Monday, January 17, 2022

3D printing at DBS

Thanks to a generous grant from the Hope Foundation at Hypertherm, we were able to get a 3D printer for the library! It has been a real learning experience for the students and for me! 



Last summer my son purchased a Prusa 3D printer for our home, so I was expecting our school Dremel printer to be the same. It turns out there are a few big differences! Although I wish I had all the answers, it's good to model the learning process for the students too. The 4th and 5th graders are enjoying using Tinkercad to create designs for printing. I'm learning how to print fast and reliably. 

Sometimes the prints turn out really good...



Other times.... 


Sometimes they just come out silly. :) 


We are having fun experimenting with this new technology. Once I get the hang of consistent, reliable printing, I'll find some fun ways to bring the younger kids into the mix too. I'm looking forward to that!


Sunday, August 22, 2021

Golden Dome Book Award

Check out this cool bookshelf of Golden Dome Book Award nominees. Click on each book to view a book trailer (or book talk) about the book. Stop by the library to check one out. Don't forget to read at least five books this year so you can vote on your favorite!

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Welcome to the 2021/22 school year!

 Hi all - welcome back to the 2021/22 school year! It's not actually hear *yet* as we have a few more weeks of vacation, but I wanted to post a quick hello and share some information. 

This year there will be classes in the library again. Yay! Students will learn about book care, library usage, digital literacy, online safety, robotics, and other fun stuff. We will also read the book award books together and have some fun with related activities. If you're interested in the book award books, here are the lists:

I hope you have been reading this summer and enjoying the sunshine (when it isn't raining!). I can't wait to see everyone back in the library again soon! The fish are excited to see you too! They get lonely over the summer.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon! However, due to Covid-19 restrictions our fall Book Fair is online this year! Please support our school and help your child discover new books, favorite characters, complete series, and more! 

The Book Fair will open on Monday, October 26th, and run through Sunday, November 8th.  You can shop the online book fair here: http://scholastic.com/bf/dothanbrookschool 

Check out the new Virtual 3D experience to get an (almost) live feeling! :) 




Saturday, September 19, 2020

Just a little brag 😊

Every year in the spring teachers in the building nominate someone for Teacher of the Year. We all have a chance to nominate, then there is a vote, then the winner is announced at the District-wide Back-to-School Breakfast at the beginning of the year.

This year, Covid-19 hit and all norms went right out the window! I maybe thought about Teacher of the Year briefly when I realized we weren’t doing the District Breakfast, but that was about it.  I assumed we were not doing it this year due to Covid.  There is A LOT we are not doing this year because of Covid! But you know what they say about assuming…

At our first official staff meeting, held virtually, of course, Mr. D announced the two longevity awards (for teachers who have been in the district for a long time) and then said this:  Video

I had no idea! If I even suspected, I would have done my hair and not been eating an apple! :)  The one day I woke up late, threw my hair in a ponytail, and tossed some random foods in my lunch box… turns out to be the day the whole school is looking at me!  LOL.

Teacher of the Year plaqueI feel super appreciated though!

Later in the evening I logged into the high school performing arts department’s Welcome Back zoom meeting for parents and students. When the music teachers pulled up the website to show parents, they also gave me a shout-out for all the work I’ve done on it and how awesome it is.

I work hard, for sure, and I never feel taken advantage of, but it is pretty nice to get the accolades!  And the plaque!

Monday, August 24, 2020

Vermont Middle Grade Book Award*

As many of you know, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award program is being renamed.  The Vermont Department of Libraries formed a committee last spring, consisting of teachers, students, and Dept. of Libraries staff.  Students from around the state submitted name ideas and I was hoping the committee would have a new name before school starts, but instead they have picked their top 10 and will let students vote on the final name.  I'll be sure to share the voting information when it becomes available.  

For now, regardless of the name, there are new award books to read this year!  As usual, read them and enjoy them. When you read five or more books you get to vote on your favorite one.  The book that gets the most votes from students around the state gets an award. 


(Click on any book to view the book trailer.)

Check out some of the winners from past years:
2020 - Small Spaces, by Katherine Arden 
2019 - Refugee, by Alan Gratz 
2018 - Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II, by Alan Gratz 
2017 - The Terrible Two, by Jory John & Mac Barnett 
2016 - El Deafo, by Cece Bell 
2015 - Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, by Chris Grabenstein 
2014 - Wonder, by R. J. Palacio 
2013 - The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen 
2012 - Smile, by Raina Telgemeier 
2011 - 11 Birthdays, by Wendy Mass 
2010 - Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins 

 See the complete list of winners from 1957-2020.

* Formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award

Friday, June 19, 2020

The new and improved OPAC

OPAC = online public access catalog

Welcome to your ONLINE library catalog!  You now have the ability to LOG ON using your school Google account!  When you log on with Google, you can see which books you have checked out and when they are due. You can also create lists of your favorite books, and place books on hold.  Check it out!! Start by going to: http://www.dbsvt.com/librarycatalog

Thenk, click Log On in the top, right corner.


Then select Sign in with Google and find or enter your school email account and password.


Give it a try and let me know if you have any questions!