Thursday 17 December 2020

Crisis at Christmas 2020

 



For the past 20 years some staff at The Ravensbourne School have donated to Crisis at Christmas instead of sending Christmas cards.  This year Crisis will not be able to help in the same way as in past years, but they will still be there for homeless people providing accommodation, delivering food, gifts and care packages and offering advice, support and company remotely.  This year we raised £210 which will pay for more than 7 support packages for homeless people this Christmas.

 

Thursday 10 December 2020

Books into films

 


A big shout out to Helen Smith, Librarian at Eckington School, who compiles this list of book and film tie-ins that are on TV over the Christmas, and to Mrs Nolan, Librarian at Eden Park High School, who always gives us the heads up.


Wednesday 9 December 2020

Christmas 2020

 Christmas is fast upon us!!  



If you are looking for some reading inspiration over the holidays you might want to take a look at the new books we have in the

 Discovery Library and War Memorial Library.  


Wednesday 2 December 2020

Kindness month

December is Kindness month.  We love this Action for Happiness Kindness CalendarMany of our students and staff are going to give it a go 😃


The Empathy Lab book collection has some great suggestions for books on Kindness and Empathy, many of which we have in our Libraries, available to staff and students using our Click and Collect service.  Check out our catalogue here.

Here are some of our suggestions.


Tuesday 24 November 2020

Oliver app

We are really excited to announce that our staff and students are now able to access our Library catalogue using the Oliver app. Library Link  on mobile phones and tablets.


Library Link gives the user the ability to:

  • View Library account
  • Check alert messages
  • Search for available resources
  • View current loans
  • Place and view reservations
  • View new items in the Library

A really great app. to use in conjunction with our Click and Collect service.



Monday 23 November 2020

Jason Reynolds

The Guardian have published this fascinating interview with Jason Reynolds.  Jason is the author of many amazing books including the award winning Long Way Down.  We highly recommend this remarkable book and have copies in both our War Memorial Library and our Discovery Library, for staff and students to borrow.



Monday 16 November 2020

Anti Bullying Week 2020

Anti Bullying Week 2020 is Monday 16th November to Friday 20th November.  The theme this year is United Against Bullying.


Because we know this is an important subject, both of our Libraries hold lots of useful books on the topics of bullying and teenage stress.  TRS Students are welcome to browse our catalogue and reserve books using our Library Click and Collect service.



We will also be participating in Odd Socks Day on Friday!!



Thursday 12 November 2020

New Books

 


Whilst 'lockdown' put a temporary halt to us ordering new books it certainly did not stop authors writing and publishers publishing. 

Since the beginning of the new term we have been busy adding lots of new books to our collections, so make sure you keep an eye on our new books pages here:

New Books in the Discovery Library

New Books in the War Memorial Library


Sunday 8 November 2020

Remembrance

With Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day this week, our thoughts are with the men and boys remembered on our school War Memorial housed in the War Memorial Library. A list of all those named can be found here.


For students who wish to read around the the subject we recommend searching our Library catalogue.  TRS students can also take advantage of our Click and Collect service.

Saturday 31 October 2020

Black History Month Calendar


We love this Calendar.  We have left it to the end of Black History Month to post it so you can read about all these amazing people now that all the windows are open.





Thursday 29 October 2020

Black History Month Week 5

 


For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  In the final week of October we are going to celebrate the wonderful Malorie Blackman.  Her most well know books are the Noughts and Crosses series.  


The series describes the lives of Sephy, a Cross, and Callum a Nought, against a background of prejudice and distrust, highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts.  An impossible romance builds between Sephy and Callum, one which leads them both into terrible danger.


All we can say is the Noughts and Crosses series is a must read for everyone!


Thursday 22 October 2020

Black History Month Week 4

For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to The Life of Stephen Lawrence by Verna Allette Wilkins held in our Lower School Library.



The first 45 pages of this book give us a clear account of Stephen Lawrence, a regular south London child, a son and brother and aspiring architect.    We learn on page 46 that Stephen's life was cut short when he was brutally murdered on the streets of Eltham, in a racially motivated attack.  What followed was a police investigation described by the Macpherson Report as "marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership".  The term 'institutional racism' is now one that is very familiar.  We look forward to the day when nobody understands what it means.

Thursday 15 October 2020

Black History Month Week 3


For us every month is Black History Month
.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to commend to you Twelve Years a Slave  A Memoir of Kidnap, Slavery And Liberation by Solomon Northup held in our Upper School Library.  This astonishing memoir, of a free man who was sold into slavery in Louisiana where he was kept for 12 years, was made into an award winning film in 2013.



T



Saturday 10 October 2020

World Mental Health Awareness Day 2020

 


October the 10th 2020 is World Mental Health Day.  We are aware that the Covid-19 pandemic has effected people's mental health in many ways, both good and bad.  We have lots of books for students and staff to borrow using our 'Click and Collect' service, for both self help and bibliotherapy.


Help can also be found here KoothChildlinePapyrus.


Thursday 8 October 2020

Black History Month Week 2

 


For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to Respect by Michaela Morgan.


Respect tells the story of Walter Tull, a remarkable person in so many ways.  Tull was Kent born, hailing from Folkestone, his mother was from Kent and his father from Barbados.  Orphaned by the age of eleven Tull went on to become a British Army Officer and a professional footballer.  We won't tell you any more in case you decide to read Respect which we hold in our Lower School Library.


Thursday 1 October 2020

Black History Month Week 1


For us every month is Black History Month.  However, to highlight black history during October, every week in October we are going to blog about a school Library book which we consider important in the study of black history.  This week we would like to draw attention to Black and British : A Forgotten History by David Olusoga.  Published in 2017 by Pan Macmillan this book, charting black British history from Roman times to the end of the 20th Century, can be found in our Upper School Library.  Fittingly Olusoga has written a version for children aged 12+, Black and British: A short, essential history to be published this month.  This complementary title is definitely on our wish list.

In this fascinating 'In Conversation with ... ' Afua Hirsch author of Brit (ish) On Race, Identity and Belonging, Olusoga also makes reference to Staying Power by the late Peter Fryer, another important black history title we hold in our Upper School Library.


Wednesday 30 September 2020

Click and Collect Library service

 


In order to keep our students and staff safe we are unable to offer a browsing service in our school Libraries at the moment.  However, we are able to offer a 'Click and Collect' service.  A big shout out to Ms Bisbal, in our Modern Foreign Languages department, for creating this amazing PowerPoint presentation for us. (For a better experience download as Microsoft PowerPoint - File, Download - and view.)


Thursday 24 September 2020

Sam McBratney

We were so sad to hear of the death of  Sam McBratney, author of the much loved book Guess How Much I Love You, the story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare and their efforts to express their love for each other.  Published in 1994 this tale will surely have been a favourite of many of our current students.



Friday 18 September 2020

Girl, Boy, Sea

One of our students read 'Girl, Boy, Sea' by Chris Vick.


He so enjoyed the book he sent feedback to the author Chris Vick, and what a lovely surprise to hear that the student received this touching reply:

First of all, my apologies for not responding sooner.  It really has been one of those weeks!

Secondly - and most importantly - thank you for taking the time to write.  I am so pleased that you loved Girl. Boy. Sea as much as you did. 

Reader's response is, in the end, the most important thing.  When you write a book you get some feedback from fellow writers, agents and publishers/editors.  But even this well qualified feedback doesn't really tell you how the book is going to play out when the readers get hold of it.  So to get such feedback, and to know that you have been swept along, experiencing Bill's and Aya's trials and adventures, just as I did when I wrote it.  Well, it means a lot, it really does. 

This reminds us how important our feedback, as readers, is to authors, and it really is worth getting in touch.

Thank you to our student for sharing this with us.

Saturday 12 September 2020

Wainwright Prize

 Another young writer to watch!

Dara McNulty, a sixteen year old author, has beaten many established writers to win the Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing with his book with Diary of a Young Naturalist. He is the youngest EVER winner of a major literary prize!



Everyone wants to interview Dara, and that is no surprise to us.  Young people have so much writing talent to offer.


Dara is also the youngest ever writer to be longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize.

Wednesday 9 September 2020

A My Twist on a Tale Competition

The My Twist on a Tale: Everyday Heroes competition is open!


This free writing competition is open to 4 - 19 year olds across the UK.  Entries, of up to 1000 words, must include the representation of your selected hero and the environment and/or experiences regarding that hero relating to you, the writer, in some way.  Click here for full details.

Entries must be submitted here by 17:00 pm Friday 27 November 2020.  Download your entry pack now!!

Sunday 6 September 2020

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

We are keeping our eye on this new young author.


Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is a 21 year old from South London who writes books featuring black characters saving the world.  She has secured a deal with Usborne Children's Books and her first novel, 'Ace of Spades', will be published in the UK in June 2021 with a second title to follow.  


Definitely an author to watch.   

Saturday 22 August 2020

Back to school

If you are anxious about returning to school in September remember to talk to the people around you and share any worries you have. You can also get advice and help from these organisations.






Remember .... you are not alone! 💗

Ben Martynoga is a neuroscientist and science writer.  He has written this fascinating, accessible and informative book called The Virus



This book is at the top of our must read list and will be on the shelves in our Libraries soon.
  It is always good to be informed.

Thursday 20 August 2020

World Book Day Masterclasses

We are loving these World Book Day Masterclasses.  Loads to pick from, but at the moment our favourite is the amazing Malorie Blackman, author of lots of brilliant books including the Noughts and Crosses series, and the fantastic Patrice Lawrence author of the award winning Orangeboy. What an inspiring video.




It really is worth exploring the World Book Day website.  There is something there for everyone!

Saturday 15 August 2020

Video games to support literacy

Worried about too much gaming
during the pandemic crisis? 

Worried that literacy
 has taken a back seat?





Well the good news is the
National Literacy Trust has teamed up with Taming Gaming to create a recommended list of video games, for families, that can help support young people's literacy.

Tuesday 11 August 2020

Simon and Rosie by Lucy Moonen and Gillian Johnson


This beautiful book by Lucy Moonen and Gillian Johnson is set in the current context of COVID-19.  It is for young children but is a lovely read for anyone.  We would certainly recommend it.  You can read the story for free, but all voluntary donations will go to the NHS charities.

P.S. Lucy Moonen is a teacher and the Granddaughter of Watership Down author Richard Adams


Monday 10 August 2020

Robins Stevens Murder Most Unladylike


Spoiler Alert! Author Robin Stevens talks about, and reads an extract from, Death Sets Sail, her latest and sadly last book in the very popular Murder Most Unladylike series.

You can also download a free extract and get help with your own detective story writing here.  A big shout out to the National Literacy Trust, always there to help boost student literacy.

Tuesday 4 August 2020

Discovery Library refurbishment Summer 2020

Very exciting news ...



Our KS3 Library, known as the Discovery Library, is undergoing a complete refurbishment this summer.  Whilst we are still not sure what our service will look like in the new academic year, we know for certain our Library will look fabulous!

A big thank you to our Site Team for all their hard work!

Thursday 30 July 2020

Tuesday 28 July 2020

Friday 24 July 2020

Branford Boase 2020

The shortlist for the Branford Boase Award has a great selection of books.


If you are looking for a summer reading recommendation you could not do much better than this!

Friday 17 July 2020

Louise Rennison National Funny Award

Another great competition to enter at a time when we could all do with a laugh!!



The Louise Rennison National Funny Award is aimed at 11-18 year olds across the United Kingdom, who don’t take themselves too seriously!

The competition is FREE to enter and falls into two categories:

- Comedic Writing (up to 1,000 words or three pages of creative copy – this could be a short story, a script, a screen play, a book chapter or an article for a magazine or newspaper).

- Comedic Performance (up to three minutes of video – this could be a scene for a film, a TV show, a play, an advert or a stand-up performance).

Submit your entries here by email.  The closing date for the competition is the 31st of August 2020.


Good luck!

Monday 13 July 2020

Philip Pullman new 'His Dark Materials' novella

Many of our students have really enjoyed reading Philip Pullman's Northern Lights

Some studied it as a set text and clearly became very invested in Lyra's story.

Well ... we are sure they will be pleased to hear that Serpentine, a novella which follows Lyra Silvertongue as she returns to Trollesund to visit an old friend, will be released in October 2020.

You can read about it in this interesting piece in The Guardian. Serpentine will certainly be going on our wish list!

Friday 10 July 2020

Help your school Library win £5000

Just two weeks left to vote for your school Library and help them win £5000 of book tokens!


Vote here

Closing date Friday 31 July.

Monday 6 July 2020

Hen Harrier Day writing competition

Another great writing competition for young people.


Hen Harrier Action are inviting young people to submit a piece of creative writing relating to any British wildlife.  
There are three age categories, 5 - 8 years, 9- 12 years and 13 - 16 years (based on how old the writer is on the 8th of August 2020.)
Entries will be judged by the author Gill Lewis whose writing is very popular with many of our students.
Closing date for entries is midnight on Friday the 24th of July 2020. 

Thursday 2 July 2020

Young Walter Scott Prize

The Young Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is a fantastic creative writing competition.

If you are interested in history and writing this is the competition for you!

There are two entry categories, 11 - 15 and 16 - 19 and entrants must live in the UK.  The work must be at least 800 words and set in a time before you (as the writer) were born.  It can take many forms, a story, a diary, letters, poetry, drama or reportage.

The closing date is 31 October so plenty of time, but entries must be made by post so we are giving you lots of notice.  Details of the competition can be found here.  The entry form, which you will need to print and post, can be found here.