News and Notes

from the

Computer Lab and Library

Thanks for all your support of the computer program and library media program here at Holy Martyrs School.  Please be sure to sign up to automatically receive updates to my School Notes by following the instructions at the top of the page.

Projects are being finished up and things are coming to an end in the computer lab and library.  The students have all worked very hard mastering new skills this year.  Some highlights of this trimester were the photo stories put together by the eighth grade on the Holocaust and World War II.  The seventh grade tried their hands at creating public service podcasts on communicable diseases.  Sixth grade incorporated video and audio in their presentations on Africa while the fifth grade put together a group presentation on their Stock Market Game holding company. 

Fourth grade used the theme of the “pencil” to “sharpen” their research skills and presentation skills.  Did you know that the average pencil has enough graphite in it to draw a line 30 miles long?  And while the third grade was investigating and reporting on one of the 17 different kinds of penguins they were also researching and preparing computer documents that will be used in their biography “wax museum” presentations.

Second grade took time to research dinosaurs so that they could complete an information paragraph and power point presentation on them.  First grade in conjunction with raising butterflies in their classroom, conducted some Internet research on the Monarch butterfly and then word processed a butterfly poem.  They also found time to brush up on their money skills and telling time skills using computer software.

Even kindergarten got into some word processing on the computer complete with text formatting between practicing with software that reinforced their reading readiness skills and math skills and creating a graphic organizer on the things they liked about kindergarten.

And of course all the students have had fun in the library this past week selecting books for their home libraries.  With the closing of the school the decision was made to allow the students to select library books to keep – no one has to remember to return any of them next week!  I have heard back from some parents how excited their child was to be able to have a keepsake book from the library that was one of their favorites.  May all the children enjoy their HMS books for many years to come!

And parents, if you are going to be here on Field Day (May 28), please know that you are invited to browse our library shelves that day for books that you feel would make a nice addition to your child’s home library.  Also on display that day will be the original books created each year by the kindergarten and first grade students.  The books go back 20 years and have certainly been a fun activity to undertake with the students each year. It was amazing to see the alums who attended the Celebration of HMS Event on May 21^st actually remembering taking part in the book writing and illustration activity.  Some could still pick out their illustration!

So, as you can see, all the students are to be commended for their hard work and efforts in the computer lab and library not only this past trimester but the entire year.

PS Make sure you have registered on my School Notes page to receive automatic email notices when I update my page.  It's a good way to stay informed about what's happening in the Computer Lab and Library.