Library News

 

Sora     Recommended Reads     Opening Times     Careers Corner     Books of the Week


Reading tree

This week, we completed another round of Year 7 lessons where students were asked to consider how we all go about choosing a book. There were a few activities to go along with this question that involved exploring a range of books and genres. We have also recently had Year 8 enjoy some sessions where we considered the genre of Horror which has really grown in popularity. We have tried to develop our stock in this area too so that you feel we are covering more of your book wishes. Do pop in and have a good look round as we have so many more new books to explore now.

Scholastic Book Fair

We had another tremendously successful Book Fair - and that's all down to you. The students and parents who visited and bought books have made such a difference as we earn rewards from Scholastic in new books for our library. This year, you all bought over a £1000 worth of books which now means £550 in book rewards - this is just fantastic as it means you, the students, get to choose lots of new books for the library.

New books have already been ordered and we are constantly continuing to develop our range of books so that student requests are heeded. Do pop in and share ideas as to what you would like the libary to buy in.

Thank you for all your support and we are delighted that there was so much interest which means so much more reading for pleasure.

BF Books 1

 

BF thanks 1

thumbnail_Calthopre Park HBA

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.

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.

Event Rachel

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.

 

HBA 24

Sora

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.

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Recommended Reads

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.

2025 Spring Term  Yr7  recommended reads poster with details   2025 Spring Term Year 8 recommended reads poster with detail   25 Spring Term Year 9 recommended reads poster    KS4 25 Spring  recommended reads

Library Opening

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 A2 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, Wednesday and Thursday 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. 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

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.

Careers Corner   

Careers books

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.

Library 1 2.12     Library 2 2.12

Books of the Week: We are thinking about love this week as Valentine's Day approaches. All you need is the love of a good book!

Emma 2

Emma

'Emma' is the story of wealthy, beautiful Emma Woodhouse who, bored, matchmakes her friends – with often disastrous results. She thinks she is above romance of any kind, but when she decides she is a great matchmaker and sets out to find a wealthy husband for her friend, the sweet yet pitiable Harriet Smith, Emma starts to realise that she might not know her own heart at all.

Jane Austen teased readers with the idea of a 'heroine whom no one but myself will much like', but Emma is irresistible.  She sees the signs of romance all around her but thinks she will never be married until she crosses paths with the charming Mr. Knightley. She is beautiful, spoilt, vain and irrepressibly witty, and likes to organise the lives of the inhabitants of her sleepy little village,

Beyond the romance, 'Emma' is full of humour and wit and is also a commentary on upper-class social manners at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Stars

Written in the Stars

After a disastrous blind date, Darcy is desperate to stop her well-meaning brother from playing matchmaker ever again. Love—and the inevitable heartbreak—is the last thing she wants. So she fibs and says her latest set up was a success.  Elle, one of the astrologers behind the popular Twitter account Oh My Stars, dreams of finding her soul mate. But she knows it is most assuredly not Darcy. When Darcy’s brother—and Elle's new business partner— is mistakenly happy that they hit it off, Elle is baffled.

Darcy begs Elle to play along, and she agrees to pretend they’re dating. But with a few conditions: Darcy must help Elle navigate her own overbearing family during the holidays and their arrangement expires on New Year’s Eve. The last thing they expect is to develop real feelings during a faux relationship. But maybe opposites can attract when true love is written in the stars?

With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride & Prejudice, this is a rom com tale of matchmaking in our modern social media world

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