3rd and 4th grades utilized some of our new library makerspace tools. In a makerspace, students work collaboratively to design, create, and/or build using a variety of materials. This month the students were able to choose from different Lego building sets. Working together, groups of two or more students followed the set directions to make some amazing buildings!

Spring Book Fair News: Although the weather didn't cooperate, not even two snow days could keep our loyal students and parents from attending our Spring Book Fair! We raised over $1000 in books and funds for our school library. Thanks so much to the parents who helped to coordinate the sale, assisted buyers, and helped to set up and pack up the books. There would be no book fair with out our wonderful volunteers!

Library Awards: During the Spring Book Fair, several of our students were awarded gift certificates for their achievements in our Accelerated Reader program. The top two students in each category (Elementary/Grades 3-5 & Middle School/Grades 6-8) each won a certificate for a book of their choice. Congratulations to all!

• 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade students explored the use of reference materials in the library. Students learned how to use dictionaries, encyclopedias, and journal articles in both book and online form to find useful and fun information.
• School is winding down, and students are busy finishing the books we have been reading as a class together!

During the last month of school, students played games like Jeopardy and I Have, Who Has to review library skills learned this year. Students worked hard to find those library books hidden in lockers and cubbies for the end of the school year, and all books have been turned in! Summer reading lists for rising 4th to 8th Grades are on this web-page. Younger students can take advantage of the Fairfax County Public Library and all their resources, including their summer reading program linked on this webpage.

Thank you for a wonderful year in the OLGC Library! Have a great summer, and keep reading! Mrs. Holden

Elementary: Our K to 5 students began the library year with refreshers in library terms, the parts of a book, and book care. We welcomed our newest Wildcats to the library with a visit from our Pre-K preschoolers!

Middle School: 7^th Grade is working on research for their Science Fair projects.

School-wide: Most important, our 1^st through 8^th Graders all were able to check out books! Kindergarten students will start book check out soon.

Elementary: It is Mystery Month in the library! Kindergarten through 5th grades are learning all about the special elements of a mystery story, including vocabulary, plot, and characters. Many students took advantage of this time to check out mystery fiction.

Middle School: 6th Grade is learning good note-taking practices while beginning research of River Valley Civilizations for Social Studies. 7th Grade reinforced their research skills while writing their Explorers & Conquistadors reports for Social Studies. 8th Grade worked on writing resumes to outline their academic, athletic, and service achievements during study hall.

Our Fall Book Fair was held November 5 to 9!  Thanks to all of our loyal students, parents, and teachers who purchased books and educational games in support of the OLGC School Library.  Our Fall Book Fair raised over $2000 for our school.  Many new books have already been purchased, and the remainder of the funds will be used to support other projects in our library.  We could never have such a successful book fair without the help of our wonderful volunteers who set up, pack up, and staff our fair all week.  Thanks to our wonderful community! 

The library's focus was on traditional vs non-traditional books during the month of December.  Students in all grades learned about the similarities and differences of e-books, audio books, and traditional books. 

Students also learned about how illustrations help support a story, and what better way to do this than read a few Christmas books! 

Our Middle School students used their Study Hall time to write letters to Santa Claus asking him to grant their wish for the World.  Along with our K-5 students who wrote letters in their homerooms, 362 letters were sent off to the North Pole via a mailbox at Macy's Department Stores.  Macy's graciously donated $1 to the Make A Wish foundation for every letter they received in their mailbox.  Thank you so much to all of our OLGC students for helping to support this cause!