Lunch and Learn Session on eBook Resources!

I'm SO excited about the lunch and learn sessions that will be held at the Highland Learning Center on Wednesday 1/25! With the increasing number of eReading devices in the hands of students and staff at Highland, I want to make sure people know about the downloadable resources available at Cook Library, our local public library.

Susie Pasini, Cook's resident eBook guru, will be doing three sessions at Highland during the three lunch periods. She'll be showing participants about what downloadables are available at Cook and how to use these resources. The sessions are open to interested Highland students and staff. 

Mystery Night in the Learning Center

Last year we had a blast during mystery night in the library. The program is back again this year with a new case to solve. Any interested students are invited to attend the event on Wednesday, November 30, from 3:45 - 4:45 in the Learning Center. Students can reserve their space by signing up in the LC.

Announcing Guys Read - a new book group for guys

Fern Schumer Chapman Visits Highland

Cook Library ran a program, United We Read, in October and November. This community-wide reading program featured two books by Fern Schumer Chapman, Is It Night or Day? and Motherland. Both books explore the journey of Chapman's mother, Edith, coming to America as a twelve-year-old from Germany during the 1000 Children rescue effort to get Jewish German children out of the country to safety during World War II.

Fern Schumer Chapman talks to Highland students. Photo by Robin Kollman.

The Highland Learning Center was thrilled to be able to bring Fern Schumer Chapman to Highland to speak to students and classes who had read (or will be reading) her book. The talks were a good match with the eighth grade curriculum where World War II and the Holocaust will be studied in depth this year.

Students and staff alike were engaged and interested by Ms. Chapman's talk and her question and answer sessions. Several students reported wishing they had a longer time to interact with Ms. Chapman. The author graciously signed books during her day at Highland. I think the visit was highly enjoyed by all! 

United We Read

The Cook Memorial Library in Libertyville has been leading a community read program, United We Read, during October and into November. The selected books are Fern Schumer Chapman's Is It Night or Day? and Motherland.

All of the lunch bunch book clubs will be reading Is It Night or Day? for our November meetings. And on Thursday, November 10, Fern Schumer Chapman will be coming to Highland to speak!

Battle of the Books

Highland will field a team in the 6th Annual Lake County Battle of the Books on March 8, 2011. The event, which will take place at Deerpath Middle School, will challenge students to test their knowledge about the books on the 2011 Caudill Readers' Choice Award list. It's a game show like activity where students buzz in with the title of one of the twenty books on the reading list after questions are asked. Several area middle schools will be participating in the Battle of the Books.

Students interested in the Highland team are invited to come to our first meeting/practice on Tuesday, 2/8, after school in the Learning Center.

Go HORNETS!

Write in the Middle - Call for Writing and Artwork

photo © 2010 John O'Nolan | more info (via: Wylio)
Write in the Middle, Highland's literary magazine, is looking for submissions for the third volume of the publication. Highland students and staff members are invited to submit poetry, short stories, essays, and artwork for consideration.

Work should be submitted electronically to Dr. Wyatt at ewyatt@d70schools.org by February 4, 2011.