Happy News! New Stuff!

Today is a happy day in the LMC!

First, we have added all the Nutmeg contenders thus far to our collection!  I just couldn't wait to get them into your hands!  They will be on display as Books of the Week next week.

I can't show the covers or post the titles here!  Note, I'm not saying what is still in contention or what has been eliminated.  You just have to come in and see what we have!

Second, through a generous donation, we now have 6 sets of Bluetooth portable speakers!  These are available for teachers to borrow when showing a DVD or streaming media.  Thank you to our donors!

We are hoping to add to our collection with some Spanish language novels.  If you can help us out, please and thanks!

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/novels-in-spanish/1940920/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=proposal&utm_campaign=twitter&rf=twitter-siteshare-2016-03-proposal-teacher_3388280

Lots of love in the LMC!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS

Speakers on Donors Choose

I have a Donors Choose project in progress to obtain speakers!

Can you help us out?

For the next 7 days, use code LIFTOFF and your donation will be matched!

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/speakers-for-lcd-projectors-and-dvd-play/1921033/?rf=link-siteshare-2016-03-teacher-teacher_3388280&challengeid=20706831

Thanks!!

South of the Etowah by Raymond Atkins

Hello Everyone!!!

It has been a longgggg time since I've done a review.  The Nutmegs are keeping me super busy with reading.  And I mean NONSTOP.  Every free moment has me reading those!  I will say that in this rotation, I have a new favorite book, and I think it might be an eventual nominee.  That's all I can say on that...

I've been waiting for Etowah for a while.  I pre-ordered it what seems like months ago.  I LOVED Raymond Atkins' The Front Porch Prophet.  If you happen to look at my Facebook quotes, one of them is from Prophet.  I also happen to be Atkins' friend on FB.  You see, before one had "pages" that people could "like", one only had a personal profile.  And that's how I became friends with a famous author.

What do we have in common?  Little it seems on the surface.  I'm born and raised in CT; he's from Georgia.  We're a generation apart.  At the same time though, I really get a my Dad type vibe off of him.  Those of you who knew my Dad, well, he had a warped sense of humor, a love of Southern Rock, spent eons fixing things that were always breaking in our house, and spent whatever other time he had raising 3 daughters.

This book is really not one for most of you, meaning my kids.  It's for your parents.  It's for anyone who owns a house, especially an old house like many in our community.  It's for anyone who is married or has a child getting married.  Celebrate holidays?  Go on road trips?  Atkins details the ridiculousness that is life in vignettes.  I'm fairly certain his calico porch cat was related to our calico porch cat of 21 years, Little Orphan Annie.  She was succeeded by another calico, Miss Hazel May, just like Atkins'.

I nearly peed myself in reading this.  I have a pool, a washing machine, and a dozen remote controls.  None of them work properly!

Tweet what you're reading using #whhs #read
Follow me @RamblingsLMS

We are still taking your reviews for The Westie Review in The Rostrum.  Our last issue will be published soon, so get them in!

Remember to keep informed about our Board of Education and City budget and how cuts will affect YOU! 

Views expressed on this blog are those of Mrs. Woychowski alone.    

Support Education in West Haven

Hello Readers!

I am asking my followers to attend a special Board of Education meeting on March 15th at 6 p.m. (right now scheduled for City Hall, but that may change, please check whschools.org before the meeting).  The BOE has accepted Mr. Cavallaro's amended budget, a 2.97 increase that represents a "status quo" with NO LAYOFFS.  It is possible the BOE or City Council may cut this budget further.  Please attend to show your support for education in West Haven!
Thank you,
Mrs. Woychowski

Please remember that all opinions expressed on this blog are mine and mine alone.

Wishing for Spring Weather!

Hard to believe it's been two weeks since I checked in last!

I am all set for my 2nd Nutmeg meeting tomorrow night (assuming the weather holds as rain!).  We just got part of the 3rd list.  There are no books on it I've read or reviewed here in this set (only listed 8 of the 10 so far).

There is still room in the Reading/Writing SAT review and prep session on Sunday.  I'll be joining Mr. Takach, Mrs. Poffenberger, and Mrs. Cummings for this session.  I heard their math review rocked!  Mrs. Gardner will be joining us in place of Mr. Shand.  Pizza too!  If you can't make it, check out my Google Classroom page for all the links.

Congratulations to our Unsung Hero Mr. Dandelske!  I am so glad the people who make Westie High awesome get recognition in this way.  Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Winters from the LMC family are prior recipients.

Almost done with the shelf moving!  We could still use some strong hands to move 350ish through 600.  See me if you are interested.  Caught Being Excellent, Community Service hours, and Attendance Points are all negotiable compensation!

Mrs. Lynch and I are still accepting articles for The Rostum, our school newspaper.  The Rostrum is published electronically and posted on our website and in print in the hall near the LMC.  Book reviews for The Westie Review corner are still being accepted as well.

Crazy to think about it, but my plans for Summer Reading 2016 are taking shape.  I think we are going 100% paperless/electronic this year!  More on that later!

Tweet what you're reading #whhs #read

Another Snow Day!

Hey friends!  Although I haven't had a chance to read anything outside my Nutmegs, I wanted to pop in and give an update on how things are going in the WHHS LMC.

You've probably noticed all the shelf movement.  We're looking to move as much reference as possible (keeping only the super expensive sets we can't afford to lose) and oversize into non-fiction.  Streamlining is the key to book usage!  If you'd like to help, I can use some strong peeps on Fridays afterschool, 1:50-3 p.m.  Community service hours will be awarded

Have you noticed us pushing paperless classroom?  Features like Google Classroom and Turnitin help eliminate the need for paper.  We are super low on paper (and ink for the color printer).  Anything you can submit electronically is a BIG help.  Talk to your teachers about using digital submission rather than killing trees!

You can still put the name of a woman you love on our love shrub.  We wanted to draw attention to Women's Heart Health Awareness, championed by our Dance Team.  We are so proud of all the students who named Mom, Grandmas, Aunties, Tias, Nonnas, Abuelas, BFFs, coaches, teachers, and even an administrator.  Join in!

SATs are coming!  I'll be part of the team teaching the SAT reading and writing tutoring session on 2/28.  See my previous post for the resources in case you can't make it!  You'll get to hear my selected vignette from This I Believe.  I'll also tell you, the math team on 2/21 will be just as awesome!

Do you have gently used mittens, hats, gloves, scarves, or coats you'd like to donate?  Several groups are collecting.  If you bring them to the WHHS LMC, I'll get them to the right place!

The Westie Review is proud to showcase student and staff book reviews in The Rostrum. Submit your typed review to Mrs. W. (preferably electronically!) to be included!  Reviews can be 1-5 paragraphs in length.  Share the books you've read and loved, especially ones you got in the WHHS LMC or at WHPL. 

As always, remember the LMC staff is here for YOU, "our" kids.  Mrs. Lynch and myself are always available for you, to help with assignments, research, proofreading, book selection, tech troubleshooting, Google, Turnitin, Khan, and just about anything else!  Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Treacy, and Mr. Winters are also an integral part of our team and will help you out.  Don't hesitate to ask us!

Follow me on Twitter @RamblingsLMS!

2016 Nutmeg Nominees

These are this year's Nutmeg nominees!
http://www.nutmegaward.org/print/2016/HIghSchool2016Color2.pdf
Voting takes place in April!