Library

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Dear Parents,

As you probably know, after 33 years of doing what I love so much, I will be retiring at the end of this school year.

I couldn't leave without telling you what an honor it has been to be a part of your child's life.  It's an amazing and wonderful gift you have given by allowing me to be a small part of their growth and learning.  I believe that we are blessed with certain gifts in this life.  Mine is working with children and I couldn't think of a better place to be.

Many of you parents were students of mine...that is a true telling of how time marches on!  But I count you, too, in that wonderful gift.  Many of you have returned with your own children.  What fun it has been for me to get to know the new generation and seeing old friends becoming grandparents (like me) to many of the children.  But to every person, I thank you for all the years of generous giving to our library.  Programs like the Read-A-Thon, Book Faire, Accelerated Reading, as well as donations of your time and in many instances, financial help, could not have been possible without your steadfast and loving support of our library. 

Leaving Durham Elementary is bittersweet.  But I will take with me a lifetime of the most wonderful assortment of memories, a sort of "virtual" scrapbook in my mind.  I will come back and "visit" from time to time.  I plan to travel a bit and hopefully see some of this wonderful world that I've read about for so many years.  Maybe I'll finally write that elusive book.  But whatever I do, nothing will compare to the joy I feel when I think of you and your children.

I wish all of you a carefree and fun filled summer!  I will miss you, so if you see me around somewhere, please come up and say "hi"!

With love,

Miss Patti

Welcome To Durham Elementary School's

Spring Into Reading

Read-a-Thon

March 15, 2010 - April 30, 2010

This year we are again providing each student with a Read-a-Thon packet. During the length of the program, students will complete activities listed on the packet. When a student has finished at least 12 of the 15 activities, they will earn a gold medal for their efforts. Smaller prizes will also be awarded and distributed at the end of the program. Students completing all 15 activities will be in a special drawing at the end of the program. Here are some guidelines:

1.     Each student must put their name and teacher's name at the top of their packet. This entire packet must stay intact and be turned in after the student completes all their activities. The only 2 exceptions are the Reader's Museum form and the bookmark. These will be turned in to the library as soon as those activities are completed.

2.     Each activity that the student completes must be dated and initialed by a parent or teacher (depending on whether the activity was done at home or at school).

3.    If the packet is lost, there will be a very limited supply of new ones. The student will need to start over on the new packet.

4.    The bookmark template should be turned in to the library as soon as it is finished. Make sure your child's name and teacher's name is printed clearly on the back. The top 10 chosen will be copied and handed out in the library.

5.    The Reader's Museum was a big success last year. The idea is for students to bring in an item that represents something or someone from a book they've read. Example, an old paintbrush that was "used" by Tom Sawyer when he whitewashed the fence. Please don't send in items that are fragile or have sentimental value and I would like to keep the stuffed animals to a minimum. Encourage your child to be creative. Be sure to fill out and return the form with the item. Items will be returned to the student sometime in May.

6.    The donated book should be a used one that your child is no longer reading. A collection box will be provided in the library. The donated books will be a part of our "Summer Reading Splash" at the end of the year.

7.    Any story, poem or drawing activity must be an original from the student. Copying from a book or another person is not allowed.

8.    Gold medals and other prizes will be awarded sometime after the program ends, to students who have completed 12 of 15 tasks, turned in their packet by the due date and have all tasks initialed and dated.

9.    All packets are due no later than Friday, April 30, 2010.

10.    Please encourage your child to take their time and do a neat and thoughtful job and to have fun!!!

If you have any questions, please call me at 895-4697 x 236 by 2:30pm. Thank you for your support of this program. 

                                                                                    Miss Patti