Please click into the individual blog post, as the links are currently not visible on the library page, (formatting issue being investigated).
I hope you are enjoying our SGS Library book advent calendar and that it gives you inspiration for your next read. If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Library webpage. And in addition to the main prize, there will also be an edible reward for the class with the most correct entries to the quiz!
Well done to Chris P of Y11 for his performance at the Jack Petchey "Speak Out" Challenge Grand Final this week, speaking out on The Benefits of Climate Change. You can watch it on catch up here.
I mentioned last week about our new library catalogue being installed. Logins are still being set up, but here is the link for a preview.
For those of you who haven't logged into Sora yet, here is a reminder of how to borrow library ebooks via Sora. But if you are having any difficulties accessing Sora, then I will be happy to help you.
There is a link to the Sora app on the pupil page of the school website or at the top of the sidebar here on the library page. Download the Sora app or explore in browser https://soraapp.com Enter the setup code uksecondary if asked, and sign in with your school Google login and email password. And in the meantime, here is a Getting Started video guide or there is a PDF version on the P drive in the P:\LIBRARY\Sora folder.
This week's Top Tip for Sora is you can search their latest additions here.
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Earlier this week, on 1 December it was Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, so in the spirit of Random Acts of Kindness, I am donating a £10 book e-voucher to the SGS Library. I've been inspired by a book I am currently reading, 100 Ways to be Kind by Theresa Cheung.
The library has decided to use the voucher as a prize for one SGS pupil. Please email us by 15 December to nominate a friend who has done something kind, telling us what they have done and we will randomly select one of you. We are happy to accept student nominations from staff too.
Gareth Southgate, manager of the England football team had a book published last week called Anything is Possible: Be Brave, Be Kind and Follow Your Dreams. It is an inspirational book for young people conveying a great message to help build resilience during these challenging times. You may read a short extract here. We plan to purchase a copy of this book for the school library.
On Monday this week, it was Remembrance Day for Lost Species which is a chance to explore the stories of extinct and critically endangered species, cultures and ecological communities. Here is the WWF list of endangered species.
Not critically endangered, but even the chimpanzee is now on the endangered list. You may enjoy reading Jane Goodall's autobiographical book My Life with the Chimpanzees, (available online via LLC). Or if you prefer fiction, Kris Humphrey has written a 4 book 'Guardians of the Wild' series. Both the first title A Whisper of Wolves and the second title Warning Cry are available to borrow on Sora.
Of course, some fiction is the opposite where endangered species are hunted. Take Herman Melville's classic whaling novel Moby Dick for example. And this classic tale has also been reimagined by Todd Strasser in his sci-fi adventure set in the future, The Beast of Cretacea. (Both titles available on Sora).
This leads me on to mention a fun event which is happening this evening (4 December) at 7pm. The Oxford Museum of Natural History is hosting an online, interactive Mystery at the Museum adventure with wildlife TV presenter and explorer Steve Backshall. The event is free to attend, with donations going towards the Museum's HOPE for the Future project.
Now for a quick round-up of a few other ideas and resources.
The Reading Agency in partnership with Public Libraries have launched a Winter Mini Challenge which Y7 may enjoy. All you have to do to complete the Challenge is read at least three books! Plus it includes, games, rewards and competitions.
Good news for fans of Lord of the Rings. A previously unpublished collection of writings by J R R Tolkien, exploring the world of Middle-earth in essays tackling topics ranging from Elvish reincarnation to which characters had beards, is to be published next June.
Fancy writing the financial News? The Young Financial Journalist competition 2020/21 has been launched and they are seeking well-argued articles from students aged 14-19.
Here is a fun competition for you to draw a banana split and have a chance at winning £200 of books plus a signed copy of David Walliams' latest title Code Name Bananas.
There are always plenty of giveaways on the Book Trust website. Today I am going to highlight this one to win five books for young eco-warriors.
Here is a fiendish prize puzzle with a twist. You'll only be able to work out the answers if you read the book, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith by Loris Owen.
Don't forget that we will happily accept all book-related contributions from students and staff to our blog. And please email us your suggestions for what you would like to see on our blog.
Finally now for a bit of fun, we have a wordsearch on extinct and endangered species. I created this wordsearch at puzzle-maker.com myself and you may wish to try making your own word searches or crosswords there.
(For easier printing, open the image in a new tab. The way you do this will vary according to the browser you are using).