Guys Read

Highland is happy to partner with Cook Memorial Library to continue the Guys Read program this year. Rob Eckmann, librarian at Cook, leads this group which meets once a month after school from 3:40 - 4:30 in the Highland Learning Center. Any guys in grades 5- 8 are welcome to attend!
The meetings for the rest of the 2012-2013 school year are :

• March 18
• April 1
• May 13

One Book, One School = A Success!

Breakfast Book Discussion in the LC

Friday (3/1/13) was the culmination of a very successful One Book, One School project. I got chills when our visiting author, Mawi Asgedom, asked the assembly full of students how many of them had read his book, Of Beetles & Angels, and nearly every hand in the gym was raised.

Throughout the week long celebration of the book, there were numerous opportunities for students, staff members, and members of the community to discuss the book. In total about 120 people participated in one of these events, leading to much great conversation about Mawi's memoir of coming to America from Ethiopia via a refugee camp in Sudan. The story inspired many of us. 

On Friday, Mawi spent the morning with us at Highland. His day was filled talking with student leaders over breakfast, doing two assemblies for the entire student body, and having lunch with students who had read and discussed his book. 

A great group of faculty members at Highland worked together to make this project and learning experience possible!

Write in the Middle Editorial Board Members

Along with submissions for writing and art for Write in the Middle, we are also looking for students willing to serve of the editorial board. This group reads and evaluates all the submissions, helping to decide which pieces are published.

Most of our work is done virtually. Although the board does have an afterschool final selection meeting face-to-face in mid-March.

Fill out the application to be considered as a member of the ediotial board!

Write In the Middle Call for Submissions

Write in the Middle, Highland's Literary and Art Publication, is gearing up for its fifth edition. 

We are currently looking for original writing - poetry, short stories, and essays - and artwork done by students and staff members to be considered for the 2013 issue.

Works should be electronically submitted to Dr. Wyatt (ewyatt@d70schools.org) by February 19, 2013.  

Mystery Night in the LIbrary

I'm so excited for our third annual Mystery Night in the Library. It's a collaborative event with the Highland Drama Club and the Learning Center. Students will have a chance to use their power of deduction to solve the case of The Pharaoh's Curse! The event will run from 3:45 - 5:00 on 11/28. There's still some room for additional participants.

Highland Book Fair

It's almost time for the fall book fair at Highland. Students are watching the preview video with book trailers and author interviews of books available at the book fair which will take place 12/ 3 - 12/7. Students will have a chance to visit the book fair with their literature classes during library time next week. Students may also stop by during recess or at other times of the day with a pass from a teacher to take a look and shop.

Visiting Authors in October

The Highland Middle School Learning Center is THRILLED to welcome two visiting authors during October. These visits have been made possible through cooperation the the Lake Forest Book Store.

On October 9, Cory Doctorow will be visiting and speaking to some of Highland's eighth grade students' Doctorow's new book, Pirate Cinema, is being published this week. His book, Little Brother, is one of the 2013 Lincoln Award nominated books.

On October 11, Cat Valente, author of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, will be speaking to some of the school's sixth and seventh grade students.

Books by both authors are available for purchase. The authors will sign their books during their visit to Highland. Order forms are available in the Learning Center.
Email Erin Wyatt (ewyatt@d70schools.org) with questions or for additional information.