Wednesday, September 12, 2018

What's going on at New Canaan High School

We hope that everyone had a wonderful summer!

The NCHS football team helped us with a project a couple of weeks ago. As they entered the library, they greeted us warmly asking about our summers, and then one student asked, "What's new at the library this year?" We love that he asked the question because it shows that our students expect a dynamic and responsive library program. So yes, there are quite a few new things in the library this year.

Rams football & the Rams library join forces #strengthinnumbers

Ms. Sheehan is our new librarian. She is coming to us from the Saxe Library. She has decades of experience teaching inquiry to students and she knocked out several awesome booktalks for sophomore English classes this week.

A new familiar face in the library!

Makerspace reorganization: We reorganized the makerspace following last semester's Interior Design class recommendations (thank you, Ms. Zilly!). Students were given a budget and they worked in groups to develop and present proposals. Using their recommendations, the library faculty then developed a plan for a makerspace makeover. We are very excited to see student's ideas driving makerspace workflow.


Ms. Zilly's interior design students presenting their makerspace makeover proposals

A new media lab: The green screen and Virtual Reality lab was so popular last year, we felt compelled to create a second one. We hope to train student volunteers to become Virtual Reality VIPs (VRVIP, pronounced ver·vip) who can help facilitate student use of the VR equipment. If you love virtual reality and you have one free period per 8-day cycle, please ask about this opportunity!

Biology students exploring anatomy in virtual reality

Ms. Burns switched her office to "the other side". She is now outside of ColLabB.

Ms. Burns in her new office

Ms. Sheehan and Ms. Luhtala became permanent nomads, meaning that we removed our fixed desks and now have mobile standing desks. We work where we are needed.

Ms. Luhtala at her mobile standing desk

THE ANNEX@ has a new face. This is a process. We are still fine tuning the default project template. We think that our instructions for the Philip II Global History project may be the model we will use for all projects. We invite students to give us feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Library instructions for the Philip II project

There are new procedures for getting librarian feedback on bibliographies. They follow.



We are personalizing the booktalk experience. Before meeting for a booktalk, each student completes a questionnaire about their reading preferences. Then the librarian(s) make book recommendations for each student based on their questionnaire responses. Student responses also guide our book selection for the featured book talk, then at the end of the day, the librarians generate a circulation report for the class (just the titles, not student names). The recommendations, featured books, and circulated are then posted on THE ANNEX@ to guide future booktalks with the same class. Here is an example.

Personalized booktalks are documented


Speaking of booktalks, we had record turnout for our first Somewhat Virtual Book Club meeting on September 5th. Our next NCHS book group will meet in the high school library on October 3rd at 6PM. The History of Jane Doe is our featured selection. The author, Mike Belanger, who graduated from NCHS in 2004 and teaches history at Greenwich High School, will join us live for the discussion. Please check out a copy of the book, and join us for this exciting event.





Mike Belanger (NCHS Class of 2004) signing his book at Greenwich Library

Somewhat Virtual Book Club meeting on September 5, 2018




11 comments:

  1. Hi everyone,
    Please HELP us save the Mead Park Brick Barn, which is a Historic Barn used to deliver Standard Oil Kerosene in 1910.
    It's Last of its kind in Connecticut, situated in New Canaan!
    You can SIGN THE PETITION HERE !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such as an amazing blog article post. you would like to see science assignment help

    ReplyDelete
  3. BookMyEssay master writers offers exceptional legal writing assignment help service alongside that, there writing services are very unique which help their students to score highest grades.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Get our Facilitating Change Assignment Help Experts designed the challenge meticulously in order that their custom designed paper can not fail USA-affiliated hints. Give us a call in case you have the good aim to do an assignment on time. Try to make consistency to your paintings with the coordination of Facilitating Change Assignment Help within the USA.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Our Business Law Assignment Help assistance professionals are available 24*7 to guarantee that your projects will submit before the deadline. Our proficient law assignment helps online experts enhance your knowledge, and you can rest with the help of experts. So, if you don't have sufficient time to complete your assignments within the time limit, hire our experts' services now!

    ReplyDelete
  6. If you're looking for a Proofreading & Editing Service in Malaysia, contact Malaysiaassignmenthelp.com for the best service and have your academic work reviewed and edited by professionals to assure good scores.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Get the best online assignment help ireland from professional experts at affordable prices. qqi assignments is the best in assignment help provided through professional assignment writers of Ireland on time at a cheap cost.

    ReplyDelete
  8. All of pictures you shared with us it's wonderful. Ms. Sheehan is a great lady. She is a good librarian. Now its time to avail Moving company in Tuscaloosa, AL for more information.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you for sharing your awesome content with the beautiful pictures. It was worth going through it. Nepal to Bhutan travel

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for sharing your awesome content with the beautiful pictures. Creative designer in Bhutan

    ReplyDelete
  11. This kind of content is what I have been looking for a long time and finally found here. I am ever grateful.https://yangkhor.com/services

    ReplyDelete