Dike Newell School

Students at Dike Newell have been participating in Chickadee Award voting during their library classes this week. This award is in its nineteenth year, and is given annually to one of ten picture books nominated by a committee of teachers, librarians, and early literacy professionals. Students read all ten books and then vote for their favorite. The purpose of the Chickadee Award is to encourage children to develop an appreciation for excellence in writing and illustration that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Voting results from the Dike Newell School: First Place: "One Turtle's Last Straw" - 53 votes Second Place: "Chickadee Criminal Mastermind" - 34 votes Third Place: "Lion Lights" - 21 votes "How to Party Like a Snail" - 18 votes "Big Truck Little Island" - 13 votes "Jack Knight’s Brave Flight" - 11 votes "Tomatoes in My Lunchbox" - 10 votes "Wombat Said Come In" - 9 votes "Everything In Its Place" - 6 votes "Walter Had A Best Friend" - 5 votes -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell Dike Newell Elementary School

Second grade acting club students from Ms. Robison's class have been performing their "Cinderella" play for pre-k and kindergarten students this week. Under the direction of librarian Ms. Hardman, the students gave up many recesses to rehearse for their play. Audience members were given crowns to wear and took part in a dance party with the actors after the show. -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Dig out your coins, it's time to raise some money for our Author's Visit with Peter Brown!! Who is going to get a face full of pie??

Students have been learning about Read Across America during this week's library classes. Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. While originally this event celebrated the March 2nd birthday of author Dr. Seuss, it has over time evolved to become more focused on raising awareness about the importance, value, and fun of reading and sharing diverse books We read two Dr. Seuss books as well as a biography about the author. We then read and examined three recent Geisel Award winning books, and discussed why we thought each had won the award. The Geisel award is given each year for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in english in the United States during the preceding year. Winners are recognized for their literary and artistic achievements that demonstrate creativity and imagination to engage children in reading. The award was established in 2004 and first presented in 2006. We read: "Dr. Seuss" By Jennifer Strand "Fox at Night" By Corey R. Tabor "I Did It!" By Michael Emberley "See the Cat: Three Stories About A Dog" Written by David LaRochelle, Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka "What Pet Should I Get?" By Dr. Seuss "What Was I Scared Of?" By Dr. Seuss -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

In honor of Poetry Month in April, students are invited to record a poem to be included in a schoolwide poetry video. Any students who would like to participate can stop by the library to receive a poem to read. These poems can be filmed at home and emailed to school librarian Ms. Hardman at: lhardman@rsu1.org. Creativity and costumes are welcome, but not necessary, and feel free to include pets! Ms. Hardman can also film students at school if the needed technology is unavailable at home. All poems must be received by Wednesday, March 20th. -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

The Dike Newell School library was recently gifted ten brand new library books by the American Legion Smith-Tobey Unit 21 of Bath. Auxiliary President Sue Laflamme, Secretary Dolly Young and Sergeant at Arms Margie Russell made the presentation to School Librarian Lisa Hardman and the cast of the upcoming Cinderella play who were representing DNS students. Thanks to their generosity the library now has four books by our highly anticipated visiting author coming in May, Peter Brown. The library also received a coding book by technology guru Josh Funke who will be next year's visiting author. His book "How to Code a Rollercoaster" will also support our yearly Hour of Code studies. Students were especially excited to see new materials by favorite authors. Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer" and Jory John's "The Big Cheese" caused quite a stir when shown to library classes. Many thanks for these wonderful books, your kindness is much appreciated. The library received: Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown My Teacher is a Monster! by Peter Brown The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funke Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer by Jeff Kinny The Big Cheese by Jory John Cat Kid: Comic Club Influencers by Dav Pilkey Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! by Mo Willems Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Spirit week Wednesday, Thursday and Friday!! Wednesday wear your Valentine's colors - purple and/or red! Thursday wear your favorite team jersey, and Friday it's jammies day!! As a reminder, proper school footwear must be worn each day. Join us as we prepare for winter break by celebrating with Spirit Week!

Dike Newell students have been learning about the history and traditions of Groundhog day during this week's library classes. We learned that German settlers brought the tradition of Groundhog Day with them when they settled in Pennsylvania. Previously they had watched hibernating animals such as hedgehogs, badgers and bears as there were no groundhogs in Germany. The first official Groundhog Day in the United States was in 1887. We read: "Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox" by Susan Blackaby "Celebrating Holidays: Groundhog Day" by Rachel Grack "Groundhog Day!" by Gail Gibbons -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

"First graders have made some impressive discoveries in music class this week! Students were able to take a familiar lullaby, identify the notes used in the melody, notate the melody on a musical staff, and play it on the xylophones! What a huge accomplishment!"

Thanks to the generosity of donors at Donors Choose, the Dike Newell School Library now has a cookbook collection. Among the items received were, Pinkalicious Cupcake Cookbook, Minecrafter's Cookbook, Disney Villains Cookbook, The Official Harry Potter Baking Book and Star Wars: The Padawan Cookbook. For more information on Donors Choose, please visit: https://www.donorschoose.org/project/social-emotional-picture-books-for-stude/8152344/ -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Second grade actors from Ms. Brown's class have been hard at work learning their play "The Bremen Town Rappers." Under the direction of school librarian Ms. Hardman, this play is based on the German fairy tale "The Bremen Town Musicians," and tells the story of four animals whose owners are about to get rid of them as they have gotten too old. The animals decide to escape to Brementown and become rappers. The actors sacrificed many recesses and worked hard to learn their play, their second grade audiences have greatly enjoyed their show. -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Dike Newell students have been learning about the history and traditions associated with New Year's Eve and New Year's Day during this week's library classes. We discovered that while much of the world celebrates New Year's on January 1st, some cultures go by different calendars and celebrate New Year's Day on a different date. In Norway, eating rice pudding with an almond in it is considered lucky on New Year's Eve, but in Spain eating twelve grapes just before midnight is thought to bring good luck. We also talked about resolutions and why some people make them. Books we read were: It's New Year's Day by Richard Sebra, New Year's Day, by Lynn Peppas and The Night Before New Year's by Natasha Wing. We also watched a video from PBS Learning Media as well as a segment from News Center Maine on the New Year's Eve sardine drop in Eastport Maine. PBS Learning Media: https://mainepublic.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ae60c378-39ba-486c-a9e9-5ed9f6a97c1d/new-years-day-all-about-the-holidays/ News Center Maine https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/entertainment/events/ways-to-welcome-the-new-year-in-maine/97-6f5a5be1-eee3-4060-91b3-b59550ddf0cc -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Because the power is out at Dike Newell School, we will be dismissing students at 12:15. Student buses will leave DNS at 12:15. All other RSU 1 schools currently have power and will stay open.

The countdown is on! Join us next week for some spirit days before our break!

Thanks to the generosity of donors at Donors Choose, the Dike Newell School Library now has storytelling kits containing cloth characters and props to help bring stories to life and make students more active participants. Storytelling kits are especially useful in reinforcing the concepts of the story as well as allowing for creative thinking. We received kits for: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Five Green & Speckled Frogs Five Little Ducks The Gingerbread Man Go Away Big Green Monster! It Looked Like Spilt Milk Itsy Bitsy Spider The Jacket I Wear in the Snow The Kissing Hand The Little Red Hen The Napping House No, David! Old MacDonald Had a Farm Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes The Rainbow Fish The Snowy Day Teasing Mr. Crocodile There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly The Three Bears The Three Billy Goats Gruff The Three Little Pigs The Very Hungry Caterpillar For more information on Donors Choose, please visit: https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/2658360 -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell DiDike Newell Elementary School

Dike Newell students are participating in Hour of Code in their weekly library classes this week. Hour of Code is a free introduction to computer science through fun activities and videos for learners of all skill levels. Schools around the world join the Hour of Code movement as part of Computer Science Education Week. With just one hour, anyone can learn the basics of coding. Here at Dike Newell, we read How to Code a Sandcastle and How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funke as well as Coding in Video Games by Elizabeth Noll and How Do Video Games Work? by L.E. Carmichael. Students then worked in small groups programming Bee-Bot robots to follow challenges given by various members of the group as well as by Ms. Hardman. The lesson ended with a dance activity from code.org. For more information on Hour of Code, please visit: https://hourofcode.com/us/learn For more information on Bee-Bots: https://www.terrapinlogo.com/beebot-ss.html To code a dance party, please visit: https://code.org/dance

First grade students have been participating in Library Craft Club and showing off their creativity. Students were able to use construction paper, stickers, googly eyes, Popsicle sticks, yarn as well as other materials to complete their masterpieces.

Dike Newell students have been learning about Veterans Day during their library classes. A veteran is a former member of the armed services or military. Branches of the military include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Veterans may have served during times of war or peace. We read Holidays: Veterans Day by Rebecca Pettiford, American Holidays: Veterans Day by Connor Dayton and Celebrating Holidays: Veterans Day by Rachel Grack. We also watched a PBS Learning Media video about Veterans Day at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PqQkskHW3g On Wednesday, November 8th the school held a community meeting centered around Veterans Day headed by the Academic Engagement Committee. First grade teacher Larissa Costello, who also happens to be a Navy veteran, read Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein. Music teacher Celina Reed recorded a sing-a-long and led students in a rendition of This Land is Your Land. Interventionist Melissa Raedel put together a wonderful Veterans Day slideshow featuring local veterans. Happy Veterans Day to all Veterans. Link to Mrs. Reed singing This Land is Your Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_VgCzZezI -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School

Thanks to a grant from Donors Choose, Dike Newell students will have the opportunity to participate in Science Club in the school library. Materials received include rock, fossil and mineral kits as well as science viewers that offer an up close look at sea life, insects, spiders, birds, lifecycles and animals. Students will also have the chance to further investigate topics of particular interest to them. For more information on Donors Choose, please visit: https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/2658360

Congratulations to the winners of the book raffle in honor of the Dike Newell School's celebration of International Talk Like A Pirate Day. After learning about pirates and the history of the day during their weekly library classes, students were given the chance to enter their names into the prize drawing. Congratulations to Thomas, Henry, Dorothy, Natalie and Xavier. Many thanks to the donors at Donors Choose who supported this project. For more information on Donors Choose, please visit: https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/2658360 -- Lisa Hardman RSU 1 Librarian Dike Newell School