BUZZ VISITS TO!!!!

This past fall, Buzz had the chance to go to his first Toronto Blue Jays game in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.K.A. the Big Smoke).

Before heading into the big city, Buzz buckled up.

Buzz took in the sights of TO. He saw the CN Tower, Union Station and one of Metro's finest.

He had great seats behind home plate, met some new friends and even had a hot dog.

His favourite player was Jose Bautista. He said the JumboTron didn't compare to the FM SmartBoards.
Buzz will never forget his first Blue Jay game.

By Mrs. McNeil

The Animation Lab Comes to FM

During the month of November we had a tremendous opportunity to work with some new equipment that came to our school called the Animation Lab.

We worked with MacBooks, Video Cameras, Firewire cables, and iStop and iMovie software. Our job was to take some sort of action figure or something that could be molded to make a movie trailer. Mrs. Rust's class had the opportunity to make a clay figure that moved and changed its shape. It was a very interesting project but it's like all programs and has flaws. Through the course of making my animation my group and I ran into some small problems with the program when our progress did not save. After that, it was very much smooth sailing.

Besides that, the project was a very fun one. I think my group and I did very well on this project. We really liked the Animation Lab and I think it should be used at many other schools so that lot of kids can enjoy creating their own stop motion videos. Out of 10 stars i would give the program a 7.5.

If you would like check out the videos that we made please go here http://chatt.hdsb.ca/~cannm/Animation%20Lab/.

By Liam.

Stanley's Wild Ride

Do you love dogs, skateboards and adventure? This book is for you! Stanley, Alice, Elwood, and Gassy Jack are back in another wild adventure. This time, Stanley escapes the confines of his yard and encourages his friends to get involved. Before we know it, the town is full of howling dogs who joy ride around town. The inspirational message at the end of the book complete this outstanding book.

I think Naruto is an excellent series. Naruto is about a boy who wants to become a ninja warrior. Everyone picks on him but Naruto perseveres. This Manga series is filled with action, drama and adventure. The characters in it are excellent and the story line is action packed! I recommend this book for everyone in grade 6 and over. This is a YA (Young Adult) read and the FM Library currently has volumes 1 to 30.

By Aiden and Mr. Cann

Fall is a magical time of year. Multi-coloured leaves fall to the ground and animals feverishly eat and collect food for winter. Last week our Kindergarten friends enjoyed "Kitten's Autumn" by Eugenie Fernandes. Fernandes' unique artwork brings all the wonders of fall to life. We had fun trying to find kitten who was very well hidden in some pictures. If you are looking for a book about fall for young children, "Kitten's Autumn is not to be missed.

September 2011

We've had a great start to our school year in the FM Library.

All of our Grade JK to 4 classes have been up for their weekly Library exchange and the books have been flying out the doors. Students are encouraged to return their Library books on a weekly basis so they can get new books.

Our Grade 5 to 8 classes have had their Library Orientation sessions and we have enjoyed playing Jeopardy and watching "The Girl Who Hated Books" by Jo Meuris which you can watch here http://t.co/02yDM9u.

Homework Club has started up for our Grade 6 to 8 students during 1st Break. A huge thank you to Ms. Rust and Mrs. Nakahara who make this happen! This is a great chance for our students to get some homework done in a supportive environment.

See you soon in the Library!

Bee-Wigged

Jerry the bee is misunderstood. People are afraid of Jerry. Jerry is a large bee. Our Grade 3 students enjoyed hearing the story of Jerry this week. Bee-Wigged written by Cece Bell is a story of ones longing to fit in. It's also a story of friendship and acceptance of differences. At the end of this touching story we realized that it's what's inside that counts. Bee-Wigged is an outstanding picture book that is not to be missed.

Buzz Visits Telling Tales!!

Our Library mascot, Buzz, had an amazing time at the Telling Tales Storytelling Festival on Sunday, September 18th. The weather was outstanding and Buzz had the chance of a lifetime to meet some famous authors!

The day started with a bus ride from the Rockton fairgrounds to Westfield Heritage Village. It was Buzz's first bus ride and you can tell by the smile on his face that he enjoyed every minute of it.
Buzz then visited the "Swapping Tales" Children's Book Swap where he exchanged some of his books for books he had never read before. The air was buzzing as people excitedly swapped books.

Next Buzz had the pleasure of meeting Mireille Messier author of "Luca". Written in French, "Luca" is vividly illustrated by Carl Pelletier and reminds us that going to sleep can be hard especially if you have an outstanding and creative imagination! Buzz was excited to bring back a copy of "Luca" to the FM Library!
Buzz was thrilled to meet Barbara Reid. Her new book "Picture a Tree" once again showcases her outstanding artistic talents using plasticine. "Picture a Tree" shows all the things a tree can be and the many ways a tree can be pictured. Barbara Reid even signed a copy of her new book which Buzz has brought home to the FM Library! Thank you so much :-)

Kean Soo's "Jellaby" books continue to be a popular Graphic Novel read here at FM. Our very own Paige W. has written a review of "Jellaby" which you can find here. Buzz had a chance to talk to Kean about his books and his unique artwork. Thank you Kean and we can't wait for your next book!
After visiting the many unique buildings at Westfield Heritage Village Buzz reclined in the sunshine to enjoy some popcorn and a reading of "Gifts" by Jo Ellen Bogart and Barbara Reid.

What a great day and a huge thank you to all the folks who helped to make the Telling Tales Festival happen. Make plans to attend next September.

For more information visit the Telling Tales website.

FM LIBRARY SUMMER READING TOP TEN

I can't believe another school year is almost over. The lending of Library materials at Florence Meares is over for another school year so that we can complete inventory over the summer (Thanks Ms. Mills!!). We have had a great year thanks to our awesome students and fantastic parent volunteers.

To help our students continue to develop their reading skills over the summer Here's the FM Library Summer Reading Top Ten for 2011:

10. Visit your local Library. Our very own Burlington Public Library is open all summer long and running a summer reading program called "SPLASHport to Summer Fun". You can even place holds on items over the internet and have them delivered to our neighbourhood Tansley Woods Branch! For more information go to the Burlington Public Library website.

9. Listen to an audiobook. Some free titles are available here and you can also check out many more titles at the Burlington Public Library.

8. Try one of "Ms. Fink's Hot Summer Reads":

Mrs. Fink's Hot Summer Reads

Thanks Mrs. Fink!!!

7. Participate in the Florence Meares' "Summer Reading Challenge". Students from SK to Grade 2 will be given booklets to record the reading that they do each day. At the end of the summer, students bring their booklets back to school. For each complete page in their booklets, students will earn one charm.

6. Read a book online. There are lots of great websites to be found in the "Find A Book" section of "Library Links" here.

5. Visit a Library while on vacation. Many small community Libraries are open over the summer months and offer unique services like loaning of fishing equipment!

4. Download an ebook. A wide variety of ebooks are available from the Burlington Public Library website.

3. Exchange favourite books with a friend.

2. Explore new book possibilities with Novelist K-8 Plus. Email Mr. C for login information.

1. Visit BookFlix. This subscription is new to Florence Meares for 2011. Email Mr. C for @ home login information.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer. Take some time to relax and enjoy a few good books over the summer. I am looking forward to hearing of all your summer adventures in September!

The Skin I'm In

The Skin I'm In is a great read about learnimg to accept different cultures and different people. The main character goes through many tough things like bullies, fitting in and helping her mom deal with the death of her father.It's a good book and I would recommend it.

By, Katelin

The Runaway Dolls is a great book. It really grabs you by the first page. It's all about dolls that come alive after a family has gone to England for a week. Best friends Annabelle (doll) and Tiffany have stumbled over an unexcpected doll named Tilly May. She arrived in a strange package from England. Find out more when you read The Runaway Dolls series!

By Sydney

Vampirates by Justin Somper

When Grace and Connor Tempest's father dies, they take the family boat to leave Crescent Moon Bay. Suddenly a storm hits and the twins are separated! Connor gets picked up by a pirate ship but, Grace gets picked up by a Vampirate ship! How friendly are Vampirates? Read this exciting series to find out!

By Camryn

CALAMITY JACK

Calamity Jack by Shannon and Dean Hale is a graphic novel adaption of the Jack and the Beanstalk story. We follow Jack who has made some poor decisions in his life and tries to make things right by stealing the golden egg laying goose from an angry giant. Jack's plan goes afoul when the giant realizes the goose is missing and Jack is forced out of town. Jack tries to return with his friend Punzie (who we meet in the prequel to this story, Rapunzel's Revenge) only to find that the giant he once stole from is tormenting his home town. Jack and Punzie quickly develop a plan with the help of some friends they meet along the way and what develops is a story full of comedy, romance,danger and mutant ants! A fun read for all (but probably best suited to grade 4 and up)!

By, Ms. McNulty

SPLAT! by Eric Walters

There is more than one way to throw a tomato, but there is only one way to throw a Tomato Festival!

Splat is about two boys named Kegan and Alex whose fathers put them in charge of the town's Tomato Festival. For example that means they will have to choose everything that will go in the festival! That sounds easy, but it's not. Kegan and Alex take this as more of a way to become popular in school instead of taking it as a responsibility. They think that everyone will pay money to throw a tomato at a person instead of a target! It wasn’t easy for Kegan and Alex because they got into a huge fight. In the end the Tomato Festival turned out great and everyone had a great time. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

By: Emma

DARKEST POWERS TRILOGY BY KELLY ARMSTRONG

”The Summoning” is mainly about Chloe discovering she's a Necromancer, and getting put in Lyle house.

“The Awakening” is about Chloe escaping the Edison group, and going on the run where she, and her friends end up meeting Andrew (the guys dad's friend. They find a safe place to live for a while.

“The Reckoning” is by far the best book out of the three. It is about Chloe, Tori, Simon, and Derek finding out that Andrew's “safe place” isn't so safe. Therefore they end up back in the hands of the Edison group. If you want to know what happens to Chloe the Necromancer, Tori the Witch, Simon the Sorcerer, and Derek the Werewolf then you should pick up the series, and read the books...

By. Emily

With the advent of Spring comes new life and new learning. Recently I shared the big book "I'm A Caterpillar" by Jean Marzollo with our Kindergarten friends. If you ever wanted to know about the amazing transformation of the caterpillar, this book is for you. We even learned some new words like "Pupa" and "Chrysalis". Be sure to check out "I'm A Caterpillar".

Scott Graham visits FM!!!

Our Grade 4 & 5 students were thrilled to have a visit from author Scott Graham on Tuesday, March 8th. Scott's energy and enthusiasm for writing and stories was evident throughout his presentation. Never give up, be yourself, and be confident in who you are, were messages that resonated with students.

If you haven't read any of Scott's books, be sure to check them out: The Fantastical Town of Finkle, The Attack of the Moo Moo Chickens, and Horrible Happenings.



You can also learn more about Scott's Kids 4 Kids program at his website http://www.kids4kids1.com/


Thank you Scott for visiting Florence Meares. You positive message and enthusiasm for writing and learning are an inspiration.

LANA BUTTON, AUTHOR OF "WILLOW'S WHISPERS" VISITS FM!

On Monday, February 28th, Florence Meares had a visit from Lana Button.

Our Grade 1 to 3 students had a chance to hear Lana's experiences as an author. One message came through crystal clear: Never Give Up!! It takes hard work and dedication to become a published author.

After 1st Nutrition Break, Lana visited our Kindergarten friends and read "Willow's Whispers" to them. They were spellbound!

Lana's book "Willow's Whispers" has been nominated for a 2011 Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce award.

Good luck Lana and thank you for visiting our school!

The Mortal Insturments

Hey guys,Clary here. Your librarian asked me to write a reveiw for my new book series City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass. This series is about my life and everything that happens after I run into a group of 3 Shadowhunters. What's a Shadowhunter? They’re like the police of the country of Idris. They live in the human world and kill any demons who enter the mundane (human) world and any Downworlders (eg. vampires, werewolves) who break the law. Anyway, in the series I find out that My mom was a Shadowhunter and my dad is a crazy Shadowhunter gone wrong. I also meet the handsome Jace and discover a shoking secret about him. Memories come flooding back (thanks to a sparkley warlock) and I need to learn the ways of the Shadowhunter if I am to ever wake up my mom from a magicaly induced coma and stop my father from collecting the 3 mortal insurments, needed to raise the ancient creator of the Shadowhunter race (who is in fact an angel). Whoops, got to go. Luke (a former Shadowhunter who was turned into a werewolf and is my mom’s best friend) is calling me. Hope you enjoy the books! One last thing. If you’re under 12, I wouldn’t recommend this series.

By Rebecca

JELLABY

Jellaby is about a girl named Portia that is going to a new school. She hears a noise when she is going to bed and then she finds a purple monster. Portia and Jason both get detention together and Jason finds out about the purple monster. So Portia's mom brings her home and Jason brings home the purple monster from school. Portia walks over to Jason's house after her mom leaves. At Jason's house she thinks of the name Jellaby but Jason wants to name him Fangzilla. Jellaby wants to go home and sees a door that he remembers. Portia goes home and asks her mom if she can go trick or treating with Jason in order to help Jellaby get home. Her mom says yes. If you wanna to know how it ends read the book. This book is a graphic novel with not a lot of color. I thought this was a very good book so read it and tell me if you liked it.

By, Paige

THANK YOU KELLEY ARMSTRONG!

A huge thank you to Kelley Armstrong.

Kelley visited our Grade 6, 7, and 8 students at Florence Meares this afternoon and we were thrilled to have her visit.

Kelley read the fist part of "The Summoning" from her "Darkest Powers" trilogy. She shared all about her experiences with writing and publishing. Students were eager to ask questions at the end of her talk.

Thank you so much Kelley for your visit and for writing such wonderful books.

The Summoning is a fast paced adventure book about fifteen year old Chloe Saunders, who is tired of being treated like a kid. However, in just a couple weeks, her life changes completely. When she decides to skip class one day, she runs into a janitor who chases her, asking her to stop running and talk to him. Then, he changes shape and becomes a monster that only Chloe can see. After screaming, kicking, and even wrestling with three teachers, Chloe gets transported to a group home for unstable teens, and is told that she is seeing and hearing things that aren't really there. But the group home isn't what it seems, especially once you go into the basement......I think this book was amazingly written because the author put so many details to describe Chloe's feelings and thoughts. I also think that she had an awesome plot because it's not everyday that you come across a book with suspense and mystery at every page. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ghosts, mysteries, and the unnatural.

By, Alana

There are romurs, that if you have the right things and say the right things you'll enter MALICE, a comic where few kids go and even fewer survive. Seth and Kady think it's all just a silly myth but when their friend Luke goes missing, those rumours don't seam so silly after all!

MALICE is real! MALICE is deadly, and Seth and Kady are about to enter it!

By, Camryn

Do you like action? Well the book "Biker Girl" is right for you. It's about a sassy teenage girl, just 17, named Aki. She's Japanese. This book is about Aki with a new bike that was made by her Great Grandfather. It has a soul! The bike was used to get rid of a nasty bike gang. Toru, Aki's cousin, was killed during a race with one of the people from the bike gang, so Aki's supposed to be the new biker to go against the bike gang. While saving people, she somehow gets into a bike race against the bike gang but Aki gets into a surprise! The bike gang's leader was her own brother! The rest of the story gets into a twist with her best friend Kai. Read this book to find out what happens next! Have you heard of Biker girl? If you need her she'll find you~

By, Soo-ah

GOAL!

Goal by Mina Javaherbin utilizes the universal language of soccer (A.K.A. football outside of North America) to address issues of global concern like bullying and poverty. A. G. Ford's realistic illustrations help bring the story to life and add additional depth to the story. For a brief time the game of soccer allows a group of boys, living in poverty, to escape the despair of the slums. This book helps raise social awareness issues and asks the reader to count their blessings. What a great book!

I DIDN'T DO IT

This week our Grade 1 and 2 friends enjoyed some puppy poetry. In "I Didn't Do It!", Patricia MacLachlan takes the perspective of a dog. This book is filled with humour and all dog owners will recognize familiar situations. If you are a dog lover, this book is not to be missed.

Kampung Boy is a short story that follows a small boy while he grows up. The story explains how he is born and grows up in the Kinta Valley in Perak. During the story the boy is in school learning Tajwid(the art of reading Arabic with the correct enunciation). Kampung Boy is a very interesting book. It was very different from any other book I have ever read. I am hoping for a second Kampung Boy because the ending was very good.

By Liam J.

Robot dreams is a pretty good graphic novel. It has lots of good pictures and nooooo WORDS! The story is about friendship and has a very good moral. It is an easy read and has a preety good ending!

By Liam and Farzom

ZEBRAFISH

This Book is about 5 average kids who wants to become a band. They got the name "Zebrafish" from a type of fish. Although the kids are different they quickly became friends. There's Plinkie, he's a guitar player. He is very energetic and funny. Then there's Jay. He's a fun guy with lots of ideas. Vita she's a girl who wanted to make up a band. She likes punk style things and she came up with the name "Zebrafish" by looking at his older brother's fish tank. Tanya she is a girl who has leukemia and she hides it from people because she thinks it will make her weird. Then there is Tanya's older brother Walt. He's an artist. He's not really in the band, he just helps them make a cool video. They all go through difficult times which makes it difficult for them to come to band practice, including romance, illness, and tons of other stuff. This is a great graphic novel which teaches you about friendship and trust. I would suggest this book if you like stories about friendship. Zebrafish is not a big book so if you don't like reading think again! This book might change your mind.

By, Soo-ah

BEVERLY HILLS MAASAI

Beverly Hills Maasai is the sequel to Alexandria of Africa, where Alexandria Hyatt was shipped to Kenya for a shoplifting crime & learned life lessons about not taking anything for granted. Since Alexandria returned from her trip & is residing in her Beverly Hills mansion, she recieves a call from Nebala, a man who Alexandria befriended in Kenya. Alexandria was expecting a greeting call from Kenya, but it looks like...Nebala and his 2 friends are at LAX themselves for the Beverly Hills Marathon! Looks like Alexandria is in for a bumpy ride once again! Beverly Hills Maasai is an enjoyable book about reaching out of your comfort zone & giving back to the friends who helped you when you were in need. It is fulled with happy, laughable moments & pulse pumping serious times that you have to read! I completely recommend this book to the people who read Alexandria of Africa, and if you haven't read that one yet, I reccommend reading it and this wonderful sequel!

By, Alexandria

Together Forever

Our Grade 2 friends had a chance to hear "Together Forever" by Per-Henrik Gurth. This wonderfully illustrated story is both touching and informative at the same time. We learned terms like "constellation" and "northern lights" as we travelled to the Arctic where the Polar Bears live. The author's true skill is in his telling of a story of a lost Polar Bear while instructing the reader on the wonders of the stars. What a fantastic book!