Week in Review: Passport Lunch edition

It was another wet week here at the Matthews Library, but the sun managed to come out Friday just in time for Spring Fest.

Monday featured Mr. Crabb’s 7th graders in for the beginning of March Madness. Ms. Melinson read the first line of a variety of books with over-arching themes like refugees, colonization, revolution, and Japan, and then students picked books based on their covers.

Tuesday was a holiday we can all get behind: Tea for Two Tuesday. The library office was set up with an assortment of teas and cookies for students to enjoy.

All week long, the Glass Knife have been having super secret board meetings to discuss what will make it into this year’s book.

Friday was Spring Fest and the Passport Lunch. Each advisory brought a different food and students went from classroom to classroom sampling all the different foods with the proceeds going to Breakthrough. In the library, an array of tea, from Boba, to Chai, to Russian, to Chinese black tea, was set up along with cookies, lemon bars, lamingtons, Russian apricot rolls, Russian walnuts, and other yummy treats.

March Book Club

We had our monthly Book Club on a rainy Wednesday, with brownies and hot apple cider hitting just the right spot.

Ms. Melinson started us off by talking about a new book by Jacqueline Woodson, Another Brooklyn. It’s a novel in verse similar to House on Mango Street. Mr. Wells, having also just finished the book, chimed in and said, “It’s excellent!” Ms. Melinson also talked about How to Relax, recommended by her daughter, Sarah, when asked what she would say to her younger self. And as a callback to the cookbooks she shared at the last Book Club, Ms. Melinson talked about How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, the companion to How to Cook Everything.

Grace read The Moonstone, a Victorian mystery (many believe it’s the first mystery book) she described as fun and comforting with quirky characters. She also read The Dead and the Vaulted Arches, another fun mystery. Grace was also excited to start the Ron Chernow biography of Hamilton and Shadow of the Wind – in Spanish.

Anu read The Wrath and the Dawn, which she described as “unexpected” and a mix between The Selection and Arabian Nights. Emma read To Kill a Kingdom, describing it as a more mature retelling of The Little Mermaid. Alyssa listened to Dreamfall on audiobook, a book she’d read and enjoyed, and learned some information: the name of a character was pronounced differently from Alyssa was pronouncing it.

Kaitlyn shared that she’s received many recommendations from Emma that she hasn’t liked, but was sticking with The Thone of Glass series with the promise the third book, Heir of Fire, is supposed to be good. Yumi started Brave New World, describing it as kind of confusing so far. Ian read some weird, but classic books, including Allen Ginsberg’s Collected Poems, The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories, Into the Wild, and Naked Lunch.

Visit our Goodreads page to view all of the books we talked about!

Week in Review

It’s been a wet and wintry week here at the Matthews Library. Monday started out with a Glass Knife meeting as staffers get ready for board meetings next week. On Tuesday Mrs. Lyon’s Book Elective was in to learn about the review contest and find out some of the special perks of being in Book Elective.

On Wednesday, students and faculty participated in the National Walkout by sitting silently for 17 minutes and reading off the names and ages of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. We had our lunchtime Book Club on Wednesday, which you can read about here. Wednesday was also Pi Day and the library served as a holding place for some pretty sweet pies for the Pi day pie making contest.

Thursday was the perfect day for tea after lunch because of the inclement weather. Thursday was also the perfect day to send off the Mock Trial team to state! Students and teachers gathered to cheer on the Mock Trial team as they head to Orange County to compete in the State Mock Trial competition for the first time in Country Day history. Go Cavs!

The library was quiet on Friday, but the Middle School was the happening place with their first World’s Fair Day.

Week in Review: Shelfie edition

We started off this week with one of our popular (and relaxing) activities – Cookies, Coloring, and Conversation. Students spent lunch coloring in a variety of coloring books from Lisa Frank to Amazing Cities to Sherlock Holmes while enjoying cookies and talking with their friends.

On Wednesday we had our monthly Leadership Lunch, with Esme and Yanele presenting. They spoke about Breakthrough, giving background for those unfamiliar with the program, explaining its importance, and how it’s a rewarding experience for those who volunteer.

On Friday the Candy Fairy delivered candy to the classes who sent in selfies during the All School Read last week. Check out our selfie gallery below!

Week in Review: Read Across America edition

We’re back in the thick of things after a (hopefully) well rested (and well read) February Break. On Monday Sophomores had their second moratorium where they focused on presentations. Former Sophomore Project winners shared their presentations and the gave tips on how to give a top notch presentation.

Tuesday saw the return of TED Talk Tuesday. We showed Sarah Kay’s “If I Should Have a Daughter” and Shane Koyczan’s “To This Day…For the Bullied and the Beautiful.” Tuesday also happened to be the 100th Day of School, and the library was one of the many stops on the Kindergarteners’ celebratory parade throughout campus.

Friday was Read Across America Day, a day devoted to reading. The library was transformed into a cozy reading lounge filled with pillows, bean bags, and the reading fort. At 2:30, the Cat in the Hat let us know it was time for the All School Read and for 15 minutes, the whole school read. Check out our shelfie post later this week featuring students, faculty, and parents reading.