Mrs. Kast’s Good-Bye
When I became the Middle School Librarian, my main goal was to create a safe place for all students. I remember middle school was rough for me and I would have loved to find refuge in the library. I opened the library to all students and grew relationships with most of them. I have made the hard decision of changing jobs because I needed a better pay for my family. My heart is heavy to say good-bye to so many students that I have had the pleasure of getting close to. So on that note: the school is hiring for my position. Apply at goodingschools.org under the career opportunities tab.
Book Fair is October 19th-22nd, 2020
Hours:
Monday: 7:30AM – 4:30AM
Tuesday: 7:30AM – 4:30AM
Wednesday: 7:30AM – 7:00PM
Thursday: 7:30AM – 7:00 PM
Located at Gooding Middle School Library. Come down during parent/teacher conferences to check out the selection of books from preschool to adult. Mask are not required but highly recommended.
Online Option
We do have an online option if you are not comfortable browsing our selection in the school.
- Go to fundraise4books.com
- apply the code “Gooding” so the GEMS library gets credit
- free shipping to the school
September 28th, 2020
Suicide Prevention week
I am so excited for the makerspace activity this week. GMS library will be working with the counseling team to teach students about Self-care activities. Self- care is a great practice for EVERYONE to learn because it can help with health issues especially sucicidal ideations. Self care is a process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being. It should be a priority instead of a luxury. A self-care plan isn’t a one size fits all. It should be custom to your needs. The five areas of self care are physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotionalThe three tables with activites include:
- Community Service project: Practicing compassion and service for others helps our mental health. This week we are making self-care kits for teachers and staff. The kits include tea bags, lemonade packet, chocolate, reusable cup, sensory toy, coloring pages, color pencils and an encouraging note/thank you.
- Self-care assesment journals: Each journal has writing prompts about our mental, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional health . Plus journaling is a great way for students to work through thoughts and emotions without harming themselves.
- Sand Zen Gardens: Who doesn’t love to play in the sand??? Zen sand gardens promote tranquility and calmness by allowing the students to play with nature. It also opens the conversation to spirituallity and how it helps with mental health.
-Mrs. Kast
Middle School Librarian
September 14, 2020
Upcoming Spirit week
Spirit week is September 21st-24th. For Gooding Middle School the dress up days include:
Monday-Hippy Day
Tuesday – Twin Day
Wednesday- Wacky Wednesday
Thursday- Team Day
The class with the most participation earns a suprise reward.
September 10th, 2020
Currently Reading….
“A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness
Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd
The Monster showed up after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmares he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…
This monster, though, is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.
September 3rd, 2020
Gooding Middle School Library Receives Grant Funds for the Underserved
Gooding, Idaho — The Gooding Middle School Library received a $500 grant from the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) to benefit underserved or unserved children.
The Underserved Children: Welcoming Libraries Grant helps to ensure that every individual feels truly welcomed and included at the library and that libraries are able to offer inclusive spaces and services for children of all abilities, genders, races, and cultures.
The ICfL awarded $5,500 in grant funds to 11 public and school libraries in Idaho. The funds will be utilized foractivities that improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in Idaho libraries and better serve the community’s underserved groups of children.
From the collections offered by the library to its physical space, a wide range of the library’s offerings will be examined through the lens of the underserved. (Or replace this sentence with specifics about how the funds will be used.)
Library Director said, “This grant funding will help us provide resources that both reflect patrons’ experiences and teach them about those who are different from them, as we work to ensure that the library is a welcoming place for all in our community.”
For more information about the Welcome Libraries Grant, please visit: https://libraries.idaho.gov/rtm/welcoming-libraries/.
With this grant, I was able to purchase new books in Spanish. Now the GMS library is able to offer students books like “Hombre Perro”, “El Sonador”, and other graphic novels and chapter books. I was also able to purchase board games in Spanish and display holders. All students will feel welcomed into the library wether it’s to read or to play games.
-Mrs. Kast
Middle School Librarian
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New Covid-19 regulations for the Middle School Library
- Mask are required
- two books out at a time
- 24 hour book quarantine once the books are returned
- Only 15 students allows in the library at a time
- students have to sign-up for makerspace activities during lunch
-Mrs. Kast
Middle School Librarian
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Hello Students,
I miss you all so much! I am enjoying my time at home with my newborn baby girl, Virigina Grace and my toddler. Most of you probably don’t know that I attended college online. I earned my Bachelors of Science in business from the University of Phoenix so, I know a thing or two about attending school online.
Here are a few of my tips to get through online school……
- Be organized – use a calendar or your phone reminders to write down important dates of when assignments are due.
- Always dress for the day even when you just stay home – there is something that happens mentally when you are ready for the day. If you stay in your pajamas all day, do you ever really wake up?
- have a designated work spot
- Don’t be afraid to reach out to the teacher for help – online it’s easy to forget there is an actual teacher!
- work during the day when you are the most productive- are you a morning bird or night owl?
Good Luck and Keep Reading!
-Mrs. Kast
Middle School Librarian