PRIMARY SCHOOL LIBRARY
AUTHOR & STORYTELLER VISITS
International and French SectionsBoth national and international authors and storytellers are invited to speak to the students. In the recent past, Alaskan author and adventurer Pam Flowers and internationally renowned authors Christopher Paolini and Susie Morgenstern have visited Awty students. Rick Riordan is scheduled to visit in April 2008.
PRIX T’AIMES A LIRE (TAL)
Grade K/F to CM2, French SectionTAL is unique to Awty and encourages students to explore different genres in literature. The librarians and teachers collaborate each year to choose five to six new books per every two grade levels (K+CP; CE1+CE2; CM1+CM2). A theme is chosen for each level that will complement the classroom curriculum and that will encourage reading for pleasure. After reading all of the books, the students are invited to vote for their favorite book.
TEXAS BLUEBONNET AWARD PROGRAM
Grades 3 to 5, International & French SectionsEach year, twenty books are selected by the Texas Library Association as nominees for the Texas Bluebonnet Book Award. These books are presented to the students who are required to read at least five books in order to qualify to vote in the state-wide election each January. Bluebonnet nominees that are also available in French are purchased so that the French section can participate in the Texas vote.
RALLYE LECTURE
Grade CP to CM2, French SectionThis program includes a list of fifty chapter books in French. Students earn points for reading books on the list. Students can then win prizes at the end of the year based upon the number of points they have earned.
SUMMER READER PROGRAM
Grades 1 to 5, All SectionsThe library supplies a recommended reading list for students for summer reading. Students record the books that they read over the summer. If students read a specified amount of books (or pages for the older students) over the summer, they are invited to Dr. Watson’s Pizza Party in September.
SAROFIM LIBRARY
AUTHOR & SPEAKER VISITS
International and French SectionsBoth national and international authors and speakers are invited to speak to the students. In the recent past, Alaskan author and adventurer Pam Flowers and internationally renowned author Christopher Paolini have visited Awty students. Mrs. Susie Morgenstern, one of the most popular children's book writers in France, also visited Awty this past spring.
EXHIBITS
International, Spanish, French & Other LanguagesThe library organizes a wide variety of international, national, and local exhibits that correspond to the classroom curriculum. Past exhibits have included The Shogun Age, The Art of Chivalry, Shakespeare, Origami, Women’s Suffrage, The Legacy of the Middle East, and Immigration. In addition, the library displays several different art exhibits throughout the year.
JAZZ ART & POETRY CONTEST
Grades 6 to 12, All SectionsEach year, the library sponsors a Jazz Art & Poetry Contest in order to promote an understanding of the shared jazz experience of the U.S. and France. Student entries are displayed in the Sarofim Library. A jazz band is invited to play for the students either during a lunch period or a special assembly. Awty staff, faculty, and friends are invited to a Jazz Art & Poetry night where adults cast their votes for their favorite poem and work of art. Prizes are given to the winning students.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK CLUB
Grades 6 to 8, International & French SectionsThe Middle School Book Club meets at least once a month during lunch to share the love of books and to discuss literature. International authors and writers are often invited to meet exclusively with Book Club members. Please click here for Book_Club_meeting_dates.
MIND CHALLENGE
Grades 6 to 12, International & French SectionsThis program encourages students to use resources available in the library to answer extremely challenging academic questions. Prizes are awarded.
PRIX GONCOURT
Grades 9 to 12, French SectionThe Prix Goncourt is considered one of the most prestigious literary awards given for works of French fiction annually. It is voted on by the Académie Goncourt and announced in November. The Prix Goncourt des Lycéens runs parallel to the Prix Goncourt, but the winner is voted on by thousands of French-speaking high school students in France and around the world. Interested students read the twelve nominated literary works, participate in discussions and debates about these works, and then vote on the winner of the Prix. The Prix Goncourt des Lycéens is organized by the French Ministry of Education, the Académie de Rennes, and FNAC.
TAYSHAS READING PROGRAM
Grades 9 to 12, International SectionThe recommended books on the yearly Tayshas_reading_listare purchased and displayed in the Sarofim Library. The purpose of the Tayshas list is to encourage young adults to read a variety of recently published fiction and nonfiction books for recreational reading.
TEXAS LONE STAR READING PROGRAM
Grades 6 to 8, International & French SectionsGrades 9 to 12, International & French, as Volunteers
Each year a special committee of Texas librarians read approximately 200 recently published books for Middle School students and then choose the best twenty that students would enjoy reading for fun and that cover a wide variety of topics. Here at Awty, we have added 20 French titles. Students can choose to read the English_titles,_the_French_titles,_or_a_combination! If a Middle School student reads at least 5 of the 40 books on the year’s list, he/she is eligible to vote for a school favorite in April. If a student reads at least 10 of the books by the end of April, he/she receives a certificate. Finally, if a student reads 12 or more of the books AND passes a test in April, he/she is invited to a very special Bowling Night in May with Mr. Beuscher and the librarians . Upper School students volunteer to read one of the books on the list and present a “commercial” of the book to the Middle School students during assembly.
Summer reading program
Book Club meeting dates
Tayshas reading list
Texas_Lone_Star_Reading_Program
