Catholic School Librarians Association

Minutes September 20, 2007

 

Laurel Throssel at Assumption St. Bridget hosted the meeting.  Thank you!

 

Introductions:

Everyone in the room introduced themselves and also talked about the best or favorite book they read over the summer.  Some titles are:

Keeper, by Mal Peet, about soccer

The Blue Sky, a book about growing up in Mongolia by Galsam Tschinag

Across the nightingale floor, by Lian Hearn, a fantasy, the first in the Tales of Otori

Trilogy

The boy in the striped pajamas, a Holocaust story by John Boyne

Uglies and also Midnighters, by Scott Westerfeld, two new science fiction series

Amos Fortune, a free man, a classic Newbery honor book by Elizabeth Yates

Shelter dogs, amazing stories of adopted strays, by Peg Kehret

The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood, by Barb Ullman, a mix of realistism and fantasy

Rules, the recent Newbery honor book by Cynthia Lord

And a lesson plan idea from Ellen Conford’s book Me and the Terrible Two in which the classroom teacher has the students make up a newspaper where all the articles have catchy headlines and summaries of books, ie: Tornado rips house from Kansas farm: girl, dog, and house vanish during killer storm

Also the AASL all read book: A whole new mind: why right brainers will rule the world, by Daniel Pink

 

Reports

Sr. Ann Cornelia will try to contact a relative of Pat Van Gaver, the former treasurer who recently passed away, to get the association’s checkbook.

 

The nominating committee suggested these people – which were proposed and seconded

Co-chairs: Sue Harris (Holy Rosary) and Sr. Ann (Holy Names)

VP: Nancy Edwards (St. Matthews)

Secretary: Barb Cutler (St. Joseph)

Treasurer: Susan Lisi  (St. Benedict)

 

Old Business:

As a tribute to retiring Associate Superintendent Dr. Anthony Gnanarajah, Sue Harris printed up and distributed a book plate of him to be placed in a book of choice in each of the libraries.

Tim McCamey is the new Associate Superintendent, who seems to be well thought of and responsive.

 

New business:

We are looking for presenters and presentation topics for the March 14th Archdiocesan Inservice.  It was mentioned that presenters do get paid.  Joyce Valenza was proposed as a speaker.  Copyright was suggested as a possibility.  Graphic novels was another.

 

Future program ideas include author visits.  Mary Carson mentioned that The Red Scarf girl author Ji-li Jiang is coming to her school and the cost is not prohibitive.

 

The Archdiocesan Theological Update is October 12, 2007.

There were various comments about the recent Archdiocesan video.

 

Follett Software:

Our representative is supposed to be Stan Winters, but there has been no one able to contact him.  The new superintendent at the Archdiocese Tim McKamy has been trying to organize all our bills and accounts with Follett and a list was sent around for all present to indicate whether they had received a bill and/or had paid a bill. Some 32 schools are listed. Some have paid twice. Some don’t have Follett. Those of us going to WLMA will try to find out more/any information from the representative there.

Sr. Ann also indicated that there will be no more support of the Follett PhD Dolphin because they are moving towards a new model.

Sr. Ann talked about Destiny, their latest software, but there has been no date set for release and no confirmation that it is necessary to be part of a group or district and that there will be a stand alone option.

 

Standards

Ann Nachtigal at Assumption St. Bridget’s and also on the Washington State Council for Social Studies talked about the upcoming meeting on February 2, 2008 from 8:30 – 2:30 at Seattle University.  They are looking for more involvement from the Catholic schools as well as the k-8 grade levels, and for anyone who might be willing to present or suggest someone else who could, and also at what age level that might be; ie, WA state and Native Americans at grade 4.  Her email is anachtigal@asbschool.org.

 

The Puget Sound Education Service District is offering a Private Schools Day on Monday, November 11, 2007, from 8:00- 3:30.  Explore changes in education and learn about resources that are available to you. Workshops will focus on research based best practices in areas of learning and teaching, educational technology and more. A vendor showcase will highlight services and support that is available to private schools. Fee: $65. Clock hours: 6   For info: call Janet Hinrichs (425) 917-7930, (253) 778-7930, 1-800-664-4549 x7930 or jhinrichs@psesd.org  and/or check their web site  http://psesd.org/

Class #TM8800

 

Sr. Ann brought the computer file of our Guidelines for Catholic School Library Resource Centers to share on CDs and thumb drives.  It was written in 1992 and needs to be updated.  There will be two committees for the elementary level, one to look at the guidelines ( Jill Hetzler St. Thomas More and Joanne Boerth Forest Ridge), and one to look at the curriculum (Laura Mallahan St. Mary Magdalen and Mary Carson St. Louise) and then one to work on the high school level (Judy Gillespie St. Luke,  Kathy Hardesty Eastside Catholic, Janice Abe Prep and Sr. Ann Holy Names.  Janice Abe will also set up a WIKI at pbwiki.com where the Guidelines can be placed and edited, preliminarily by these few who will be given a password code.

 

Future meetings

January 18 at Our Lady of Fatima

March 14 at Kennedy for Archdiocesan Inservice

April 17 at St. Joseph

 

Barb Cutler

Secretary