DID SANTA BRING YOU A BOOK?

Of course he did! Before you go home for the holidays check to see if the book you were interested in has come in this last Follett book order, excuse me, Santa order. For those of you involved in the 30 Book Challenge this is going to be a real treat. There are 139 new books now and 50 back-ordered and coming in every day. We have completely processed them and they are ready for check-out.

After you're bored with your new Christmas games, read, READ, READ!

Come back to the workroom by Miss Mayne's office and look at the books before we put them away tomorrow.We have a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction books for your reading pleasure. Come on now, don't forget; make sure to bring your student I.D. card.!

THE HOBBIT : IT'S ALIVE, IT'S ALIVE!

Come listen to a lively, unabridged storytelling of THE HOBBIT by professional narrator Bob Inglis. This man is one of the best storytellers I've ever heard --- and I started out having many starts and stops with the book; but it's different when there's a "word actor" on the other end of your brain.

There are seven audio-tapes which cover the entire book; one will be played every day after school  at 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Media Center Conference Room starting this coming Wednesday. Now you can really find out if the book is better than the upcoming Christmas break movie . Contact Miss Mayne for futher details.

PUZZLE OUT CHRISTMAS IN THE MEDIA CENTER 

Now that the weather is getting colder, students are wandering into the Media Center during their free time to see what's new. What's new right now are two different Dowdle Christmas puzzles waiting to drive you and your friends crazy - - - ( that makes a total of three Christmas puzzles that we have set out for the month of December).  One of them is of Alpine, yup, the places you will see are the places where some of you live. The second is a puzzle of Jerusalem during the time of Christ. It shows all of the important places and events in Jerusalem where major events occurred in the life of Christ, all the way from his birth to his death on Golgotha. It is truly amazing that folk artist, Utah Valley phenom Eric Dowdle, hasn't run out of interesting ideas yet, and he's still a pretty young guy. So come, enjoy! You will find the puzzles on the tables nearest the checkout desk, ready to work on.

An enlarged version of the Dowdle Jerusalem Puzzle

A photo of  "our" city of Alpine during Christmas, past and present.

JOE THE PAINTER NEEDS YOUR HELP

Joe wants you to come pick up your Reflections Contest Entry
so he can finish painting the Media Center Conference Room

You've probably seen him around before, last year painting the offices, slapping grey on classroom walls, and this year trying to paint the Media Center, starting with the conference room. One problem, your Reflections Contest entries are still on the tables in the conference room waiting for you to pick them up. Come on now, get in here and help Joe out. He's trying to be real careful and not splatter your work with his, but no guarantees. The conference room is the only place we can keep your stuff locked up and have you see what's left through the window. Remember we're open until 3:30 p.m. which should give you plenty of time to swing by.

WHEN WINNERS ARE LOSERS

It happens every year, the PTSA moms get all excited about the Reflections Contest, then the art teachers get psyched to involve their students, then the Lone Peak students put in their entries in different art media and win-win-win! Sounds cool, right? One problem, even ribbon winners forget to pick up their entries to see how they did and what they won!

 We have a bunch of Reflections winners in the Media Center Conference Room waiting for you to pick them up. If you don't pick them up by Dec 1 they will be taken back to Mrs. Shepherd's room  615, 
(and good luck finding it in there:)

LET THE LIBRARY HELP YOU DEVELOP YOUR GIFTS & TALENTS

I caught  Leesa and Emi out in the Commons hall just as school was getting out. I was pretty impressed with their flower arrangements. When I showed them how many books we had on hand for the Floral Design classes, they were the ones who were impressed. Our library isn't just about academic research, it helps you to explore all areas you may be interested in. Come on in, surprise your Mom and Dad and bring home a book in floral design to help make a centerpiece for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It's all about ambiance!

$ $ $ MEDIA CENTER BUYS NEW COMPUTERS $ $ $

Miss Mayne is curious about everything, even how to put more memory into a computer. The Media Center has to rotate its computers when the old ones get too slow to handle common software. We can't afford to do it all at once, so we take years to save up, then do half the Media Center at a time. If you want to use the newest PCs, use the machines at the south end of the Media Center nearest the Commons. We also have two new laptops for use in the Media Center if you want to go work in groups but need to use a computer to record group work. Individual use of our laptops is O.K. too. (Computers from home are still prohibited.) Do the new computers look like the old ones, yes, but the 8 gigs of RAM rip!

Brandon Sanderson, epic fantasy novel writer, is going to be at Barnes and Noble for a book signing at 6:00 p.m. this Saturday. The most familiar series created by Sanderson is the Mistborn Series. 

Take a look at his website; you'd swear he's a dead ringer for a grown up Harry Potter when he puts "the glasses" on. The Emperor's Soul is the book that he is promoting tonight. It was just released, and YES we do have it in the Media Center for your reading pleasure. Many authors come to Barnes and Noble. Follow this blog and I'll hook you up with them as soon as I find out about their visits. Also, look for their posters on the south column in the library/media center. 

LAST DAY FOR PRESIDENTIAL MEMORABILIA EXHIBIT

It's one of those displays you need to come back through again and again. Mr. Haws will be waiting over by the water fountain in the Media Center to tell you the stories behind the displays you are most curious about. Here's one of my favorite finds that I didn't see the first time through; a porcelain plate done of both Kennedy and his wife Jackie Kennedy. Pretty handsome couple weren't they. The exhibit will be closed today at 3:00 p.m.

THE KENNEDYS - Commemorative Plate

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COLLECTION ON DISPLAY IN 
LPHS MEDIA CENTER

John Haws, the new debate teacher at Lone Peak High, has been collecting presidential campaign buttons and memorabilia since he was six years old. His extensive collection is on display in the Media Center for the next two days andone night. That's right, specifically tonight, so that local adult voters can tour through the collection after they vote. Mr. Haws wants to share his collection with others to call attention to the importance of presidential elections and voting. If you're lucky you will be able to see him sitting near the water fountain waiting to answer any question you may have about this important activity in American history. Did you know that the book THE WIZARD OF OZ was actually a political commentary written during the McKinley era? Ask Mr. Haws why he has an original of that book on display and what the Yellow Brick Road really means. HOURS: TUES 7:45 a.m.-8:00 p.m. WEDS 7:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

YOU CAN DO IT ALL ! ! !

A book in our reference section entitled How To Do Just About Everything by Courtney Rosen and the eHow Editors, has sister website www.ehow.com that we're attaching to the Student Tools tab under Miss Mayne's favorites. There are over 1,002 easy to follow, step by step instructions on how to do practically anything.
 Here's some How To examples: Get Your Name Off Mailing Lists, Tie a Tie, Stop on In Line Skates, Buy A Computer, Run A Marathon, Deliver Kittens, Dunk a Basketball, Ask Someone On A Date, Wash A Car. O.K. so maybe you think you know all about these topics and more, but maybe not. Maybe if there was just one more step you knew, you'd be more successful. Knowledge isn't just power, IT'S PRACTICAL!

ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE PERFECT BOOK?

Sometimes the perfect time makes the perfect book. Please DO come into the Media Center and check out a book for the UEA weekend. If you have a long ways to drive pick up a book on tape on CD or locked up in a Playaway. All English teachers will accept books on CD or Playaways for the 30 Book Challenge, but each teacher varies in how many audio books they will let you listen to in lieu of actual reading..

CAN YOU THINK ON YOUR OWN OR 
DO YOU NEED THE MEDIA TO DO IT FOR YOU?
(Miss Mayne's Bumper sticker from Who Knows Who)

O.K. so now you know how I really feel about tonight's debate; I don't want some news guru to over masticate the news for me. I can make my own decisions tonight, thank you very much. How about you? This is a dry run for most of you because you are not eligible to vote yet, but how about pretending? I'm going to take a Presidential vote count on this blog if I can set it up right. Usually students are pretty good at picking the winner; they have been found to vote pretty much the same way as their parents. (I find this very odd since teens are often in disagreement about most other issues with their parents.) Pay attention tonight and check your facts on snopes.com or factcheck.org. The truth can prevail if you let it and are willing to work for it ; that's called research. You know that thing that I harped at you about when you were a Sophomore going through orientation! You might also keep in mind what Winston Churchill said about us just before we got into WWII ---"The Americans will do the right thing, after they've exhausted all other possibilities." Ask yourself tonight, are these candidates really going to solve the problems I care about, or are they just "exhausting all other possibilities"?

DO YOU OR DON'T YOU?

I just posted a comment from Daniel last year to bring you up to date on the ever evolving debate of whether or not we should have a school digital book club. So what do you think? I can't put it together the way most teachers do; pick the kids who I know are interested from my classes (I don't have classes), put someone on a recruiter's table during lunch to bring in the students who are interested, but not in my classes. So this blog is my best next bet. It doesn't matter if you don't have a digital reader, we'll find you one, rotate them between users, or alternate regular books with ebooks. What do you think about that? Anyone one you know who would be interested? Are you interested? I know we have a couple of male teachers who are. This would be one club where teachers and students would be mixed. Are you "for" or "agin" it? (You should be able to reply to this message. I actually am getting better at looking for replies.)

FREE E-BOOKS FOR THE 30 BOOK CHALLENGE

Nothing reads as easily as a free e-book. There are many places you can go to download a book on your smartphone, e-reader, tablet, or computer. You can also check out e-books from the state of Utah.

FROM FREE COMMERCIAL SOURCES: freeclassicaudiobooks.com, Gutenberg.com, manybooks.net
(Yes, your Dad's old Palm products can serve as an e-reader.)

FOR FREE CHECKOUT: Utah State Library, pioneer.utah.gov, sign up for Overdrive
(You must have a library card from a local public library to use the state system)

LOG YOUR READING ON YOUR PHONE

Sometimes it's difficult to remember what you've read and why you liked it, especially if you're involved in something like the 30 Book Challenge.  No worries; here are some free apps I've been trying out. See if you like them. The one I use on my Android actually lets me OCR my favorite passages, so if I belong to a book group, I can be part of the discussion. These APPs came from Germany. If you dig further into their website, you may "go global" in your book selection. Contact me if you would like a book from Europe! Of course, it has to meet school standards so everyone can read it. Basically, that means nothing rude, crude, or sexually explicit. Read the reviews on all books before you request them; you might learn something!

FOR ANDROIDS: Readtracker
FOR iPHONES: Readmore

READ EVERYWHERE !

I know, it's Labor Day vacation; you're probably still in bed. You know, you CAN read anywhere: In bed, on a plane, in the car, waiting for your Mom in the mall, waiting anywhere for that matter. If you're going to meet the 30 Book Challenge, you'll have to learn to read anywhere. Checking out a book on CD from the library can help you "listen-read" a book while you're traveling on the highway. (You know,  during the time you're usually picking on your brothers and sisters because you're so bored out of your mind being cooped up in the car for such a long period of time.) Remember, copyright law prohibits you from ripping books to put on your phone, so the car is the perfect place to "listen-read." It will give you something to talk to your family about besides, "Are we there yet?"

WELCOME BACK 2012-13 STUDENTS !

Hey everybody, welcome back! You'll find the Media Center stuffed with people right from the very first day of school because of three things: books, homework, and games. We have around 15,000 fiction and non-fiction books, 15 games, 10 puzzles, and 4 chessboards. There are books on CD and tape, as well as Playaways to take home. Why is this important? Books are "it" this year all over the school; many students and teachers are becoming involved in the 30 Book Challenge, meaning they are setting a goal to read about a book a week during the school year. We buy new books all the time so make sure to come see what is available! More on the why of the 30 Book Challenge later.

From Kites to Aeronautics

How erudite are you when it comes to kites and their role in the beginning of aviation? Well, Ms. Wentz is plenty knowledgeable and has generously chosen to share her 64 kites and enthusiasm for kite history and beauty with us at Lone Peak. So pull up a chair, because she knows a LOT!

Wentz  first got hooked on kites with her older brother. Through a lot of hard work and saving, they bought their first kites together from now famous kite maker, Peter Lynn, from New Zealand.  She bought a 41/2 foot red Korv Delta kite and her brother a blue.

Come take a look even if you think you have seen them before, because there are 24 new kites this year. When asked how many total kites she has in her life, she says “Best not to guess,” there are so many.  

The airplane kite you see in this picture has propellers that actually flip around in the wind! Says Wentz, “The more a kite has been designed to look like something other than a kite, the harder it is to launch and fly.” Yes, she doesn’t just look at them, she flys them too!

BRICE NELSON WINS HUNGER GAMES TICKETS ! ! !

 When I told him he won the tickets he gave me a blank stare. Brice was in shock! The reason was, I called him to the Attendance Office first then had him sent to the library. I greeted him with, "Boy, are you in trouble, after I crooked my come-here index finger at him." If you haven't figured it out yet, Miss Mayne has a devious soul. Brice will be going with a friend tonight free of charge! Go Brice, Read Brice, Read!
Hey y'all, if you haven't read the Hunger Games series yet, you're missing out. It is pretty violent though, in the gladitorial sense. So be forewarned!

Ebook Update

From now on go to the ebook club tab to find out about ebook purchases and the ebook club.

eBOOKS and eBOOK CLUB

"Wow, where have you been?" you may ask; I haven't blogged for quite some time.  Well, I've been buying every different type of e-reader in town, exploring its"ins and outs". I've been trying to figure out what the best check-out system would be to set up in our school's Media Center. (Lots of people seem to think they have the answers, but things are a bit more complicated than most of them think.)
All of the readers I bought will be used by students who want to join the e-Book Club. There are a few faculty members who would like to join the club too! This will be the first Lone Peak club that includes a melding of student and faculty minds in an informal, fun clubby kind of way. As members instead of leaders, you may see a side of some teachers you've never seen before. Awesome!
Tell me, would you rather meet during lunch or after school? I'm anticipating monthly meetings after we get up and running, but we may have to have a few weekly meetings just to get everything started.