Welcome to Library and Media
2025-2026
Mrs. Jennifer Wall
Dear Students and Families,
October is coming to a close!
We have had a great month of learning in the library/media center - your children have learned so much and they are such a pleasure to have in class. Please read on to find out how each grade has spent its time in our library/media center in the month of October.
Our Preschool students are enjoying their weekly library visits
which always include a song, a poem, and a great story! After the story, we have a fun activity to support what we learned. This month we have had a pumpkin hunt after learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin. One fun story we have read is There Was an Old Mummy Who Swallowed a Spider and afterwards, students made their own mummies with spiders. We have had so much fun together!
Our Kindergarten students are also having fun; they are choosing and taking home a library book each week. Our shelves are full of great picture books and non-fiction books at just the right reading level for our youngest emergent readers. They are learning the difference between fiction and non-fiction, and starting to recognize different features that the different genres have. For example, students have started to recognize that non-fiction books often have actual pictures on their covers as opposed to illustrations; this realization has helped students to make a more informed decision when choosing their book for the week. It's fun to watch them choose.
Our first, second, and third graders are doing double duty! Students are learning about different genres of books and are free to explore the shelves and look for a just-right book. It can be challenging to find a book which matches a student's reading level and aligns with their ability to understand the content. Third and fourth graders often seek longer and more challenging text, and it can be a balancing act to try and find options that interest them and are also age-appropriate. We have been working through this together, and I am looking forward to building our collection for this age-group.
These students are also exploring all of the good things that technology at SLG has to offer, beginning with our iPads. Our focus with the iPads has been on literacy, coding, and proper keyboarding technique. Our third graders are beginning to access their Microsoft Teams accounts, which has been exciting for them!
Fourth graders have been practicing the use of Microsoft Word while also practicing their writing skills - students have written their own endings in a to eerie October stories in a Word document format. The students have learned how to attach their documents to the correlating assignment within the Assignment Tab on Microsoft Teams - this is an extremely important part of the Teams process, which students will be using regularly in 5th grade.
Our students in grades 4th, 5th, and 6th are mastering the use of Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Word. All students are working on their keyboarding skills by focusing on home-row positioning - this has yielded lots of grumbles :). It is not always fun, but it will help our students in the future if they know how to properly keyboard. We have also been coding using Hour of Code and RodoCodo, and we have created our own animations using BrushNinja. This week, 6th grade has impressed me with their music-mixing skills, using Hour of Code's Music Lab.
Throughout October, our 5th and 6th graders have also competed as 'humans versus zombies' in rounds of GimKit, a digital, team-based game which can be used for reinforcement of any learning objectives. Last week, we created a GimKit to help 6th graders review for their religion test.
Whenever there is a bit of free time, classes have enjoyed using our Robotic Dog, affectionately known as Josh, and our small humanoid robot, which students have named Small Jamal.
The month has culminated with a journey taken by each class through our 'magical wardrobe' into our 'spooky book nook,' where students explored a variety of books from our mystery collection. Students encountered all sorts of hidden creatures and animated objects in the book nook including bats, frogs, jumping spiders, moving library books, and even an old and mysterious typewriter.
Lastly, our 3D printers are up and running and our technology 3D printing program is in full swing - our 8th grade students now have the option to sign up for a weekly 3D printing session. Our middle school students will be learning 3D design in their technology classes, and will also enjoy access to our printers at some point in the future.
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding our Library/Technology Program - my email is [email protected] Thanks!
September was a very productive month in our library/media center! Students were busy in our upper grades growing their Microsoft 365 knowledge by practicing and expanding existing skills along with acquiring new ones. Our lower grades enjoyed library sessions in our new streamlined library space, as well as lessons on our new iPads which focused on keyboarding and coding skills. See the sidebar menu at the left for more grade-specific details. As always, please contact me directly with any questions or concerns. Enjoy this beautiful beginning to our fall season!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Wall
Happy New School Year!
I pray this will be a wonderful year of learning and growing!
I'm so excited to be combining my favorite elements of the library with the wonderful world of technology.
Instead of traveling from classroom to classroom,
I'll back in the much improved and streamlined library!
And we've reworked the space to include our technology lab equipment - 3D printers, desktops, iPads, and Virtual Reality.
I am looking forward to sharing more with our students next week
and with our parents at our back-to-school night on September 10th.
See you soon!
With love,
The Christmas without Santa Claus ESCAPE ROOM
THE GREAT TURKEY ESCAPE DIGITL ESCAPE ROOM
Dear Students and Families:
A Google Form asking for consent for students in 4th
grade to utilize virtual reality in technology class
was instant alerted to all
families. If you did not receive the alert,
please click the following link to access
the form. Thanks!
Mrs. Wall
Virtual Reality Consent Form- 5th - 8th grade
Virtual Reality Consent Form - 4th grade
Technology classes are well underway. See below for a list of our focus areas each week.
You are welcome to email me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Thanks!
Mrs. Wall
Weeks 6-8 Classroom Summaries:
Week 6
Middleschool - Animations, Using Games to Fund Charities
Week 7 - 8
Middleschool - Moving on to Microsoft Word: Formatting in MS Word
Creating a Business Block Letter, Formatting, typing and sending your business letter
Weeks 9-10
Middleschool - Mastering the keyboard, typing the right way!
Utilizing virtual reality as a research and exploration tool
Week 11
Middleschool - Excel - tracking your important accomplishments
Week 5 Classroom Summaries:
Middleschool: (5th and 6th) Microsoft Word: What you need to know right now for use in completing assignments in your other classes
(4th grade) Teams: Logging in, submitting assignments, accessing apps through Teams
Elementary School: Toy Design and Coding - 1 Getting hands on with our technological toys
2 Code our codeable mice through various obstacle courses designed by your classmates
Week 4 Classroom Summaries:
Middleschool: Powerpoint Presentations
Elementary School: Design elements - how have technological advancements impacted design of schools, cars, and toys
Week 3 Classroom Summaries: Getting to Know Our Tools
VR Trial (6th grade only), Surfaces, Laptops, Keyboards
Week 2 Classroom Summaries: Let's Get Going!
Middleschool - Powerpoint - show what you know!
Elementary School - Keyboarding and the Design component of Technology
Week 1 Classroom Summaries: Getting to Know You
Middleschool - Technology Survey, Assessments of each student's tech knowledge
Dear Students and Families:
I am so excited to begin this new adventure with all of you.
I studied Educational Technology in graduate school,
and I cannot wait to begin applying what I learned.
I know we will have a fun year, and I am really looking forward
to this new chapter in my Saint Leo's career.
Please let me know if you have any questions as we get started.
You can always email me at [email protected] or send me a Teams chat.
See you all soon!
Mrs. Wall
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hooray for May!
Something big and blue will be coming to the library in the month of May....
Stay tuned for more information!
In the meantime, enjoy the great stories in the digital library links on the left hand side
of this page.
Happy Spring!
Happy April!
HAPPY EARTH DAY!
In library this past week, we discussed the importance of reducing
how much we buy as consumers. We talked about fixing broken toys and donating
things we no longer need. We enjoyed an Earth Day story, and then had
a great time playing with recycled toys!
Happy Earth Day everyone!
In April, we celebrate poetry, Earth Day, and the full arrival of spring.
Check out our Earth Day Digital Library at the left :)
April 8th, 2024 will bring a Solar Eclipse to our sky!
While New Jersey won't be in the path of totality for the eclipse, we will see quite a bit of it.
Remember to wear your eclipse safety glasses if you are planning to peak up at the sky.
Click on the link below to find out exactly when the eclipse will begin to be visible to our area.
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when
They say we should keep our pets inside during the peak of the eclipse!
Holy Week Has Arrived
Holy Week is the most sacred time of year.
During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ —
his crucifixion, death and resurrection —
through liturgical celebration and personal conversion.
In library classes this week, we focus on this most solemn week through prayer, stories, and special videos developed for children.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!
I love March!
We celebrate Read Across America,
Saint Patrick's Day
and the first day of Spring, March 20th!!!
Be sure to check out our
March Mystery Reader and
our Digital Saint Patrick's Day library!
Also click on the link's below for my favorite Dr. Seuss story
and related song - they're all about these:
WATCH AND LISTEN - CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW!
Listen and dance to Feet, a song all about our wonderful feet!
Thank you all for a wonderful book fair!
I hope you all enjoy time with your family and friends
during the Thanksgiving break!
Happy November!
Parents and students, get ready for the Fall Book Fair!
It's coming the week of Novermber 13th - see below for the class visit schedule!
MONDAY 11/13
SETUP – unsure of delivery time but will be before 1pm
TUESDAY 11/14
8:00- SETUP
8:25 – 8:55 – 4C
9:00-9:30 – 4A
9:35-10:05 - KC
10:05 – 10:25 Middle School Break Option 5 & 6 grades
10:30-11:00 – KA
11:05 – 11:35 - KB
11:40 – 12:10 -
12:15 – 12:45 – 2B
1:00 – 1:30 PRESCHOOL
WEDNESDAY 11/15
8:00- SETUP
8:15 – 8:45 – 1B
8:50 --9:20 – 3A
9:25 –9:55 – 1C
10:05 – 10:25 Middle School Break Option 7 & 8 grades
10:30 – 11:00 - 2A
11:05- 11:35
11:40 – 12:10
12:15 – 12:45
1:00 – 1:25 PRESCHOOL
1:25 - 1:55- 2C
THURSDAY 11/16
8:00- SETUP
8:15 – 8:45- 3B
8:50 --9:20 – 3C
9:25 –9:55 – 1A
10:05 – 10:25 Middle School Break Final Call 5-8 grades
10:30 – 11:00
11:05- 11:35 – 4B
11:40 – 12:10 –
12:15 – 12:45 –
1:00 – 1:30 PRESCHOOL
FRIDAY 11/17
8:15 – 9:00 – LAST CALL
9:00 – 12:00 BREAKDOWN AND CLOSE OUT
Welcome to the Library Home Page
Happy October!
"LISTEN!
The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"
written by Humbert Wolfe, Italian-born British poet
October Happenings in the library:
Grades 2-4
It's the return of....
The Spooky Book Nook!
Back by popular demand, a spooky little area will be filled with
our creepiest stories just for grades 2-4. Participation is
completely optional! It's not too creepy, it has just the
right amount of cobwebs and eerie music! This year,
Mrs. Calicchio has helped by choosing some of
classical music's scariest pieces to
add to the Halloween mood!
Grades PreK-1st:
Would you like to hear some fall-themed stories? I would!
Fall, or Autumn, is my favorite season!
Click on the links at the upper left side
of my website for Fall-themed, read-aloud stories!
There are also
Apple-themed and Acorn-themed stories!
Enjoy!
HALLOWEEN MYSTERY READING
COMING SOON!!!
Summer and School Year Reading List
Scan here to view the summer reading and
2023-2024 school year reading lists for every grade level.
Or click this link to view the document as a Word file.
FINAL VERSION St Leo 2023-2024 Summer and School Year Reading List .docx
Summer Camp - thank you for a great summer!
Grades K-2
Want to get out of the heat in August and have some fun?
Check out my summer library camp here!
Grades 2 - 8
Need a little help with your summer reading?
Don't stress!
Check out my summer reading camps!
I love March!
We celebrate Read Across America,
Saint Patrick's Day
and the first day of Spring, March 20th!!!
Be sure to check out our March Mystery Reader and
our Digital Saint Patrick's Day library!
Also click on the link's below for my favorite Dr. Seuss story
and related song - they're all about these:
WATCH AND LISTEN - CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW!
Listen and dance to Feet, a song all about our wonderful feet!
GRADES 2 THROUGH 4
In the library, we are literally 'Reading Across America'
with students coloring in a state
on our US map
whenever they check out a book about that state.
PREVIOUS MONTHS' POSTS:
Our Valentine's Day Mystery Reader is here!! Click on
this link to hear the story!
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c0n6bvVx8XX
OTHER NEWS:
February is all about LOVE!!!
Click on my digital Valentine's Day library in the links at the left
to hear some amazing stories all about Valentine's Day
and LOVE!!!
It's Christmas Mystery Reader time!
Click on the title below
the picture of the book.
Try to guess whose
voice you hear reading to you!
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale
Do you recognize the voice of the person reading the story above?
(Hint: It's not Santa! It's someone you see everyday at Saint Leo's!)
More Christmas Stories in our Digital Library!!
My friend Miss Menji has
done it again! Christmas is everywhere in
our school digital library!
Click on the links at left to see hear some
familiar favorites and some new
Christmas stories!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thank you students, parents and my
fellow SLG staff members for making
our Fall Bookfair so successful and fun!
Thanks to your generosity, we will
be able to add many new titles to our
school library. Check back here for
more specific information and
updates!
All About Our Library
Our library at Saint Leo the Great School
is a very special, cozy and warm place
for our children to read and learn.
My goal is for the children to
be comfortable utilizing all
of the tools and materials
that a library has to offer.
I truly hope your children will grow
to love the library and reading
as much as I do!
Thank you for the privilege of
working with your children.
With love,
Mrs. Wall
Click on the links at the left
to access the Mystery Storyteller,
and other fun
educational websites.