WELCOME TO  A NEW YEAR IN THE GROUT LIBRARY !!! Ms. Diane and Ms. LeBlanc have many interesting NEW BOOKS that will be arriving at the Grout Library in the next few weeks!!!! We have ordered many new NON-FICTION books that will be arriving on our shelves soon!!!!!

Grout School definitely will be participating in OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS for the second year !!!!! For those of you who would like information about OBOB, Ms. LeBlanc will be “talking it up” at the PTA meeting on September 27. We had four OBOB teams last year and hope for MORE this coming year.

For those who do not know about Oregon Battle of the Books, it is a statewide voluntary reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the Oregon Association of School Librarians and the Oregon Library Association. Students in grades 3-12, regardless of ability, are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoints.

Lists of books are chosen, and questions are written for each grade level division. Students read the books, discuss them, quiz each other on the contents, and then compete in teams of four students to answer correctly questions based on the books in a “quiz show” format. We have copies of the OBOB titles in the library for the students to check out.+

If any of you have collections of items that you would like to share in our two locked display cases, please let Ms. LeBlanc know. It would just be fun to see what our students collect !!!!

End-of-Year News

This year has been a stellar year for our Grout Library and for our first involvement in OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.
Portland Public School gave us  $2500 for new books! We purchased MANY!!!!!
For our very first time participating in OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, we had four teams with three alternates.  The teams called themselves THE EVIL EAGLES, THE EAGLE EYE READERS, BEAUTY AND THE BOYS, and THE KIWI BIRDS. The EAGLE EYE READERS went to the OBOB Regional  Competition held at Llewelyn School. Over the months, many parents acted as coaches and held mock battles. We are extremely grateful for their help and dedication.
Using money from the Scholastic Book Fair, we had a very successful Grout Book Give-Away the week before Spring Break. Every student present was given the opportunity to select a new book to take home for free. There were many happy smiles as the students looked through the books to make their selection.
In preparation for next year's OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, the library has five copies of each new OBOB book. To those who are interested in participating next year, it might be a good idea to check out one of these books to read over the summer. We would LOVE to have more OBOB teams next year!!!!!

New School Year at Grout Library

Welcome to the new school year at Grout School Library. We here in the library welcome you and encourage you to read as much as possible. This year at Grout have an opportunity to participate in OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS. This is for students in grades 3, 4, and 5. What is OREGON BATTLE OF THE BOOKS? " It is a statewide reading motivation and comprehension program sponsored by the  Oregon Association of School Libraries in conjunction with a  Library Services and Technology Act grant. Students in 3rd-12th grade, regardless of ability, are exposed to quality literature representing a variety of literary styles and viewpoints.

OBOB's mission is to encourage and recognize students who enjoy reading to broaden reading interests, to increase reading comprehension, to promote academic excellence, and to promote cooperative learning and teamwork among students."


OBOB's website is www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org/frequently-asked-questions/


We have many new books in the library this year. Ask your student/s about them!!!!!  Once again, please feel free to come on by the library. We  have a new library assistant, "Miss Diane." Please come by the library and say hello.       Ms. LeBlanc and "Miss Diane"

May in the Library

 MAY IN THE LIBRARY

Since April  was National Poetry Month, Ms. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc read lots of FUN poetry to all of the students. Ms. LeBlanc explained the how’s and why’s of poetry. Why do we need poetry? Of what benefit is it to any of us? WHAT IS POETRY?

The third grade bridges have been on display, and  many people have come to see them. Not only have students seen them, but  parents and grandparents have visited. These bridges certainly show a monumental amount of work by these talented third graders. If you have not seen the bridges, please come by the library. YOU’LL BE AMAZED!   

As April turned  into May, Ms. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc have been introducing the students to the Caldecott and Newbery Medal winners and runners-up. Ask your student about the books that Ms. LeBlanc has read and the pictures she has shown. Ask them  what books get these awards.   PLEASE COME BY THE LIBRARY. We would love to see parents, and please know that you are always welcome. 

Ms. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc

Greetings from your Grout Library.

Mrs. Hamilton   distributed Dr. Seuss bookmarks and pencils for Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2. Guess what? March 2  was also Mrs. Hamilton’s birthday, and she also gave out suckers to celebrate!!!! Ms. LeBlanc read Dr. Seuss books to all the students. Staff dressed up in “Seussical” clothing, and classroom doors were artfully decorated as   Dr. Seuss  book covers. It was quite joyful to behold, and the students had a super great time. There were  also Dr. Seuss cookies in the cafeteria  for lunch.

Since March is Women’s History Month, there are many wonderful books concerning that topic on display. Ms. LeBlanc has been reading books that showcase many women who influenced history.

 The third, fourth, and fifth grades will be learning how to search  for books on DESTINY, the  online catalog.

Mrs. Hamilton is currently working on brand new books that were purchased at the Book Fair last November. There are usually five new titles put on the shelves  every week.

Mrs. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc would like to encourage everyone to come to the first-ever Grout Auction on Friday, March 10. SEE YOU THERE !!!!!!

February Newsletter from Grout Library

Now that we have survived all that ice and snow, Mrs. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc have placed books about winter on top of the shelves to remind  us that we lived through it!

February is Black History Month. We have many books about great  African Americans and their contributions to America. Mrs. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc have placed many of these books on top to the shelves for easy access.

Come and see the gorgeous stars on the library windows. These were made by Jamie Williams’ fourth grade class. When the sun shines, they look like stained glass. We also have placed snowflakes on the lower panes of glass.

The  fifth grades have been playing “ GENRE JEOPARDY” with Mrs. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc. The fourth grades played “Dewey Decimal Bingo”. The library is the scene of many fun activities that are thoroughly enjoyed by our students. Come on by and visit. We would love to see you.  

We wish to thank our faithful volunteers for their time. We are very grateful for your much-needed help.

Mrs. Hamilton and Ms. LeBlanc

December News!

Greetings!


It’s R.I.F. Week in the library, December 12th - 16th.  R.I.F. stands for Reading Is Fundamental. It’s a Federal program that puts brand new books into the hands of students in Title 1 schools. Every student who comes to library next week will get to choose a book to keep forever. Please note that during RIF Week, there is no library book check-out. All library books are due the day BEFORE their scheduled library day. 

Also happening this month is the Books for Bicycles is a reading contest! books for Bicycles is a reading incentive open to all second through fifth grade students here at Grout. Odd Fellows Grand Lodge has donated two brand new bicycles and two new bicycle helmets to our school. Students must read a book and then complete a book report form in order to enter and have a chance to win one of the bicycles. Book reports MUST be signed by a parent! Students may turn in no more than one book report per day through December 13th.The bicycles and helmets will be raffled off at our school assembly on December 14th, 2016. Book report forms are located just inside the library. Rules and information are stated on the back of the report form. Good luck to all participants!!

Ms. LeBlanc