No AR Testing before school on Thursday 12/17/15 or Friday 12/18/15

There will be no Accelerated Reader testing before school in the library on Thursday 12/17/15 due to the Faculty Breakfast.  The library will re-open at 9:30 AM on Thursday.  There will be no AR testing before school on Friday 12/18/15.  The library will remain closed all day on Friday to accommodate Polar Express Day.

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season!

3rd-5th Graders: Texas Bluebonnet Forms Due!

3^rd-5^th Grade Students:  

All Texas Bluebonnet forms need to be returned to the library no later than Wednesday, January 20, 2016.  Additional copies of this year's Texas Bluebonnet Award brochure can be downloaded here:

Texas Bluebonnet Award 2015-16 Brochure

Thanks for participating in this year’s program!:

Upcoming Library Closures

Upcoming Library Closures:

The library will be closed all day on Wednesday 12/2/15 to accommodate PLC Day and the visit from author/illustrator “Woody” Kuon.

The library will be closed all day on Friday 12/18/15 to accommodate Polar Express Day. 

Thank you!

Author & Illustrator "Woody" Kuon is coming to OKE!

The OKE Library has invited author, illustrator, and entertainer Vuthy "Woody" Kuon to visit with all K-5 students on Wednesday, December 2nd.  He has written, illustrated, or published over 80 books and has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX television.  Order forms for autographed books went home on Tuesday, November 24th.  All order forms should be returned by Wednesday 12/2/15.  Additional forms are available in the library. You can learn more about Vuthy at his website:  www.woodtee.com

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Cinco Ranch Library hosts Youth Monthly Programs!

Did you know that the Cinco Ranch Public Library hosts reading programs for school-age students during the school year?

Family Storytime

1st Saturday at 10:15 AM

Stories, songs and an activity for the entire family!

Kinder Korner

2nd and 4th Wednesday at 4:30 PM

Stories, movie, crafts & other activities for kindergartners

After-School Break

1st and 3rd Wednesday at 4:30 PM

Crafts, stories & more for school-aged children; grades 1-3

Tween Scene

1st and 3rd Thursday at 4:30 PM

Crafts, games and activities; grades 4 & 5

The Cinco Ranch Public Library is located at:

2620 Commercial Center Blvd., Katy

(281) 395-1311

More Pumpkin Photos!

Can you believe that our library received almost 200 pumpkin submissions?!  What an impressive turnout!  Thank you to all of our participating families.  The students have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.

Author Dianna Aston visited with K-2nd Grade on 10/21/15!

Library/AR Testing Closure Dates

Please note the following closure dates:

• The library will be closed all day on Friday, 11/13/15 to set up for our Fall Book Fair.  

• There will be no AR testing in the library before school Monday 11/16-Friday 11/20/15 due to the Book Fair.  Students may take AR quizzes in their classrooms this week with teacher permission.

• The library will be closed all day on 11/20/15 so that we can pack up from the Fall Book Fair.  The library will re-open after the book fair is packed up.

Fall Book Fair!

The library's Fall Book Fair is around the corner! The library will be hosting its Fall Book Fair from 

Monday 11/16/15-Thursday 11/19/15 in the library.

Book Fair Hours:

Monday 11/16: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM

Tuesday 11/17: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM and 4:30 PM-7:00 PM (during Open House)

Wednesday 11/18: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM

Thursday 11/19: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM

*Only students accompanied by parents may shop in the Book Fair from 8:00 AM-8:30 AM each morning.  The Book Fair is open to students after the Morning Announcements each day.

Proceeds from past Book Fairs have been used to purchase books, fund author/illustrator visits, fund reading incentive programs, purchase library furniture, instructional materials, and technology. Thank you for supporting the OKE Library!

Here's a few pictures of some pumpkins from this year's Extravaganza!  Be sure to stop by the library this week to take a look at our amazing creations!  We are accepting pumpkins through Thursday, 10/29.  All pumpkins go home Friday, 10/30.

Create a Digital Citizenship Superhero!

Students at Kilpatrick Elementary can explore what it means to be responsible and respectful online by creating Digital Superheroes who exhibit exemplary attributes and solve digital dilemmas in a responsible way!

Here’s how it works!

Students can create a Digital Superhero who uses his/her powers to help people act safely, responsibly, and respectfully online.  The student should then create a short, three-frame comic strip which illustrates a problem in the digital world, and how their Digital Superhero  helps to resolve the digital dilemma.  Students can create these comic strips freehand using art supplies and paper, or can create the comic strip using online tools, such as the following:

· Marvel’s Create Your Own Superhero (http://marvel.com/ games/play/31/create_your_own_superhero)

· Make Beliefs Comix (www.makebeliefscomix.com)

· Comic Life (http://comiclife.com)

· ABCYa! (www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm)

· ReadWriteThink Plot Diagram (www.readwritethink.org/files/ resources/interactives/plot-diagram/)

We’ll invite some of our students to share their creations on announcements each morning throughout Digital Citizenship Week. Also, ALL student participants will receive a special Digital Citizenship Superhero dog tag for their Reading Chain! Have fun and happy creating!

Important Dates

· Monday, October 19th - Thursday, October 22nd:  Bring your Digital Superhero comics to the library to display!

· Friday, October 23rd: All comics will be sent home with students

KISD Digital Citizenship Week 10/19/15-1023/15

This week all of Katy ISD is recognizing Digital Citizenship Week. The theme for the week is Think Before You Post. We all should be reminded to consider the consequences of what we say or post online and the effects it might have on others, as well as, our own online reputation. Think of ways you can show kindness to others when you are playing a game or talking to friends online. This week, be on the lookout for activities, announcements and videos about this important topic.

Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

The Kilpatrick Library is hosting its tenth annual BOOK CHARACTER Pumpkin Decorating Extravaganza for OKE families, from October 26th –30th! You can use paint, fabric, and other craft supplies to transform an ordinary orange pumpkin into your favorite character from a book! Perhaps you can use a little red paint to make Clifford or some yellow yarn to make Goldilocks! We’re looking for pumpkins that are created, not carved!

The pumpkin characters will be on display in the library for all to enjoy! The library is open each morning at 8:00 a.m.This event is an Extravaganza, and not a contest. Pumpkins will not be judged, but will be enjoyed by students and parents! What a fun seasonal activity for the whole family to enjoy! We’ll invite some of our students to share their creations on announcements each morning throughout the Extravaganza. Also, ALL student participants will receive a special pumpkin dog tag for their Reading Chain! Have fun and happy decorating!

Important Dates:

• Monday, October 26th - Thursday, October 29th: Bring your pumpkin creations to the library!
• Friday, October 30th: All pumpkins not picked up in the morning will be sent home with students at dismissal.

Additional entry forms are available in the library or using the following link:
Pumpkin Decorating Extravaganza Entry Form

Author Dianna Hutts Aston to visit OKE on 10/21!

Children's author Dianna Hutts Aston will be visiting with all Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students at OKE on Wednesday, 10/21.  Dianna Aston is the author of many award-winning books that librarians and reviewers have referred to as lyrical science. Order forms for purchasing autographed books went home in the 9/23 Wednesday folders. Additional copies of these titles may be available after 9/30 on a first-come, first-served basis. Order forms are available in the library, or you can download a form  by clicking here. If you are interested in purchasing an autographed book, please return the order form to the OKE library by September 30th. You can learn more about Dianna Aston and her books at her website http://diannahaston.com/.

Welcome Back!

Here's what is happening in our library!

Texas 2x2 forms (K-2^nd grade) and Texas Bluebonnet Award brochures (3^rd-5^th grade) will go home on Wednesday 9/16.  Please turn completed forms into the library.  Texas 2x2 forms can be turned in throughout the school year.  All Texas Bluebonnet Award forms are due by January 20, 2016.  Additional copies of these forms can be found in the library or in this blog (see a link to the page in right column).

Accelerated Reader testing began on Tuesday, 9/8.  Students may test each morning in the library from 8:00-8:20 AM.  Students can pick up an AR pass from the gym.  Parents can also write a note giving their child permission to test in the library before school.  Students may also take Accelerated Reader tests during the school day using any school-owned iPad or computer with teacher permission. You can learn more about the Accelerated reader program through this blog (see a link to the page in right column).

All 1^st-5^th grade students received a Renaissance HomeConnect letter with your child’s username and password last week.  Renaissance Home Connect is fun and easy to use. It allows the teacher, parents and student to share information about the student’s  progress in the Accelerated Reader program. Be sure to save the username and password in a safe place as it will also allow your child to access the information in his/her "MyKaty" Cloud account.

Did you know that water destroys more library books than anything else? Remember to watch out for water!  All OKE students received a large Ziploc bag to protect their library books throughout the year.  You can assist your child by making sure that he/she stores this plastic bag in his/her backpack throughout the year and uses this bag to keep library books clean and dry.  Also, please take some time to review the lavender “Taking Care of Library Books” brochure with your child.

Summer Reading Update!

Registration for Every Hero Has a Story, the free youth summer reading program hosted by the Cinco Ranch Public Library, is now open! Click this link to register between 6/1/15-8/29/15.  In fact, there are summer reading programs available for children, teens and adults.  To learn more about the various programs offered by the Fort Bend County Library System this summer, click this link.

While you're at the library, be sure to take a look for this year's Texas 2x2 and Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees.  You can even begin recording the books you read using these forms:

2015-2016 2x2 Boot
2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award

Wishing you a fun and safe summer.  As always, happy reading!

Prevent the "Summer Slide" by reading this summer!

Did you know that children who do not read over the summer can lose up to two months of reading performance?  This is called the "Summer Slide." You can learn more about the Summer Slide here. 
Although our school library has closed, we hope you will continue to reinforce your child’s reading skills over the summer by joining the summer reading program sponsored by the Cinco Ranch Public Library. This library is located at 2620 Commercial Center Blvd. in Katy (near La Centerra). A librarian from the Cinco Ranch Public Library will be speaking to all students about this program on Monday, May 18th.
Also, the KISD Elementary Librarians have compiled a list of book recommendations for all elementary-age students.  You can take a look at our suggestions for books that may interest your child using the following link:
Katy ISD Suggested Summer Reading List 2015

 
Finally, you may want to get a head start on reading books for next year’s Texas 2x2 Program (Grades K-2):

2015 Texas 2x2 Reading List

and Texas Bluebonnet Program (Grades 3-5):
2015-16 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List

Have a safe and enjoyable summer—and, as always, happy reading!

Accelerated Reader Celebrations: Permission Slips Needed!

Congratulations to all of the OKE students who participated in our school's Accelerated Reader program this year.  We had a record number of students earn tags and celebrations this year!  Please note that we cannot allow your child to participate in an Accelerated Reader Celebration without a permission slip.  If you have misplaced your child's permission slip, you can download another one here:

Popcorn with the Librarian Permission Slip (May 2015)

Pizza with the Principal Permission Slip (May 2015)

Please return all permission slips as soon as possible.

Thank you for your assistance!

April 23rd is World Book and Copyright Day!

Did you know that today is World Book and Copyright Day? World Book and Copyright Day is an opportunity to recognize the importance of books in our lives, as well as to support the people and publishers who create them. This powerful graphic reflects the importance of reading with children:

 

Accelerated Reader Update!

Congratulations to all OKE students who participated in this year's Accelerated Reader program! We had a record number of students earn rewards this year, so there is a lot to celebrate in the Outback!  Invitations to the following reward celebrations will be sent home in the Wednesday Folders on April 29th:

•  Level 3 (Popcorn Celebration)--(for students who earned Level 3 after Thanksgiving):
• Tuesday, May 5th @ 2:45-2:15 PM: Kinder, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade
• Wednesday, May 6th @ 2:45-3:15 PM: 3rd Grade
• Thursday, May 7th @ 2:45-3:15 PM: 4th Grade and 5th Grade
• Level 8 (Ice Cream with the Assistant Principals):
• Monday, May 4th @ 2:15 PM
• Level 10 (Pizza With the Principal):
• Monday, May 11th @ 2:15 PM
• Star Level (Destination Unknown):
• Tuesday, May 19th (Time TBA)

Level 5 Golf Cart Rides are done as time permits through the end of the school year.  Exact dates and times are not specified.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the library (281) 237-7620. Thank you!

Cinco Ranch Public Library to visit with all students on Monday, May 18th!

The Cinco Ranch Public Library will be visiting with all students on Monday, May 18th to share their Summer Reading Program with our students. This free program is a great way to keep your children reading all summer long! The Cinco Ranch Public Library will be sending home additional information after this visit.

Important Library Dates!

The library will be closed for morning Accelerated Reader testing Monday, March 30-Wednesday, April 1st because these are Closed Campus days due to STAAR testing. Students may take Accelerated Reader quizzes in the classroom on these dates.

The last day for all Accelerated Reader testing is Friday, April 17, 2015.

The library will be closed all day on Tuesday, April 28th due to a PLC.

The last day for students and parents to check out library books is Friday, May 8, 2015.

All library books are due Friday, May 15, 2015.

Bluebonnet Bash this Thursday, March 5th!

The Bluebonnet Bash will be held on Thursday, March 5^th.  All students who read 8 or more of this year’s nominees and submitted their paperwork by the 1/21/15 deadline were invited to attend.  Invitations went home in the Wednesday, 2/25/15 folders. Please contact the library if you have any questions.

Online Book Fair continues through 3/10/15!

Thank you for supporting the OKE Library by visiting our Spring Book Fair!  Though the Book Fair is now over, you can still support our school by shopping online at http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/findafair  through March 10, 2015!

·         Send wish lists to family and friends

·         All orders ship free to our school

·         Browse an expanded book selection - all ages through adult

Thank you for your support!

2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner Announced!

The Texas Library Association just released the official winner of the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet Award: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt!

The 1st Runner-Up is Dead City by James Ponti
The 2nd Runner Up is Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
The 3rd Runner Up is PICKLE: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker

You can watch the official Texas Bluebonnet Award 2015 Announcement here.  Congratulations to all of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who participated!  Don't forget, it's not too early to get started reading the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees!

2015-16 Texas 2x2 and Texas Bluebonnet book lists are released!

The Texas Library Association has released the 2015-16 titles for both the Texas 2x2 books and Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees! Our library is in the process of ordering these books and they will be available for check-out as soon as they arrive.  Many of these books will also be available at our library's Spring Book Fair, the public library, and book stores.  It's not to early to get a head start reading these new titles!:

2015 Texas 2x2 Titles

 

 

 

2015-16 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List

The Texas Bluebonnet Voting Results at OKE Are In!

Congratulations to all of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students at OKE who participated in the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet Award reading program.  For the past three days, OKE students have been voting for their favorite Bluebonnet titles in our library.  Our final campus results are in! The most popular Bluebonnet book at OKE was Polly Holyoke's dystopian adventure The Neptune Project! That book was definitely a page-turner!

Here is how the nominees finished at our school:

• First Place: The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke
• Second Place: Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker
• Third Place (tie): Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

We have a special surprise in store for those students who read eight or more of this year's nominees and submitted their paperwork by the 1/21/15 deadline: the 2015 Bluebonnet Bash!  This year's Bluebonnet Bash will be held on Thursday, March 5th.  As always, it will be a surprise!

The OKE voting results  have been submitted to the Texas Library Association in Austin, where our votes will be added to the votes of students reading all across the state of Texas.  The state results will be announced by the Texas Library Association as soon as possible in February.  I will post the official winner in this blog as soon it is released.

The 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees have already been announced--and it's not too early to start reading those titles.  To access next year's list, click here!  As always, happy reading!

Spring Book Fair Monday 2/23/15-Thursday 2/26/15

It's that time of the year again--the library will be hosting its Spring Book Fair from Monday 2/23-Thursday 2/26 in the library.  All students will have a chance to preview the book fair with their classes on either Monday 2/23 or Tuesday 2/24.  The Book Fair hours will be:

Monday, 2/23: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM
Tuesday, 2/24: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM and 4:30 PM-7:00 PM (during Art Night)
Wednesday, 2/25: 8:00 AM* 3:30 PM
Thursday, 2/26: 8:00 AM*-3:30 PM

*Please note: Book Fair is only open to students who are accompanied by parents before the Morning Announcements.  Students who will be shopping by themselves are invited to shop any time after Morning Announcements are over.

Proceeds from past Book Fairs have been used to purchase books, instructional materials, fund author/illustrator visits, library furniture, technology, and support reading incentive programs.  Thank you for supporting the OKE Library!

Library Closed 2/20/15 for Book Fair Set-Up

The library will be closed all day on February 20^th because we will be setting up for our Spring Book Fair.  Accelerated Reader testing will take place in the library before school on this date.

Library Closed/No A.R. Testing on 2/19/15 due to PLC

The library will be closed all day on Thursday, February 19^th due to a PLC.  There will be no Accelerated Reader in the library before school on this day.  However, students may take Accelerated Reader quizzes in their classrooms on this date.

Texas Bluebonnet Award Voting Begins!

OKE 3rd-5th Graders: All students who turned in their Bluebonnet forms by the 1/21/15 deadline will be invited to vote for their favorite book from this year’s Texas Bluebonnet Award nominees!  Voting will take place in the library from Monday 1/26/15 to Wednesday 1/28/15.  We will announce our school's winner on the Morning Announcements and in this blog!

Poet Brod Bagert to visit with all OKE Pre-K, kindergarteners and 1st graders!

Humorous poet Brod Bagert will be visiting with all Pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade students at Kilpatrick Elementary on Friday, January 30, 2015.  Order forms to purchase autographed books are being sent home in the Wednesday 1/7/15 folder. If you would like to purchase an autographed book, please complete this form and return it to the OKE library by Friday, January 16, 2015.  You can learn more about Brod Bagert and his books at his website www.brodbagert.com.

All Bluebonnet forms due Wednesday, 1/21/15!

OKE 3rd-5th Graders: Don’t forget! If you are interested in participating in our school’s Texas Bluebonnet Award program (voting and Bluebonnet Bash), you must return your forms to the library no later than Wednesday, January 21st.  Extra forms are available in the library, or can be printed from this blog (see Texas Bluebonnet Award page).  Happy reading!

Library Closed all day on Monday, January 12th

The library will be closed all day on Monday, January 12th  to accommodate PLC’s.  There will be no Accelerated Reader testing before school on this day.  Students may take Accelerated Reader quizzes in their classrooms during the school day.  Thank you!