Winter Olympics 4th – 20th February 2022
On the 4th February the Olympic cauldron was lit to signal the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. The event takes place using a combination of brand new structures and existing venues which have been divided into three Zones: Beijing Zone, Yanqing Zone and Zhangjiakon Zone. Each Zone host numerous ice events including Curling, ice-hockey, speed skating, snowboarding and skiing.
Beijing was the city elected to host this year’s Winter Olympics but uniquely, it will be the first time China has hosted both the Summer Olympics (2008) and Winter Olympics. The Beijing Paralympic winter games will be held 4th – 13th March 2022.
Check out the website below for all your favourite winter sporting events. We really liked the FANZONE!
olympics.com/en/beijing-2022
Check out some great Winter sports and Olympic games books on Sora by typing in ‘Winter sports.’
In the Library we have some ‘chilling’ books which might raise the hairs on the back of your neck: Maximum Ride, Saving the world and other extreme sports, by James Patterson; The Ice by Laline Paull; Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, Touching the Void by Joe Simpson; Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak.
This month more fantastic new reads have hit the library book shelves: The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman; Dare to be You by Matthew Syed; Noah Could Never by Simon James Green; When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle; Dosh by Rashmi Ride and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
Have you seen our recent books headlining across the Reading Cloud?
The International Day for Women and Girls in Science 11th February 2022
The International day of Woman and Girls in Science celebrates it’s 7th Anniversary this year with a series of opportunities to get involved in workshops and current issues within the Science community. This global platform exists to achieve equity in Science and empower women and girls as today’s leaders.
We enjoyed learning about their ‘Beyond’ magazine and their commitment to Science writing in Braille Campaign.
womeninscienceday.org/initiatives.html
Check out this link we found in the Science museum… sciencemuseum women-science
The CILIP Carnegie Medal Awards 2022
The Longlist will be revealed on Wednesday 16th February and with the shortlist to be announced on 16th March 2022. Wow! What a selection to feast your eyes on, click below:
carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/cilip-carnegie-medal-nominated-titles-2022
Empathy Week 21-25th February 2022
“Passion & Purpose”
Empathy week is a chance for us all to reflect on our different cultures, ethnicity, religion, creed, career, gender and countries through film
“The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.”
Watch this powerful video below to see the Empathy Week’s vision
Empathy week
Be amongst the first people in the world to watch this year’s films with the theme ‘Passion & Purpose,’ which explores five journeys by five incredible individuals whose passion and sense of purpose has taken them on a journey of varied and inspiring directions.
See the trailer below: youtube/mcow1dii3mo
Here are some titles we have in the library to raise the importance of Empathy Week: The Colour Purple by Alice Walker; Ghost by Jason Reynolds, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai.
Check out author Ibi Zoboi on Sora:
‘Belfast’ film released
Newly released film ‘Belfast,’ directed by Kenneth Branagh has already won an Academy Award for costume design and has six nominations in the upcoming Bristish Academy Film and TV Awards! The story is told through the eyes of nine year old Buddy (Jude Hill) and begins during the cold months of 1969. Sectarian violence is rising across Northern Ireland marking what is believed to have started three decades of conflict (known as the ‘Troubles,’) between Protestant loyalists and Catholic nationalists.
Buddy’s working class Protestant parents, played by Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dornan, have to make the difficult decision whether to leave Belfast for their family’s safety or stay in the only home they have ever known.
Filmed in black and white for the nostalgic feel, the film is loosely based around Branagh’s own childhood growing up in Belfast. Critics believe that ‘Belfast’ will become the “must see movie” of 2022.
We have a great mix of Irish authors you might like to check out:
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt; The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan; Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd; The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer; Cirque du Freak by Darren Shaun.
In addition we have a selection of books with an Irish theme in the Library: Twist of Gold by Michael Morpugo; Tyrannicide Brief by Geoffrey Roberton; Wilderness by Roddy Doyle.
Comic Club
Year 8’s Comic Club (previously known as Graphic Novel Club) has hit the ground running as we explore all about Manga, Pop Art and Comic Book styles. We have a great range of comics and graphic novels to choose from. Year 8’s who love Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Manga and the Simpsons to come along and check out our club on: Weekly on Monday’s early release period 7. This is a six week course in total and we will be making our own Comic Books after half term – see ya there folks!!.
Below is a great link to get eager minds aglow. bookmarks.reviews/category/graphic-novels
World Book Day 3rd March 2022
Hot off the press … here are the TOP 25 BOOKS FOR TEENS as voted for by you. These are the books that you can’t wait get your hands on and share with your friends. The books that everyone’s talking about and the stories that have stayed with you long after the final page. With a range so diverse they will make you laugh, weep, provoke debate and who knows some classic’s in the making may well be here first!
worldbookday.com/ideas/100-stories-to-share/young-adults
£1 vouchers will be disturbed to year groups KS3 and KS4
See terms and conditions below to which you can either exchange for a £1 book in bookshops and participating supermarkets or they can use the voucher towards the cost of buying a more expensive book. Then do your link to the video - parents might click on it!!!
www.worldbookday.com/terms-conditions
worldbookdayvideo.com
More to follow on World Book Day 2022 in the next month’s blog!!
National Reading Champions Quiz
For a second year running we are entering two teams in the regional heats of the National Reading Champions Quiz held in late March by the National Literacy Trust. This is a fun event testing students’ knowledge of authors, Illustrators, book titles, characters and their story lines.
There is a huge variety of books used for the quiz, current fiction as well as classics and sometimes questions will relate to books that may have been read in primary school.
To help students prepare there is a Reading Quiz Club in the Library for the next few weeks during lunch break on Wednesdays 13.10 – 13.40.
All students in years 7-9 are welcome and the teams will be selected from participants.
A love of books and reading plus enthusiasm are all that’s required! The more you read the more extensive your knowledge and the better chance it gives each team to progress to the next round of the competition.
Check out this trailer…. National reading champions quiz 2022
Free events for February Half term:
Treasures of the British Library event Running until 20th February 2022 From Magna Carta and Shakespeare to Florence Nightingale and Gandhi. Explore some of the world’s most exciting, beautiful and significant books, maps and manuscripts. Where:The Sir John Ritblat: Treasures Gallery, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Paul McCartney: The Lyrics Running until 13th March 2022 An exhibition of lyrics and photographs from legendary writer and composer, Paul McCartney from the Beatles. Where: Entrance Hall, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Centenary Wood Open all year Langley Vale Centenary Wood is one of four woods across the UK planted by the Woodland Trust to commemorate the First World War. It spreads over 640 hectares! Since 2014 100,000 trees have been planted to create new woodland to stand next to the existing ancient woodland. Experience the views, statues and memorials. Where: Langely Vale Woods, Headley Road, Epsom KT18 6DH
The Wandle Mills: changing industry and technology 1650-1850 10th February - 16thApril 2022 An exhibition looking at how the Wandle mills were adapted in response to shifting markets and increasing demands for power during the Industrial Revolution. Where: Honeywood Museum, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton SM5 3NX Visit the Friends of Honeywood Museum
Activities in half term with an entry fee
London’s Subterranean ‘Chislehurst Caves’ Open all year £7 adult/£5 child 22 Miles of Manmade Caves to explore and learn about the vast cavern dome, how they were used during the both World Wars and even film making. Enjoy a 45 minute lantern lit tour, we at the Library wouldn’t fancy doing it alone!!!!
Where: Chiselhurst Caves, Caveside Close, Old Hill, Chislehurst BR7 5NL chislehurst-caves.co.uk/plan-your-visit
Antarctica 3D 4th Feb - 27th May 2022 Tickets from £10 Enjoy this fully immersive 3D IMAX film experience biggest screens in the UK. This epic documentary has never-before-seen-footage and pioneering underwater filming techiques of Antarctia
Where: IMAX The Ronson Theatre (Level 0), Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Club Curling 1st February – 27th February 2022 (booking advisable) £5 per person, Children under 12 free This one is for a group or family to have a go at curling for an hour and see what the sport is like and unleash your inner Olympian. Where: Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ www.kingscross.co.uk/event/club-curling
Books to make you think?
In our library we have a few new thought provoking reads, perhaps you are the type of person to have two books on the go at once? Or maybe just fancy something a bit a little different? Try these titles: Mind the Gap by Phil Earle; The boy who made everyone laugh by Helen Rutter; Wink by Rob Harrell.
In addition we have so many wonderful books on Well Being. Take five minutes out to cast your eyes of some titles which you will find on the ‘P drive.’