced this movie trailor in response to a great read!! Enjoy!!

From: Mrs. Dassios

Aladdin Jr. Production @ Chine

The Chine students, from Grade 3 to Grade 8 put on a fantastic Aladdin Jr. show this past week. After 4 months of rehearsals, the community finally got to appreciate the musically and theatrically talented students performances on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Deb Moore came in December to help select the cast. Every Wednesday after school was rehearsal time. We were very fortunate to receive most of the costumes and sets from neighbouring elementary school, Fairmount P.S., who had put on the same production in February. Many, many Chine parents were involved in pulling together the show, from getting students to rehearsals, practising dialogues and singing, photographs, program, make-up, intermission snacks and added props, costumes and set-up.
It was a wonderful experience for me to have worked these past months with the students, and especially along side of a professional director and producer of Children's Theatre. Many thanks to Mrs. Daskalakis, our grade 4-5 teacher and Mrs. Fisher our Principal who also helped with me to make this production a success. It truly takes a VILLAGE to make a show like this happen!

Enjoy the following photographs from Tuesday night Dress Rehearsal.

j.mp/mu58TH

and now... focus on Arts Day Thursday!!! Kindest regards, Guardian Librarian