Library News
Sora Recommended Reads Opening Times Careers Corner Books of the Week
A sunny welcome to you all from the CPS library!
Welcome back for the Summer Term. We hope to host many library lessons this term, alongside some events such as the Hampshire Book Awards and some competitions thrown in too. It's been warming up outside and students are making the most of the sunshone ( can't balme them as we've waited so long for it) but the library is still open for that calm place to read and relax.
Year 7 have been back in again this week - with one day of classes rolling into next week to cover the Bank Holiday. We added the competitive element with a quiz that asked students to match titles to book summaries - each lesson had a winning table team. This was a great way to remind students about all the books we hold here in the library. Another really positive experience was how keen they were to borrow books that I highlighted and read an extract from - it shows that with a bit of looking and focus, we have so many great stories to offer.
Just a reminder that the library is designed to be place to go to move out of the noisy environment during break and lunchtime. We love to be busy but do request that you bear in mind it's not the place for a loud chat. There are now signs just reminding you all that this is a 'Calm and Quiet Environment' - I ask you to all be considerate of your volume in here to ensure that everyone can enjoy it as the retreat it is meant to be. We aren't a huge space but we seek to provide a zone where you can read, study and play board games - however, we cannot simply be a place to come and chat as there are other areas around the school for chilling and chatting.
Hampshire Book Awards
16 of our Year 8 students are busy avid readers currently for the Hampshire Book Awards – we held a meeting last week to share our thoughts and impressions on the books so far. With a few sweet treats on offer to fuel the chat, it was clear that the students have already started to get an idea of their favourites, although there’s still lots of reading to be done and ideas can change. We will be meeting regularly up until Voting Day, which is on the 2nd July. I’m delighted to say we are hosting the HBAs this year. It’s been quite some time since CPS last did the honours, but we look forward to 10 other schools visiting and sharing their views/ voting in July.
Are you looking for a convenient and user-friendly way to access a vast collection of age-appropriate books from the comfort of your home or school? Look no further than Sora, the virtual library app!
As a Calthorpe Park School student, you have free access to this fab app, which can be easily downloaded and accessed on any device. Whether you're at home or in school, Sora provides an extensive collection of books, audiobooks, and graphic novels for readers of all ages and interests.
Sora's user-friendly interface makes browsing and searching for books a breeze, with various filters and categories to help you find your next favourite read. There is also the opportunity to alter to a dyslexic friendly font and light/ dark contrast to support reading. With Sora, reading has never been easier, more convenient, or more enjoyable. Download the app today and experience the joy of reading making use of a whole range of options. Take a look, explore the books!
Setting Up
Download the Sora app from Apple App Store or Google Play. If you are using a browser navigate to soraapp.com.
Enter the setup code: hampshiresls
Find your school in the dropdown list.
The login details for the school/individual pupil are below.
Username (Enter your school’s username)
Password (Enter your school’s password)
Browse the Explore tab to find and borrow a book.
Our Recommended Reading lists have been updated for the Spring term. These are shared with students in years 7-9 via homework and Edulink, and posters will be displayed in the English classrooms. Some of our book displays in the library are also currently focused on them. These are books that include some links with your English curriculum, so some tying in with The Tempest and Shakespeare for Year 7 and some connection with 'Animal Farm' and linking back to 'The Gothic' for Year 8. With Year 9, it is more a range of books that seem suited to older students and relevant issues. So whilst there are hundreds of books to choose from in both the library and on Sora, our digital library, these are some focused choices for you if you want some guidance.
Last term we had a slight change to the opening of the library at lunchtime as Book Club moved to Friday. However, this term, we will be open again each lunchtime - only closed for special arrangements.
Games such as Chess, Uno and card games will now be available to play on three days of the week again - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, whilst a focus on reading and a place to study is the library's role on Monday and Fridays. We save two lunchtimes for reading, homework and mindfulness activities to ensure we have enough space for students to enjoy it as a quiet, comfortable space. It is important for the library to offer that haven to you all so that you know you have a place where you can study and read, and enjoy your downtime.
Check out the schedule below to get a clear picture on our opening times. We are here not only at break and lunchtime but also before and after school.
Opening Times:
- Before school from 8.30 am. However, it is often open from 8.20 am
- During breaktime and lunchtime
- After school until 3.30 pm. Longer availability is an option.
- Year 7 and 8 Book Club runs on a Thursday after school until 4 pm
- Games Club runs on a Friday until 4.30 pm
The Library is here to be a calm place for students. If students prefer a little louder lunchtime and a place to go, 'Chill and Chat' is held in MFL3 on Mondays and Friday, and you may borrow games from us to take along - don't forget to bring them back!
Board games are available for students on Tuesday and Wednesday at lunchtimes only. Sometimes a limit on the amount of tables being used for games will be put into place to ensure there is still space for students wishing to use the library for reading and homework.
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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Reading, alongside mindfulness activities/ homework & revision. Board games unavailable |
Reading, alongside mindfulness activities/ homework & revision and quiet board games |
Reading, homework & revision, with mindfulness activities also available and quiet board games |
Reading, homework & revision, with mindfulness activities also available and quiet board games |
Reading, alongside mindfulness activities/ homework & revision. Board games unavailable |
An important note: students from Year 8 – Year 11, you do need to being back overdue books ahead of borrowing this year. There are still too many books that have settled into homes that need to be returned for other students to enjoy, so have a good look around and pop them back to me, either at the desk in the library or the cupboard just outside the door.
This area of the library is always available for students to help and support as they consider what and where they may wish to study in the future, along with possible career ideas.We have various leaflets and prospectuses, not simply for the older students but for all years. In addition, there are a number of books based on careers and developing one’s potential.If students need any guidance or simply a hard copy of online information from the colleges, then they can come along to the Library. We have increased our selection of books geared towards specific types of careers and added them to this section of the library too. Mrs Wayman will direct you here and would also like you to know that these leaflets and prospectuses are available for you to also take home.
Books of the Week: Continued new arrivals into our library - worth checking out!
Heroes
Marcus Rashford is not only an England International footballer – he's also a campaigner who has been on a mission to end child food poverty. Starting on this journey was never something that he could have done alone, and in Heroes Marcus wants to shine a light on ten brilliant people who have inspired him to make a difference.
Each person has changed Marcus's life in their own way, and now he wants to show YOU how his heroes can inspire you to be your best self, and make a difference to the world around you. Featuring profiles of 10 inspirational people from around the world who have inspired Marcus, this book is full of brilliant advice and top tips..
When Ghosts Call Us Home
When Sophia Galich was twelve, she starred in her older sister Layla’s amateur horror movie ‘Vermillion’, which recorded raw footage of her very real reactions to scenes her sister concocted in their old Californian house on the coast – Cashore House.
In the years after the film’s release, Sophia’s memories of the now-infamous house fueled her nightmares. ‘’Vermillion’ amassed an army of fanatical fans who speculated about the film’s hidden messages and that Layla made a pact with the devil – her soul in exchange for fame …then Layla disappeared.
Now, Sophia must study the trail of clues Layla has left behind and confront the ghosts of her childhood..
T+