Back to school

Is everyone ready to go back to school?

Our Library...

Read...

Knockout Challenge

Good Luck to everyone taking part in the Knockout Challenge!

Guardian Books

Have a look at the Guardian Book website. Their is a children section and one of our Library Assistants is a member.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

Radio Station-

Which Radio station do you listen to?

• Lincs FM
• Radio Lincolnshire
• BBC Radio 2
• BBC Radio 1
• BBC Radio 3
• BBC Radio Humberside
  
• BBC Nottingham
• Capital FM
• Gravity FM
  

Or is your Radio station not listed there?

Bank Holiday....

Have a lovely bank holiday-even though the weather is'nt the best in Grantham :(

Harlaxton Manor

Harlaxton Manor is where Mrs Dawes is going, so here's a bit of background information. 

Harlaxton Manor was originally in the actual village, as a Elizabethan Manor House. However, in the 1830's, Anthony Salvin was commisoned to design the new Manor. With it's one mile drive, a halfway house and splendid gardens, it really is a spectacular place. Over the many years, it's had many owners and uses, including being a RAF Base, a family-home and currently an American University Campus. It is not only used by the American Students, but also by Brides & Grooms who choose it as their wedding venue. Over the years, it's also been used as a filming location.
J K

May Half-Term

The Library team wish you all a very happy May Half-Term, when you can read lots of books, so you can write reviews for the blog.

Goodbye Mrs Dawes...

Today, the Library Team said goodbye to a great friend, Mrs Dawes. We have had some happy times, funny times(a lot of these!) and we can say that we have all enjoyed having her as our Librarian, and more importantly as a friend. So we hope you'll join us in wishing her the best of luck in her new job at Harlaxton Manor, as the College Librarian there and hope she will come back and see us one day! And let's hope she keeps in touch with the Library blog!

And Mrs D, here's a link to wish you well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmdPQp6Jcdk(the library song)

Au Revoir Mrs D!! :-)

The Library Team...

We made sure we gave Mrs Dawes a very good send-off!

Philip Pullman

This is a bit old now, but here's a speech that Philip Pullman made in February this year about Library closures and how they will affect everyone.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/28/market-fanatics-kill-libraries

Top 10 unsuitable books for teenagers...

So, alright! We are always looking for the best books to read. We ask friends, search the internet and most of all, pop into our School Library. So, when someone writes the top 10 most unsuitable books for teenagers, it gets us thinking! Have a look at the link below to see what you should'nt be reading!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/apr/08/patrick-ness-top-10-unsuitable-books-teenagers

And why not go into the Library, and tell the Libraians which books you think are not your unsuitable top ten, but your favourite top ten. We might even be able to make a display!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

Librarians...

"They (Librarians) are subversive. You think they're just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with them." - Michael Moore

So, it's not just about shelving books!

Bishop Grosseteste Library Magazine

Some of the older Library users may find this magazine produced 3 times a year by the Sibthorpe Library interesting. The link is below:

http://www.bishopg.ac.uk/?_id=10203

Turtle Day

It's a bit random, but did you know that today is Turtle Day!

A little quote...

A library book, I imagine, is a happy book.

• So that that means that our Library is full of happiness!
  

Cornelia Funke

Remember....

National Short story week....

It's quite a way off still, but the 7th November to 13th November 2011 is National Short Story Week. Have a look at their website(below), where the guest editor of the website for May is Jon Mayhew, who came to our Library not long ago...

http://www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/

The Royal Society Judging panel...

The Royal society are looking for groups of young people to judge the winner of the Royal Society Young People Book Prize. Children up to 14 years old may apply and judge the best book written for young people up to 14 years old about science topics. You must apply by Wednesday 1st June 2011. There is a link placed below which has all the details:

http://royalsociety.org/sciencebooks/young-people/judges/

Library@Kings

A new logo!

Google search tips...

Here's another link with lots of information about how to use Google Search.
Why not have a look, the link is below:

http://www.mapelli.info/ultimate-google-search-tips-guide

Michael Morpurgo

I find this website that some of you may be interested in. The link is below :)


http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/

Walk to school week

Did you know that this week is walk to school week? The aim is to get school pupils to walk to school at least once a week. Take a look at their website below-

http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/

Etiquette...

Would'nt Hyacinth be pleased?

Here's a website all about etiquette in our country and in others. Have a look-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A354782

Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette

Review for Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette:

This book is great! Its based around the 1990's TV series, Keeping Up Appearances, which is also great! It's based around 7 characters, Hyacinth, Rose, Richard, Daisy, Onslow, Elizabeth and Emmett. The TV Series and book follow the day to day life Hyacinth who wants to be the best in her neighbourhood. Both the book and the TV series are great. 5 Star. :)

J.K Year 9

Library Blog Intro

Hello everyone,
Welcome to the Library Blog! You've find us! Please send us your book reviews, Library comments(compliments or complaints) or anything else which you think may be interesting to other blog users or useful to the Library Staff. Either pop into the Library and ask for me or e-mail me using my school e-mail address(ask at the Library Desk). If you have a Google account, you can comment on posts. So please contribute to the blog, it's for you!
Thank-You

James K
Pupil Library Assistant

Grantham Library

How many of you use Grantham Library?

How often do you borrow books from there?

(You can leave comments below)

Here's the opening hours:

• 
  Monday 09:00 – 18:00
• Tuesday09:00 – 18:00
• Wednesday09:00 – 19:00
• Thursday09:00 – 19:00
• Friday09:00 – 19:00
• Saturday09:00 – 16:00
• SundayClosed

Children's Book Website-

Have a look at the following website. It has lots of good books and information on each one!

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

Speech tips....

Reading a speech? This website has lots of great tips which may be helpful. Have a look-

http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/Speech.html

Chris Evans Short Story Competition

The BBC have published some of the top stories sent in to BBC 2 for the Short Story Competition. Have a look-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/500-words/top-50/

New blogger!

As some of you are aware, I am leaving The King's School at half term so I am handing over the management and running of the Library Blog to my fantastic Library Assistant, James K. As you can see he has been busy already, keeping you up-to-date with activities in the Library and anything else of library and book related interest. Please give James your support by writing book or film reviews. James can be contacted via the Library Desk or by his school email address.

Thank you James ;-)

Mrs D

Summer weather forecast.....

Have a look what weather we have in store for summer with this forecast....

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=longrange;sess=

A Little Quote...

The man who reads is the man who leads-

It's even in your school planners!

Amazon's must read teenage books

Have a look at this website and see if you have read any of the 'must read teenage books' on Amazon's page.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Must-read-teenage-books/lm/RJZR4MTJSLICQ

Film Club: Rush Hour

East meets West in this culture-clash action comedy. Martial-arts star Jackie Chan plays Hong Kong detective Inspector Lee. When the young daughter of an old friend is kidnapped, Lee is asked to come to America to find her, against the advice of the FBI. Unhappy at having their wishes ignored, the FBI assign loudmouth Los Angeles cop James Carter (Chris Tucker) to keep Lee away from the real investigation. The two have nothing in common - except a desire to find the girl and solve the case. Can the martial-arts expert and the fast-talker put their differences aside and work together?



Source: http://www.filmclub.org/film/4103/rush-hour

Film Club in the Library
Thursday 7/Friday 8 April
12.40-13.30

Keeping up-to-date with fees charged by universities

For 6th form students, The Guardian is running a regularly updated blog which records all the fees being charged by universities.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/25/higher-education-universityfunding?&EMCEDUEML1658

Guardian Childrens Books website

Don't know the latest book in a series? Wondering who wrote a certain book and when?



Why not ask the book doctor on the Guardian Children Books Website?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor

James :)

Armadillo Newsletter

For teenage book news and reviews, the latest Armadillo newsletter is available here: http://sites.google.com/site/armadillomagazine/teenage1

The Classical Education of a Great Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton

The King's School is hosting an event on its most famous former pupil, Isaac Newton. Expert Helen Martin will give  a talk entitled "The Classical Education of a Great Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton". The event will take place in the Old School building, currently housing the Library, on Tuesday 29 March at 7.00pm.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of the world’s greatest scientists, received a classical education. Helen examines the history of this great man, his education and considers what we can learn from this today.

Enjoy the unique experience of hearing and seeing more about his life, contributions and formal education, whilst sitting in the Grade I listed building in which he was actually taught, and where you can see his engraved signature on one of the windowsills.

You are invited to stay and enjoy some refreshments where you will have the opportunity to meet Helen, whilst listening to some music of his time.

Tickets are on sale from The King's School at £7.50 (£6.00) including wine, cheese and biscuits. Tel: 01476 563180.

Photograph: The Old School building by Helen Martin

247tales

247tales is an online writing competition run by Bloomsbury publishers that challenges young people to write short stories using 247 words or fewer.

The prize for the winning story is £75 worth of Bloomsbury Children’s books plus a framed copy of your winning story. The winning story will appear on the home page of the 247tales website at http://247tales.wordpress.com/  and ten runners-up will receive signed copies of the guest author’s latest book and their stories will appear on the website as well. For full details on the closing date and how to enter visit the rules section of the website.
You can read the prologue of the guest author’s latest book in the downloads section as well as finding out the themes and authors for all the stories this year.

This month’s theme is THE MONEY and the closing date is 28th March. The guest author this month is Jim Carrington.

Have a go!

Jon Mayhew visits The King's School

Author, Jon Mayhew visited our school today and ran sessions with Year 7 and 8 pupils. Jon started by introducing us to his first book, Mortlock, which is set in Victorian London in 1854. 

"Josie lives with a stage magician. A man with a dark past. A past that seeks him out in the form of three hideous witch-like women who can turn into giant eyeball-pecking crows called ghuls! They invade Josie’s house and send her on a quest for The Amarant, the immortal flower of life. Pursued by the ghuls, Josie meets her twinbrother, Alfie ..."

Jon's latest book, published on 7 March 2011, is The Demon Collector, which is related to but can stand alone from Mortlock. "In The Demon Collector Edgy Taylor is a Prime Collector (if you don't know what this is, look it up!) and his life is miserable! On top of that, he sees demons when others can’t!"

If you like dark gothic historical adventure, then you'll love Jon's books. 

Today's visit was kindly arranged by the lovely ladies from Barrowby and Grantham Childrens' Book Group who enthusiastically and tirelessly share their love of reading and books.

 

The Demon Collector

Edgy Taylor sees demons when nobody else can. Edgy thinks he is insane and expects to be carried off any minute. He is a prime collector, wandering the streets of London collecting dog muck for the tannery. The only thing Edgy is good at is setting and solving riddles, and evading his brutal and abusive master. One night, when his master seems genuinely intent on killing Edgy, Professor Envry Janus intervenes. Envry takes him to the Royal Society of Daemonologie where Edgy will now live. It is here, though, that Edgy discovers chance had nothing to do with their meeting, and that instead he holds the key to a deadly demon prophecy.

From: Bloomsbury website http://www.bloomsbury.com/Demon-Collector/Jon-Mayhew/books/details/9781408803943

Author, Jon Mayhew will be visiting King's on Tuesday 8 March when he will be running sessions with Year 7 forms and 8A. You will be able to buy his latest book The Demon Collector to be signed on the day for £8.00.

Have a look at Jon's website: http://www.jonmayhew.co.uk.

Film Club: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is the third installment in the blockbuster series. Following on from the shocking revelations of Dead Man's Chest, Jack is back, but in for more trouble as Davy Jones and the tyrannic Lord Cutler Beckett aim to control the seas. With no time for parties, Jack, Will and Elizabeth are once again forced to save the day, but they have to work with an old enemy... This film was fully enjoyable and I can't wait to see the next one: On Stranger Tides!" Hariharan, Year 7

Showing in the Library, lunchtimes 16-18/02/2011

Chris Evans Short Story Competition

Are you 13 years old or under? Then enter the Chris Evans short story 500 Word competition today!

Further details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/500-words/

William Hussey visits King's

Author William Hussey visited the Library at King's again for an informal session organised in conjunction with the Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group. William read an extract from his latest book Gallows at Twilight, the second in his Witchfinder triology. He then answered many questions from the audience such as where does he get his inspiration from? How does he go about writing his books? How long does he spend researching the background? William gave us a taster of ideas for his future novels which sound excellent.

Save Our Libraries Day - Saturday 5 February

Save Our Libraries Day
Saturday 5 February

A day of action to bring greater attention to the cuts and closures facing many public libraries.

We want everyone who cares about reading, literacy and libraries to use their public library on the 5th February and tell as many people as they can to do the same.

Further information: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/advocacy/public-libraries/Pages/savelibrariesday.aspx

Film Club: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (PG)

"In case you've never read one of the popular books that feature him, Percy Jackson is a modern American with plenty of things wrong with his life. What Percy (Logan Lerman) discovers not far into this film is that he is also the son of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea. Not only that, but his uncle Zeus, king of the gods, wrongly thinks that Percy has nicked his lightning bolt. Big trouble. Not a million miles from an American version of Harry Potter, this is a fast, fun adventure with gods, serpents, and centaurs - not to mention plenty of big stars popping in to help out." www.filmclub.org

Showing in the Library during lunchtimes, 3/4 February 2011.

William Hussey is back!

Highly acclaimed author William Hussey ... "the new king of horror" will be visiting King's again.

William be talking about his new book Gallows at Twilight the second part in the Witchfinder Trilogy,
at The King's School Library, 5.00 - 6.00pm
on Wednesday 9th February.

There will be copies of both parts one and two Dawn of the Demontide and Gallows at Twilight to buy and have signed.

This event is being organised by the Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group. Please let Mrs Dawes know if you would like to attend. 

" An ancient evil walks again . . .
Eight pale hands—some with fingers stripped down to the bone—rose out of the earth. Slimy with rain, the rat‐gnawed heads of four soldiers loomed into view. They moaned at the sky and their cry moulded itself into a word: ‘FLLLLLLEEESSSSSSHHHHHH!’" from  Gallows at Twilight

Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight ∙ 978‐0‐19‐273191‐3 ∙ PB ∙ £6.99 ∙ January 2011 · Age 12+ 

e-books

For those of you who like e-books, I've just discovered this site.

Red House Book Reviews

The deadline for all red House Book Reviews is 1 February. 

Please bring any Red House books back to the Library together with your review slip before then. 

3 reviews = 1 merit; 5 review = a free book courtesy of Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group.

I'm Reading a Book

E-resources and audiobooks from your local public library

Did you know that you can now download audiobooks free with your Lincolnshire library membership?

Just go to https://virtuallibrary.lincolnshire.gov.uk/default.aspx and login using your library membership number (on your card) and PIN (available by contacting Lincolnshire Libraries online or Grantham Library). 

By selecting Online Resources on the left hand menu you can get access to a wide variety of e-resources direct from your computer at home, 24/7. 

For example, Britannica Online, Music Online and Naxos Music Library, News UK, Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford Art and Music Online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford Reference Online, Time Digital Archive 1785-1985 and Who's Who.

You can also access a library of audiobooks that you can download free, direct to your MP3 player - enjoyable to listen to during your journey to and from school. Ebooks are coming soon ...

Similar e-resources are available from Nottinghamshire (http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/libraries/libraries-newlinc-gateway.htm#referencematerial) and Leicestershire Libraries (http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/leisure_tourism/libraries/information_technology/reference.htm). Public libraries are currently under threat from Government funding cuts so please make good use of your public library and their services before you loose them.

Visuwords

If you think visually then check this website out 

Visuwords http://www.visuwords.com/?word=library#. 

It's an online graphical dictionary and thesaurus.

7E starts Reading Challenge

Happy New Year from The King's School Library!

Today 7E started Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read 6 books in 6 weeks, one from each different genre on the set reading list. They have also been challenged by 7C - the current record holders for reading the most books between them. They read a total of 109 books!

Happy Christmas from The King's School Library!

Have a fantastic Christmas. I hope that Santa brings you all the books that you wished for and you come back refreshed in the New Year, ready to write reviews for the Library Blog!

Mrs :-D

The Library Christmas Party 2010

Diary of a Wimpy kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

Unusually, for books I review, I have not yet finished this brilliant book but so far I’ve been captivated. Such is the magic of Jeff Kinney’s books that I read nearly half the book in WHSmith for an hour. This book does not disappoint any readers of the other books in the series documenting the life of Greg Heffley. In this particular book, Greg has had a fight with his best friend Rowley and has resulted in them not talking to each other for the beginning of the New School Year. Slowly, another problem arises. Greg realises the problems with growing up! I highly recommend this book as a book which will be enjoyed by all Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans. 5 Star

By Jack Shannon

Newton Book Launch

Tonight we held the launch of our book Isaac Newton of Woolsthorpe Manor and The King's School, Grantham, written by Year 7 boys from the school with John Haden. 

Copies are available to order from the school by emailing: admin@kings.lincs.sch.uk

Chocs away!

Boris models the latest Library Assistant uniform! (Courtesy of Will G)

Film Review: Invictus (12)

A truly brilliant film, not just a good watch for Rugby fans but for a much wider audience. It follows Nelson Mandela's first days in office and his growing like for Rugby and with the South African rugby team (the Springboks). It also shows the South African rugby captain's ( Brad Pitt) gradual increase in respect for Nelson Mandela, who he at first simply see's as a terrorist turn into a idol. A film I highly recommend.

Jack Shannon, 8A

Searching websites

Did you know that you can search for topic based websites using the school library catalogue? We have a vast number of weblinks added to the catalogue which are suitable for secondary school use. 

To access the catalogue just log on to a school computer and select favourites in Internet Explorer. Select Library Portal and click on Search. Type your search topic in the box, click the binoculars and hey presto! Hopefully, you will see details some relevant books (if we cover you topic in the school library) and websites. The websites are directly accessible for the catalogue listing. 

Remember you can always ask Mrs Dawes, Mrs Snee or one of the Library Assistants to help you.

Film Club: Sherlock (12)

We will be showing the BBC Sherlock series in Film Club during this term, with the first programme being shown on Tuesday 9/Wednesday 10 November at lunchtime in the Library.

"Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the new Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson. Rupert Graves plays Inspector Lestrade.

The iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain – they live at the same address of 221b Baker Street, have the same names and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting for them.

Steven Moffat says: "Conan Doyle's stories were never about frock coats and gas light; they're about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood-curdling crimes – and frankly, to hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures, and that's what matters.""

From BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4pgh [accessed 8 November 2010]

Welcome to the Library Blog 7D!

During your PDC lesson in the Library on Tuesday 9 November, we would like you to complete a short questionnaire about your reading preferences and your experiences of the school library. You can access it here: Reader Profile 7D 2010-11.

Please feel free to have a look at the Library Blog while you are here. We also have Library webpages on the school website at: www.kings.lincs.sch.uk. The Library pages can be found under the School Information section. Direct link here.

Mrs Dawes

Celebrate National Non-Fiction Day

National Non-Fiction Day is an annual celebration, initiated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups in partnership with Scholastic Children’s Books. It aims to celebrate all that is brilliant about non fiction and show that it’s not just fiction that can be read and enjoyed for pleasure.

The first National Non-Fiction Day will be celebrated on the 4th November 2010, and annually thereafter on the first Thursday in November.

For further details go to: http://nnfd.org/

King's Cool Readers

The Year 7 and 8 Book Group will meet this Wednesday, 3rd November, in the Library at lunchtime. 

Bring your sandwiches and your book, or just come along after your lunch, and be prepared to chat about your favourite books and authors.

New fiction books in the Library

Welcome back! Hope you had a relaxing Half Term.

We have lots of brand new fiction books in the Library on loan from Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group to review for the Red House Children's Book Award 2011. To take part all you have to do is to nominate any book or novel first published in the UK during 2010 by rating it using the following options:
*Brilliant! A winner.
*Very good indeed. I'd definitely recommend it.
*Pretty good, better than most.
*Nothing special.
*Rubbish! Bury it in the garden.

You can nominate as many different titles as you like and nomination forms are available in the Library. 

Review 3 books and receive a merit; review 5 books and receive a free book from a selection kindly provided by Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group.

For further information about the Red House Book Awards go to: www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk

Calling all young books fans

The Guardian is planning a new dedicated books site for young readers – and they would like the target audience to help put it together ...

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/oct/14/calling-young-books-fans

Film Club: Cloudy with a chance of meatballs (U)

Showing in the Library at lunchtime Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st October

"Flint Lockwood is an inventor with some strange ideas. Sometimes, though, those ideas end up doing things Flint never imagined. When he invents a way of turning water into food, that should be a good thing. And when that invention means that all sorts of delicious food falls from the sky on his hometown of Swallow Falls, most people are very happy. But then everything starts to get out of control and a huge pancake has flattened the school. Flint, along with quick-thinking TV weather girl Sam and a monkey, has to stop the delicious downpour. Fast-moving, funny and sometimes really quite touching, this terrific computer animated comedy is only very loosely based on the book of the same name, but it's just as good in its own way." www.filmclub.org

A little Reading Quote

Books to the ceiling


Books to the sky


My pile of books is a mile high


How I love them! How I need them!


I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.


By Arnold Lobel




Submitted by James K. Yr 9

The Essential Man's Library

 Have a look at this link and let me know how many you've read!

http://artofmanliness.com/2008/05/14/100-must-read-books-the-essential-mans-library/

Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy

SPECIAL REVIEW/ INTERVIEW

This review is a interview with a reader of the Skullduggery Pleasant series.  Thomas Armson is a loyal reader of the series and the first to take out the book in the library, this was his view on the latest, exciting book in the series.

What was the book like to read?

“The series is deeply moving and extremely enjoyable to read.”

What is the basic plot around the latest book?

“Skullduggery is a detective who has a partner that is a descendant of an all-powerful ancient. They work in a secret magical community encountering every type of villain or monster on the way, but fate turns against them as Valkyrie discovers she has a dooming fate.” At this point I asked Tom not to give away too much of the plot.

Would you recommend it and how many stars would you give it?

“I recommend it to anybody who enjoys mystery and magic. 5 Stars."

Jack Shannon, Year 8

The Edge Chronicles: The Curse of the Gloamglozer

I have just finished reading this book and I honestly didn’t put it down all weekend! The plot is excellent and the world Paul Stewart has created is truly brilliant. It follows Quint, a sky pirate on the fantastical world of the Edge. He travels to the great city of Santaphrax where he becomes the apprentice of the Most High Academe of this city. The characters are fascinating with their personalities and the intrigue of the answer to the question ‘What is the terrible Gloamglozer?’ was with me right to the end of the book. There are seven other books which are sequels to this brilliant which I would advise for anyone, even if they’re don’t think they like fantasy, to read.  A great read.

5 Star 

By Jack Shannon Year 8

King's Cool Readers

Do you enjoy reading? We are starting a new "King's Cool Readers" book group for Year 7 and 8 which will meet in the Library during a lunchtime once a month. 

We are hoping to have the first meeting next week on Wednesday 13 October. The Library will just be open for King's Cool Readers during this lunchtime and you can bring your sandwiches or just come along after you've had your lunch. The first meeting will be about getting to know each other and talking about our favourite books and authors. We will also talk about what activities we'd like to plan for future meetings.

Further information from Mrs Dawes, Mrs Snee or Clifford the Library Assistant, or just come along on Wednesday next week.

Happy National Poetry Day!

Home by Anne Bronte

How brightly glistening in the sun
The woodland ivy plays!
While yonder beeches from their barks
Reflect his silver rays.
That sun surveys a lovely scene
From softly smiling skies;
And wildly through unnumbered trees
The wind of winter sighs:

Now loud, it thunders o'er my head,
And now in distance dies.
But give me back my barren hills
Where colder breezes rise;

Where scarce the scattered, stunted trees
Can yield an answering swell,
But where a wilderness of heath
Returns the sound as well.

For yonder garden, fair and wide,
With groves of evergreen,
Long winding walks, and borders trim,
And velvet lawns between;

Restore to me that little spot,
With grey walls compassed round,
Where knotted grass neglected lies,
And weeds usurp the ground.

Though all around this mansion high
Invites the foot to roam,
And though its halls are fair within --
Oh, give me back my HOME!

National Poetry Day

This Thursday is National Poetry Day which aims to celebrate poetry across the UK. The theme this year is HOME and we are inviting form groups in Years 7, 8 and 9 to take part in a poetry competition. We would like your form to work together as a group to create a poem entitled “Home”. You can create a tag poem in which each member of the form adds a line to the poem or you can work together as a group.

We would like representatives of each form to read their poem in the Library at 1pm on Thursday 7 October. We are hoping to be joined by the Head and members of the English Department who will decide which poem will win the box of chocolates!

What does 'home' mean to you - the building you live in, the place you came from, or a taste of home cooking?

Please encourage your form to take part and let Mrs Dawes know by morning break on Thursday if you have prepared a poem.

Latin and Classics Cultures Club

Many thanks to the Librarians for letting us use the Library in the summer term for our club. Classic Cultures Club runs on Tuesday Lunchtime in Room 203 (Mr. Finke’s Room) and Latin Club runs on Wednesday after school (again in Room 203). On Tuesday we look at the ancient Greeks and Romans and on Wednesday we look at The Cambridge Latin Course. Have a look at the Latin Course on:  http://www.cambridgescp.com/page.php?p=clc^top^home .

From all at Classic Cultures Club and Latin.

Scholastic Book Club Orders

The deadline for ordering books from the current C2C catalogue (Autumn 2010) is Friday 1 October.

You can order online at: www.clubs.scholastic.co.uk and select The King's School, Grantham. If you join our school order your books are delivered free to the Library and we will notify you when they arrive. Every order helps us to get free books for the School Library so please take a look at the catalogue or browse online.

Film Club: Toy Story (PG)

King's Film Club
Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October
12:35-13:30
Library
Members only - membership forms are available from the Library

Toy Story
"Old-fashioned cowboy toy Woody is threatened by the arrival in his owner's bedroom of the flashy, hi-tech Buzz Lightyear, who doesn't realise that he is just a plastic plaything and not an actual space-travelling hero. At the time of its release, this film was hailed as a pioneering moment in computer animation, but what makes the film work is the way that the technological wonders are there to support a great piece of character-driven storytelling." www.filmclub.org.uk

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

Set in France in the years before and during the First World War, this book gives a moving and powerful account of life in the Flanders trenches and the emotional effects of the war. 
Available in the School Library Upper School Fiction section  (Year 11+) and well worth reading.

Love Reading?

It's proven that confident readers perform better in school. So I'm trying a new website to help encourage pupils to love reading. 

Lovereading4schools.co.uk (a website enthusiastically endorsed by Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson) has expertly created reading lists for schools. Uniquely, pupils and parents can download free opening extracts of the books to find out what a book is like. All the books are available to buy with a 25% discount on the RRP. For every £100 spent by parents we will be given a £5 book voucher to help our school library, benefiting your son even further.

Click below / go to the web address below to go to our online reading lists.

http://www.lovereading4schools.co.uk/viewschool/4901/favourite

You will be asked to register as a parent and create your own account. It's free, and very important as it enables us to be sent our free book vouchers for the school library. All you need is an email address and a password that you can remember. Once you have registered you will need to login each time you visit the school reading lists. After registration you will be sent to the schools book page and there just click on any of the book lists to see the books in those lists. Finally, please remember to bookmark our school's page to make it easier for you next time you visit the site.

European Awareness Week

We are celebrating European Awareness this week in school, so here are Jamie, Josh and Alex getting into the French spirit! 

We are holding Europe themed quizzes every lunchtime so do come along and join us.

What do I read next?

So you've just finished reading a really enthralling book and you're at a loss to know what to read next ... have a look at this website for inspiration.

http://bookseer.com

What book comes next?

Ever wondered what book comes next in a series?

Have a look at this website ... http://www.childrensbooksequels.co.uk/

Book Group

Do you really enjoy reading? Would you like to chat about the books that you have read to like-minded people? We are starting a new Book Group that will meet in the Library during a lunchtime once a month. If you are interested in coming along then come and see one of the Librarians or look out for the posters in the Library.

Film Club: Mr Bean's Holiday

Film Club is kicking off this term with a screening of Mr Bean's Holiday (PG).

"Everyone's favourite rubber-faced innocent wins a holiday to the south of France in a raffle and sets off for the sun. But of course, in the world of Mr Bean things never go according to plan - and soon he is tangling with seafood, accidentally "kidnapping" a small boy, tussling with a egotistical film director, and finally embarking on a mad dash to Cannes with a beautiful French actress. This madcap comedy pays tribute to Jacques Tati's "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday", creating a pleasantly sweet film that even Bean-haters will warm to." www.filmclub.org

When: Wed 15 and Thur 16 September 12:35-13:35

Where: Library

Film Club membership forms are available from the Library.

Welcome back!

Welcome back to school!

Did you read a good book over the holidays or watch a gripping film? Let me have a review and I'll post it on the blog.

We have lots of thing happening in the library in the next few weeks - Film Club, European Awareness Week, a new Book Group, National Schools Film Week ... watch this space for further details.

Mrs D

Summer Reading

Mrs Dawes' summer holiday reading ...

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Young Newtons

Today the Managers visited Woolsthorpe Manor then all the Young Newtons met together last thing this afternoon in the Library to summarise what had been achieved during the week. Two of the Managers had met with the printer during the day to discuss the production of the book, the size, type of binding, colour of cover and timescales. We are aiming to have the book on the bookshop shelves by November, but a lot of work has to be done by then. The Young Newtons now have the job of finishing what they have been working on by the end of term. Will they do it? Watch this space.

Young Newtons visit Woolsthorpe Manor

Young Newtons sitting under the apple tree
Originally uploaded by King's School Library

The Young Newtons have been out and about. Yesterday the Writers visited Woolsthorpe Manor, Isaac Newton's birthplace, and today it was the turn of the Illustrators. The morning was spent having a tour of the house and the Science Discovery Centre. In the afternoon the Illustrators got down to some serious sketching. The photograph shows a group of them hard at work sitting under an apple tree in the orchard. Tomorrow it is the turn of the Project Managers to visit Woolsthorpe in the morning followed by the whole group meeting in the Library in the afternoon to summarise the work that has been created so far.

Young Newtons

Young Newtons hard at work
Originally uploaded by King's School Library

The Young Newtons arrived in the Library today. Lead by visitor to the school, John Haden, a group of 35 Year 7s are working on a project to produce a book about Isaac Newton, in particular about his life at The King's School and at Woolsthorpe Manor. The Young Newtons were subdivided into Writers, Illustrators and Managers, each with a specific role to play and task to carry out for the production of the book.

This afternoon some of the Illustrators visited St Wulfram's Church in Grantham which is just across the road from the Old School Building. They were shown the Trigge Library which is a fascinating example of a chained library dating back to 1598. It was outside this church that Isaac Newton is reputed to have had a fight with fellow school boy, Arthur Storer who was to become his life long friend.

Message from William Hussey

Do you remember author, William Hussey visiting us in March? Well, he has asked me to forward this message to you, especially if you enjoyed reading his book Witchfinder.

As your school is one I've visited recently I was wondering if you could do me a MASSIVE favour - it'll only take 2 minutes. I've been nominated for the Brit Writer of the Year Award for Witchfinder! The 10 finalists were whittled down from hundreds of entries and now the competition is open to a public vote.
 
If you could vote for me all you have to do is email 'Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide' to leah@britwriters.co.uk or text 'Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide' to 07772 311901, and I'll be eternally grateful.
 
Many thanks
 
William Hussey
 

Young Newtons

To celebrate the 350th anniversary of Isaac Newton leaving The King's School, a group of Year 7s will be working on a very exciting project which will be based in the Library - Newton's old school - next week.

I can't say any more ... wait until next week, but in the meantime, take a look at this website: www.isaacnewtonsoldschool.org.uk.

Year 6 visit

Welcome to all the Year 6 new entrants who visited the Library during their induction day yesterday. Hope you enjoyed your day at King's and we look forward to seeing you in the Library in September. Don't forget to send us a postcard or an email over the summer, the contact details are in your Library Guide booklet.

M G Harris

Last Saturday Mrs Dawes spent the day at the School Library Association Conference where M.G. Harris, author of The Joshua Files gave a presentation.  M.G. spoke of her upbringing in Mexico and how her fascination of ancient Mayan culture and architecture gave her inspiration for The Joshua Files.

For those of you who haven't already read this series, they are available in the School Library. M.G. also recommends that you take a look at the following related websites: The M.G. Harris Blog http://www.mgharris.net/; find out more about the Mayan prophecy of 2012 at http://www.mayan2012kids.com/ and play the alternative reality game The Descendant at http://www.joshuafiles.co.uk/.

Useful advice!

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.