American Girl Doll Book Club
About 25 4th and 5th grade students were charter members of Stripling's first American Girl Doll Book Club! A generous donation allowed us to buy 4 American Girl dolls and we spent several months reading some of the books, studying the time period each doll represents, and creating things with our own two hands. Some of the crafts included banners, Valentines, stitching on burlap, hair accessory holders, and barrettes made out of duct tape. We also were able to make some of our own snacks - a favorite activity! The 5th grade girls are also now experts on setting the perfect table, as they practiced with placemats, china, and silverware.
Patsy Smith Roberts
We thoroughly enjoyed African wildlife photographer and author Patsy Roberts' visit in May 2012! Some of her titles are Rory, the Adventures of a Lion Cub, Kabelo, the Adventures of a Baby Giraffe, Willis the Warthog, and Nigel, the Adventures of a Baby Elephant and his Meerkat Friend Moe. After reading her books, I have added Africa to my list of places I would like to visit!
Read Across America
March 2012
Stripling hosted over 25 guest readers on March 2nd to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Day. Our community members came out in force to read aloud to all grades. It was a win-win-win day for us all as the students loved hearing stories read aloud, the guest readers enjoyed interacting with our students, and our staff were thrilled to have the important message that "reading is the key to success" communicated in different ways to students. Many thanks to the following individuals and groups for giving of their time and talents to our school: Norcross Chief of Police Wayne Summers, Mayor Johnson, CORUS360, Cherokee Rose Women's Club, Norcross Women's Club, Gwinnett Braves, Karen Harris of the Gwinnett County Public Library, retired GCPS media specialist Laura Bishop, Cynthia Benator from Oglethorpe, and retired GCPS teacher Barbara Hanson. Click here to read about the event in the Norcross Patch.
Stripling hosted over 25 guest readers on March 2nd to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday and Read Across America Day. Our community members came out in force to read aloud to all grades. It was a win-win-win day for us all as the students loved hearing stories read aloud, the guest readers enjoyed interacting with our students, and our staff were thrilled to have the important message that "reading is the key to success" communicated in different ways to students. Many thanks to the following individuals and groups for giving of their time and talents to our school: Norcross Chief of Police Wayne Summers, Mayor Johnson, CORUS360, Cherokee Rose Women's Club, Norcross Women's Club, Gwinnett Braves, Karen Harris of the Gwinnett County Public Library, retired GCPS media specialist Laura Bishop, Cynthia Benator from Oglethorpe, and retired GCPS teacher Barbara Hanson. Click here to read about the event in the Norcross Patch.
Gail Langer Karwoski - Author visit!
December 2011
Gail Langer Karwoski, a children’s author from Athens, visited Norcross’s Stripling Elementary in December. She explained her writing process to students while focusing on several of the nine books she has written. Ms. Karwoski presented three programs: For Junior Rockhounds, which centered on the hobby of mineral collecting, Surviving Jamestown, a presentation about the harsh realities of life in 17th century Jamestown, Virginia, and Quake, a discussion of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Stripling students were captivated by Ms. Karwoski’s descriptions of historical events and were inspired to begin conducting their own research using primary and secondary sources. In 2010, Ms. Karwoski’s first book, The Tree That Owns Itself, was placed on the list “25 Books all Young Georgians Should Read” created by the Georgia Center for the Book. (Pictured are Gail Langer Karwoski and Mary Beth Duty ,Stripling’s Media Specialist)
Gail Langer Karwoski, a children’s author from Athens, visited Norcross’s Stripling Elementary in December. She explained her writing process to students while focusing on several of the nine books she has written. Ms. Karwoski presented three programs: For Junior Rockhounds, which centered on the hobby of mineral collecting, Surviving Jamestown, a presentation about the harsh realities of life in 17th century Jamestown, Virginia, and Quake, a discussion of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Stripling students were captivated by Ms. Karwoski’s descriptions of historical events and were inspired to begin conducting their own research using primary and secondary sources. In 2010, Ms. Karwoski’s first book, The Tree That Owns Itself, was placed on the list “25 Books all Young Georgians Should Read” created by the Georgia Center for the Book. (Pictured are Gail Langer Karwoski and Mary Beth Duty ,Stripling’s Media Specialist)
First Book delivers!
May 2011
Stripling Media Center was awarded a $1,040 grant from First Book! This translated into enough free paperbacks for each first and second grader to choose a book to start his or her own home library. Pictured is one of our avid readers with his own copy of a Junie B. Jones book. He loves this series and was excited to be able to choose one of his favorites to take home. Readers + free books = big smiles!
Stripling Media Center was awarded a $1,040 grant from First Book! This translated into enough free paperbacks for each first and second grader to choose a book to start his or her own home library. Pictured is one of our avid readers with his own copy of a Junie B. Jones book. He loves this series and was excited to be able to choose one of his favorites to take home. Readers + free books = big smiles!
Author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy
May 2011
Stripling students and staff have a special place in their hearts for Carmen Deedy. The Media Center had the honor to be chosen as the site where Georgia Public Broadcasting filmed Ms. Deedy reading one of her much-loved books, Library Dragon. In addition, the Georgia Reads poster for Ms. Deedy was created using a photo taken in our very own story corner.
In May 2011 we welcomed Ms. Deedy back for a special last-day-of school treat, as she talked about the writing process, shared with us passages from her soon to be published book, and, to our delight, told the most marvelous stories. It was indeed a happy, happy time.
Stripling students and staff have a special place in their hearts for Carmen Deedy. The Media Center had the honor to be chosen as the site where Georgia Public Broadcasting filmed Ms. Deedy reading one of her much-loved books, Library Dragon. In addition, the Georgia Reads poster for Ms. Deedy was created using a photo taken in our very own story corner.
In May 2011 we welcomed Ms. Deedy back for a special last-day-of school treat, as she talked about the writing process, shared with us passages from her soon to be published book, and, to our delight, told the most marvelous stories. It was indeed a happy, happy time.
Read Across America
March 2011
We celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with guest readers from the Norcross community in a day full of recognizing and appreciating the power of reading. Students from all grade levels loved hearing favorite picture books read aloud, proving again that you are never too old to be read aloud to.
We celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday with guest readers from the Norcross community in a day full of recognizing and appreciating the power of reading. Students from all grade levels loved hearing favorite picture books read aloud, proving again that you are never too old to be read aloud to.
Magician David Ginn
September 2010 and January 2011
Mr. Ginn visited the Stripling Media Center twice during the 2010-11 school year. Our students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade were mesmerized by his magic show with the theme "Every Book is a Magic Book." They came away from his program excited about reading and with an increased appreciation for the ways in which reading can bring the world to them.
Mr. Ginn visited the Stripling Media Center twice during the 2010-11 school year. Our students in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade were mesmerized by his magic show with the theme "Every Book is a Magic Book." They came away from his program excited about reading and with an increased appreciation for the ways in which reading can bring the world to them.
Illustrator Michael P. White
October 2009
Illustrator Michael P. White's visit was a huge success! Mr. White talked with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about his work as an artist and encouraged them to be persistent in accomplishing their goals. The program was a highly interactive one, with students creating their own art under Mr. White's guidance. Mr. White is currently at work on the illustrations for the sequel to The Library Dragon. Books Mr. White has illustrated:
The Library Dragon The Secret of Old Zeb Harriet's Horrible Hair Day
Illustrator Michael P. White's visit was a huge success! Mr. White talked with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about his work as an artist and encouraged them to be persistent in accomplishing their goals. The program was a highly interactive one, with students creating their own art under Mr. White's guidance. Mr. White is currently at work on the illustrations for the sequel to The Library Dragon. Books Mr. White has illustrated:
The Library Dragon The Secret of Old Zeb Harriet's Horrible Hair Day