The library creates a reading program each year to encourage students to be mindful of the ways the practice of reading enhances our lives - and how much fun it can be! We are especially excited about Books Change Lives with its connections to our summer reading of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and its genesis coming from the Thompson family's desire to act on what they learned from reading about William Kamkwamba.  The google form is filling up with minutes and we are looking forward to collecting the slips brought in by PK-2nd graders on Friday.  We have set up ways for us all to see our progress in both Tanglewood Library and the Middle School Collection area. What can you do to make sure we meet our goals and get a library established in Nkwanta?

• Read, read, READ and report your minutes.  If you are in 3rd - 8th grade or are an adult who wants to support the program, log your minutes for each week on the google forms: Week 1 log , Week 2 log, Week 3 log, Week 4 log.    PK-2nd grade - bring in your slips each Friday.  Your minutes become miles to get the wildebeest and books to Nkwanta, Ghana.
• Donate new or gently used books that meet the suggested guidelines put out by The African Library Project.  We are setting up a Community Center Library and so are looking for all reading levels.  Bring your donations to the library.
• Drop some coins in the "Change for Change" jars. You can find them in both libraries, the Beestro, at division offices and Scott House. 

Keep These Kids Smiling

Books Change Lives reading program begins!

Our 25^th annual reading program starts this Friday, February 12^th, inspired by our summer read, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and the Thompson Family.  We are partnering with Ali Thompson’s school, Green Acres, and the African Library Project to make some positive change in the world while celebrating the wonder and fun of reading.  For four weeks all LS and MS students and faculty will be keeping track of the time they spend reading outside of the school day.   Every 30 minutes of reading will equal 1 mile.  The community service aspect of the program is to collect 1000 new and gently used books to start a community center library in Nkwanda, Ghana like the one where William Kamkwamba found the book that changed his life.  Our 15,000 mile (450,000 minutes) goal represents the round trip distance from SSFS to New Orleans (where the African Library Project has a warehouse), on to the Open Hearts Community center in Ghana, and some miles to bring the wildebeest home.  Look for displays in the MS and LS to see our progress.  We will also be collecting change to help finance the shipping costs.  There will be jars around campus where change can be donated.  Students 3^rd  - 8^th grade and all faculty and staff can log their minutes on a google form each week.  PK-2^nd grade students will have slips of paper to take home to record their minutes and return to school each Friday.  Each week has a bonus challenge that offers  a way to earn an additional hour, and every student who reports their time gets a small gift from the library.  All the links and information you need to participate in the program will be found on the library website and here on the blog.    Book donations can be left at either library.  Is there a book that has changed your life?  Tell us about it .  Any questions?  Give us a call at x145  or send an email to elizt@ssfs.org. 

 Happy Reading!

Week 1 log  

Week 2 log 

Week 3 log

Week 4 log