CHINE LIBRARY ON-LINE!!!

You hear about a news story that is covered in the Globe & Mail, the Toronto Star or Maclean's Magazine, and you are frustrated that you don't subscribe to these periodicals, well... fret no more!!
You and your family now have access to thousands of periodicals on-line.

AS students get into the Learning Commons and have re-established the routines, it is a great time for parents to get involved with their child's learning on-line. The TDSB has poured thousands of $$$ to purchase access to information that all Toronto Public School students and their families can access from their home computers for FREE! As your child or moi, Mrs. Dassios at the Chine Learning Commons (Library/Computer Lab) and we will get your the user and passwords to access all these resources on-line.

Lots of really neat and informative periodicals: American Artist, http://www.albertahistory.org/default/ ,
astronomy, The Beaver: Canada's History, Camping Magazine, Canadian Living... etc. etc!

Check with the TDSB Bookmark for User and Password access!

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries/cat.asp?schoolNo=4390

Meet the Teacher-Librarian Night, TONIGHT!!!

Come on down to the Learning Commons at Chine Drive P.S.!
Open house tonight and I will be putting lots of STUFF on display
for your reading and researching pleasure.
Don't forget to pick up your own
TDSB Library Website BOOKMARK!
It has all the user and passwords for you to
access THOUSANDS of amazing sites.
See you later, alligators!

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries/cat.asp?schoolNo=4390

Festival of Trees 2011 Winners and Honour Books Ceremonies

Several Chine Drive Students had the honour of introducing and presenting
awards at the Festival of Trees last May, 2011.
*Klarissa, Sadhdb, Emelia, Tyler, Eric, Tess
Have a peek:

Welcome Back Chine Learning Common Followers!

Hello Chine Community! Welcome back to the Learning Commons!

I hope you have all enjoyed the first week of school. Over the summer, with the assistance of a team of 6 High School Volunteers, we were able to change the bookcase set up for our Smart Board ("interactive white board").
A big round of applause and many thanks go out to:
 Christian, Evan, Kathryn, Kia and Alessa.
I calculated that it required approximately 140 community service hours!!!

I am so excited to be working in complete PARTNERS IN ACTION schedule this year!
As we gear up for the new school year, we are consolidating class visits to the Learning Commons for book exchange, Smart Board and computer lab use. Each class will be assigned one or two time slots, which will be fixed for the most part. The Partners method of working in the Learning Commons means I will be flexible in my work with staff and students. As the need arises, we will schedule more or less work periods in the Learning Commons. Some days, we will focus on basic computer skills for one period. The following week, we may spend several periods engaging in initial research for a Science or Social Studies project. Other days, students may only hear one book talk, then exchange their library books, other weeks, we may be engaged in one of a series of 6 Literature Circles discussion meetings using one of hundreds of Junior or Intermediate Novels.

I have also resumed my volunteer work with the Ontario Library Association.
I'm thrilled to announce that this year, I am taking responsibilities of the
Chairperson, for the Forest of Reading Programs in Ontario!
I have already begun my duties last June, involved in many meetings with
staff downtown at Ontario Library Association.
Be prepared for another fantastic year filled with
AMAZING CANADIAN AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS!!!

guardian_librarian out,
leaving you with one of the most spectacular images
I witnessed this summer, the Opera of "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi,
staged at the Arena in Verona, Italy! Ciao for now!

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