Summer Vacation!

Even though summer doesn't officially begin until the summer solstice on June 20 (at 7:09pm!), it's here for NHCS kids NOW! I hope you are already having fun times!

When the weather is warm, sunny, and beautiful, being inside at a computer or a TV is a terrible idea. But there may be times when you'd like a little time on the internet. As promised, here's the "ICT Summer Tizmos Page" of links for you to use. There are online magazines, links to free videos, typing games, and the amazing Seed Ball game we all love! As I find more interesting websites this summer, I will add them. Have fun!

Don't forget to read! The beach, the campground, on road trips, at summer school, in the yard under trees - you can take books anywhere! Leave me a comment (with your first name only!) and let me know what you're reading!

Have a safe and happy, fun-filled summer!

BOGO Book Fair

Our Spring Book Fair was a success! We came very close to our goal of surpassing last Spring's sales and students went home with many, many free books! In addition, the library received about twenty-five new titles - free! All in all, a great book event!

Stay tuned! Our Back-to-School Book Fair is already booked for September!

How to Choose A "Just Right" Book

First graders listened to the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We linked Goldilock's "just right" experience to the choosing of books to read for pleasure. We made lists of ways to find a "just right" book, then each student wrote one "Goldilocks Rule" on a Google Presentation slide. Next students posed for a photo of themselves acting out their "rule".  Students learned to resize and position their photos so that they fit on the slide. Then the slides were compiled into a helpful slide show that can be shown to young readers for years to come!

The Book Fair Is Coming!

Our Spring Book Fair will be arriving at our school very soon! It will be set up in the Multipurpose Room from May 9th to May 11th. On that first day, the Book Fair will be open after school and again for the PTO "Breakfast for Dinner" event in the evening. Thursday and Friday there will also be time to buy books. 


I'm saving the best news for last: this is a Buy-One-Get-One-Free Book Fair. Buy two items, pay for the most expensive one and get the other for free! Think of all the books you could buy to read this summer!


Here's the link to the Official Book Fair homepage: http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/newhampton

Castle in the Attic - The End!

How did you like the end of the book? I almost cheered out loud when Calendar turned Alastor into lead! I was so happy I could make a movie in my mind and see "the twisted, gray form of the wizard" and then watch him - poof!!! - disappear! Remember when William found the lead wizard in  Mrs. Phillip's bedroom - and William reached out to touch him? That was SO close!!

NHCS's own Silver Knight!

What did you think about Mrs. Phillip's plan for the lead wizard and the token? Why was she planning that - and was it a good idea? What would you have done with these items - and why? 

I am sorry I missed the Silver Knight at NHCS, and the gymnast, and the jousting. It looks like you had great fun after we all finished reading the book!

If you ever want to read parts of it again, we have a copy of The Castle in the Attic in the library. Also, we have the next book, a sequel, called The Battle for the Castle. In it, William uses the token to make himself tiny again. I wonder how he plans on changing back! And, if Alastor is turned to lead and is at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, who is William battling now??

Just read the book and find out!!

Castle in the Attic: The Wizard's Castle!

In this week's reading, William finally arrives at the castle of the wizard, Alastor, which is guarded by the dragon that was mentioned in the last chapter. The author did such a wonderful job of letting us know how terrified William was to confront the dragon! The part where he was approaching the dragon while playing his recorder was so scary and the images he saw were awful! But after William defeated the dragon, I was relieved and surprised at the way the beast changed so quickly. So far, this has been my favorite part in the book because, in my mind, I could vividly see and hear what was happening in the story, thanks to the great word choice and sentence style of the author.

Sometimes when I read, I find new words - and I must find out what they mean! This week, I had to look in the dictionary to find out what a windlass is. Chapter 14 starts, "William heard the crank of the windlass as the portcullis was raised." The portcullis is that iron gate at the castle door. In your mind, can you see the windlass being turned over and over to wind up the rope that makes the gate go up? Where else would you see a windlass? Leave me an answer in the comment section.

The wizard's castle sounds really creepy with all those lead statues standing around. What do you think of Alastor? I hope William figures out a way to defeat him so he can get out of there and go home!

It's Magic!

Recently, kindergartners have been practicing "coloring inside the lines" using the Magic-Fill tools in TuxPaint. It's sure easier than trying to color back and forth, even with a digital brush! Here are a few of their spring flowers!