Library News
Sora Recommended Reads Opening Times Careers Corner Books of the Week
We have had our last round of Year 7 library lessons this week. Throughout each term, Year 7 have been able to visit us via these lessons and engage in lots of reading activities, quizzes and opportunities. These lessons are built into the curriculum as it's so important to establish a connection with the library when you first arrive. However, don't forget the library is here for you throughout all your years here - and we hope to include more activities and clubs that can reach beyond the students' first year here at CPS.
Year 7 Summer Reading Challenge.
This activity has been shared via our Weekly message to parents and a digital copy will also be sent to students via Edulink. During their final week of library lessons, Year 7 were told about the chance to read and gain rewards over the summer. This is a way to bridge the gap between all those library visits in Year 7 and library lessons in Year 8. Do check out the details here but also check edulink for copies of the challenge. The best ones will have the opportunity to win prizes such as Amazon vouchers, bookmarks, stationery and chocolate.
Transition Day
It was great to meet so many Year 7 students-to-be when we held Transition day on Thursday. Several groups visited the library to get an idea of what a Library lesson is all about. With a bit of Bingo playing (prize included) where students had to recognise descriptions of books, and a bit of quizzing on detective novels, the students really joined in. They also fitted in a bit of a browse too. Great to meet them, and those of you already here with siblings joining us do encourage them to make full use of the library when they arrive.
Hampshire Book Awards
We had a very successful day hosting and celebrating the Hampshire Book Award here at Calthorpe. Students and staff from 10 other schools in the Hampshire area joined us, and there was a brilliant buzz of book chat on all tables. The students were a mix of schools on every table, and it was great to observe them all sharing their views and opinions of all six books – with some enthusiastic ‘loved its’ and some strong ‘no ways’! After some time spent discussing, students then voted online and with a little wait as votes were counted and verified – filled in with some fun quizzes – the winner was announced.
'Electric life' by Rachel Delahaye came out on top – a digital dystopian future adventure. A worthy winner. All our copies have since been borrowed as a result of discussing it in our Year 7 library lessons - but books can always been reserved or you can check the digital library, Sora, if you are interested in this winning novel.
Thank you to the 14 Year 8 students who took part –other school staff members commented that our students were a credit to Calthorpe: Elliot D, Lieze R, Kimmie M, Bethany D, Nicoleta D, Ailith S, Eleanor S, Orthavia P, Jacob L, Jesscia M, Jasmine K, Laiba M, Nicoleta D, Sophia P.
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 Tuesday 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: We focus on zombies and demons this week for some summer fun and horror.
Bob Vs The Selfie Zombies
When Bob accidentally time travels and comes face to face with his future self in the middle of a disastrous alternative reality, he knows has to do . . . something. An evil genius has created a smile-operated camera that turns people into zombies!
Now it's up to Bob to fix the present, to change the future, and save the whole world! If only he could figure out how. .
I Feed Her to the Beast
Laure Mesny is determined to make it in the cut-throat world of ballet, and she will do anything to prove that this Black girl can take centre stage. Anything . . . Even if it means entering into a bargain with a primordial power in the Catacombs beneath Paris.
Laure is promised influence and adoration - and she gets it. But that alone is not enough, not for the cruel and privileged people who surround her. Her climb to stardom leaves broken bodies in her wake, some of which aren't her doing. As she finds herself deep within this monstrous world, she is faced with the ultimate choice: will she retreat or succumb to the darkness forever?
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