Library News
Sora Recommended Reads Opening Times Careers Corner Books of the Week
We're fast approaching the end of our first half term and it's been a really positive reading experience. So many Year 7 students are making use of the library both via their library lessons and during social time, and it's been good to also see Year 8 in here for lessons too. We are busy at both break and lunchtime, with students also enjoying a calm start to their day ahead of the bell in the morning.
Next week, we welcome Year 7 again. This will be their lesson during Science, as we work on a rota, visiting from English, Maths and Science to spread the message that reading is a skill that hits all the subjects. We will again feature some activities that develop book awareness and end the half term on a team quiz.
Meet the Author - Hampshire Book Awards
After our successful hosting of the voting day for the Hampshire Book Awards back in July, we had another brilliant time hosting the outcome of the vote when Rachel Delahaye, author of the winning novel 'Electric Life' visited us this week.
We were able to extend this event so that we also included 60 of our top readers in Year 8 - a reward for their efforts with reading and their impressive book borrowing rates. We also, of course, had a hard working readers from the HBA last year who are now year 9 students.
Students met and chatted with Rachel and we all enjoyed a thought-provoking presentation on the power of technology and how it had inspired the winning novel. During the question session our students were fantastic – so much engagement and additionally so many great suggestions to Rachel as to the direction of the sequel! A great way to focus on reading for pleasure.
Well done to all our students for their excellent conduct and their enthusiasm, and we look forward to launching the HBA in March next year with now, no doubt, a multitude of keen Year 8 students to voice their views on the next selection of books.
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 Autumn/ Winter term. These are shared with students in years 7-9 and additionally at KS4 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. The books have been selected to complement some of the texts used within the English curriculum and to also provide the possibility for students to expand horizons in choices made for reading. Whilst the lists provided are only suggestions, they do provide a place for students to start and there are some great options on the lists! If you wish to know more about each book, check out edulink for the full slides which provides firther information.
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
- Chess club runs on a Wednesday until 4.15pm
- 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: After a visit from author, Rachel Delahaye, we must include her new fab book, plus we continue our link with Black History month with our T+ choice - many students have read the celebrated 'To Kill a Mocking Bird', so feature the sequel. Come grab some cracking books this week.
Splinters
Jean Sylvester is a typical, overthinking adolescent whose painful experience with parallel realities teaches her that while life involves her, it's not always all about her.
She thinks life isn't fair and wishes hers was different. When she witnesses a traumatic accident, she can't help but blame herself for the events leading up to it. In order to be free of the nightmare she has a choice: she can spiral into despair or reconcile herself with the fact that terrible things happen, and some can't be changed.
It is her discovery of a powerful mirror that seems to throw choice her way –she sees not just her reflection but another breathing version of herself – a splinter – and then realises she can change places with this alternative version of herself………
Go Set A Watchman
Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch – ‘Scout’ – returns home from New York City to visit her ageing father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise’s homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt.
Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past.
T+