Financial Literacy for Teens

The Framingham Public Libary is hosting several financial literacy seminars for teens during the months of December and January. You do not need to be a Framingham resident to attend. This is a great opportunity for middle and high schools students! Read here to learn more about the "Thinking Money" program.

Scratch Workshop - Tuesday 12/6

There will be a Scratch workshop in the library after school, on Tuesday 12/6 @ 2:00pm. This workshop is open to both students and staff, and good for the novice programmer interested in learning some coding basics. We'll be using Google CS First curriculum to run the workshop, so please bring your laptops! Please contact Mrs. Fournier at kfournier@hopkinton.k12.ma.us with any questions.

Winter Reading Challenge

The HHS Library Winter Reading Challenge is here again! This year, the goal is to read 5 books between December 1st and March 15th. Participants must pick books that meet the following criteria (pick 5 that appeal the most to you):

- A book you own, but haven't read
- A book that was made into a movie
- A "blind date" book from the library
- A book that was published this year
- A book recommended by HHS library staff
- A book with an orange cover
- A book that is older than you
- A nonfiction book
- A book that you chose only by the cover
- A book written by an author you've already read

Participants must also use the official reading log to track their reading. There will be a library celebration Monday, March 20th for all participants who complete the challenge, and there will be prizes :) Stop by the HHS library for more details!

*Image credit

Complete MLA 8 Citation Guide

Need to cite your research, but not sure how to do it? EasyBib now offers their "A Complete Guide to MLA 8 Citation!" An excellent resource for students - and free!

NaNoWriMo

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)!

"National Novel Writing Month believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds-on and off the page."

Think you've got a novel in you? Now's your chance to find out! The Young Writers Program offers tons of resources and support to help get you started, and keep you motivated! Sign up here, and don't forget to download your very own novelist's workbook (free!), to help you "create characters, build setting, and hatch plots." Will YOU take the challenge?

Sew for Charity!

The HHS library makerspace has a busy week coming up! In addition to our MintyBoost workshop on 10/25, we also have HHS science teacher, Ms. Linder, visiting the makerspace, after school on Wednesday 10/26, to teach us basic quilt-making! In this Sew for Charity workshop, we will use machine and hand-sewing techniques to piece together individual quilt blocks, to later be assembled into blankets, and then donated to charity.

This workshop is open to all students and staff! Hope you can join us!

What is Arduino?

Bored? Need a study break? Teach yourself Arduino at the HHS Library! Kits are available to get you started.

Not sure what Arduino is? "Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Arduino boards are able to read inputs - light on a sensor, finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something online" (https://www.arduino.cc/).

Need some project inspiration? Check out the Arduino Project Hub!

MintyBoost Chargers at the Makerspace!

Some of the most frequently requested items at the HHS Library are chargers...so why not build your own? Never be without again!

At our next Makerspace workshop, we will be using MintyBoost kits to build our own iPhone chargers. No more having to hunt for electrical outlets to charge your phone; now you can always have one on hand! Can't make the workshop? Check out this guide or this video tutorial to create one on your own :)

Join us @ the workshop, Tuesday 10/25 during lunch blocks, or after school - all are welcome! Click here for more details.

Art Party in the Library Makerspace

There will be an after-school Art Party in the library #makerspace, on Wednesday, 9/28 @ 2:00pm. Now that the makerspace has a new location in the library (the nook), we need some help decorating the new digs. Drawing, paper, and various craft supplies will be provided. All are welcome!

Not sure what the makerspace is? Now is your chance to find out - lots of fantastic creative resources available for you to explore during your free time. Maybe you'll find some inspiration for a class project too!

Banned Books Week

The 2016 Banned Books Week celebration is being held September 25th - October 1st. Which means it is currently Banned Books Week! Taken from the Banned Books Week website:

"The Banned Books Week Coalition is a national alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship" (bannedbooksweek.org).

Check out some of the most frequently banned books here, including last year's top ten. How many have you read?

For more inspiration to exercise your right to read, here's a great video produced by Bookmans staff members and customers!

Skillshare

Interested in learning a new hobby, or just want to get creative? Check out Skillshare for access to hundreds of free online classes to help you learn that hobby. There are numerous categories to choose from! We'll be exploring some of these classes in the library #makerspace this year. Drop-ins welcome! Stay tuned for more details...

Check out the @skillshare Instagram account too, for more creative inspiration!

Summer Reading Discussion Groups

The 9th and 10th grade classes met in their book groups this morning to discuss their summer reading! A lot of great discussions were had, and it was refreshing to see so many students enjoying their book discussions :) A huge thank you to our staff members, and 11th &12th grade volunteers, for leading our groups!

Summer Reading Groups Meeting on 9/15

The 9th and 10th grade summer reading discussion groups will be meeting Thursday, 9/15 during the extended advisory. Please see Mr. Hanna's memo next week for your room locations and stay tuned for an email from one of our principals indicating the agenda for the morning. Not finished with your book yet? You still have 6 more days! You can do it :) Enjoy your discussion groups!

The New Library Space!

The 2016 - 2017 school year at HHS is off to a great start! Thanks to a generous grant from the Hopkinton Education Foundation, the HHS library has a new look! Gone are the crowded stacks, and uncomfortable furniture (most of it), and in their place are modular pieces that allow us to rearrange the room on a whim to meet a class's needs. The remaining collection has been reorganized, and outdated materials have been weeded. The makerspace received a more prominent location in the space, and the large whiteboard additions have been instrumental in student brainstorming sessions. See some pictures of our progress! More changes and pictures coming soon...

Before:

and...

After:

Stop by and check out our new digs!

Summer Reading - Classes of 2019 and 2020

The list of summer reading titles for the incoming 9th and 10th grade students (classes of 2019 & 2020) is now posted! Please take some time to review the list of choices - there are some great books on the list. The only summer reading assignment requirement for 9th and 10th grade students is to read and enjoy their book, and be prepared to discuss their book in the student/staff discussion groups we will be holding in September.

Ms. Fournier and Ms. Belcher will be visiting the 9th grade ELA classes next week, to assist students in signing up for their book. We can answer any questions about summer reading at that time as well. If you'd like to preview some of the books - we do have limited copies in the HHS Library. Come check them out!

And for those students who think they'd like to read more than one book this summer, don't forget to pick up your "Book Bingo" card for the summer! Those with completed bingo cards by the end of the summer are invited to attend a celebratory pizza party at the HHS library, to recognize all of our reading efforts! More details at the circulation desk...

Happy Reading everyone!

Free Henna Tattoos @ the HHS Library!

Thanks to the generosity of the HPTA, the HHS Library will be hosting two local henna artists on Thursday, April 14th during long block! Sign ups are required, as spots will be limited. Open to both staff and students - appointments are available during all lunches! Stop by the circulation desk to reserve your spot!

JSTOR Daily

JSTOR Daily's weekly newsletter currently has a great compilation of resources devoted to Women's History Month posted on their website. Take some time to read!

The Dirt Directory

Need a digital tool for a particular task, but not sure what to use? Try browsing The Dirt Directory! Tools are organized by category, and links are provided. A great resource!

Save the Date!

On Tuesday, March 29th @ 2:00pm, HHS parent, Ms. Colleen Barnes, will be visiting the library makerspace to teach us how to sew scarves! No experience is necessary, and all are welcome! Reserve your spot today!

Learn-to-Sew Workshop

There will be a Learn-to-Sew Workshop, on Tuesday 3/15 @ 2:00pm in the library makerspace. Learn some basics; create something fun. All are welcome! No experience necessary!

Makey Makey Kit @ the Makerspace!

The HHS Library has its first Makey Makey kit, now available for use in the makerspace! A Makey Makey is essentially an "easy-to-use invention kit." Not sure what to do with a Makey Makey kit? Get some inspiration here!

History Podcasts

Any history buffs? Check out this round-up of history podcasts, via Mental Floss magazine. There are some great ones on the list!

March is Women's History Month!

Women's History Month is an annual celebration, observed every March, in which the contributions of women to events in history and society are highlighted. International Women's Day is also celebrated on March 8th! For more information about both of these events, visit the National Women's History Project.

CodeGirl Documentary Screening

The HHS Library and STEM Club are hosting a screening of the CodeGirl documentary, in the HHS Library, on Thursday 2/25 @ 2:00pm. CodeGirl follows high school-aged girls around the world as they try to better their communities through technology and collaboration. Witness these girls compete in the "Technovation Challenge" in which they develop their own apps to address a community issue. The winning team receives $10K to complete development and release their app on the market. A fascinating watch!

All are welcome to attend this screening! More details here.

The World's Most Beautiful Libraries

Fan of libraries? Browse this list, compiled by Mental Floss magazine, of 62 of the world's most beautiful libraries! Check out #39!

Instructables

Are you a DIY type looking for some project inspiration? Check out Instructables for step-by-step project tutorials. Whether it be technology, woodworking, costume design, culinary arts, or traditional crafts, Instructables has a tutorial for you! Spend some time in the makerspace, and try one out!

Next Book Club Meeting

The HHS Book Club is holding their next meeting of the year on Thursday, February 11th from 2:00 - 3:00pm, in the library's seminar room. The group is reading, and will be discussing, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. New members are always welcome. Happy reading!

February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month! Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans, and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. History. For more information, please read here.

HHS Students at LearnLaunch 2016

Several HHS students recently attended the LearnLaunch 2016 "Classrooms of the Future" edtech conference, in which they had a chance to present projects they have been working on in the library makerspace, as well as Mr. Worrell's Smartphone Photography course! Many area schools were in attendance showcasing their own innovative projects - it was great to see and hear what other schools have been up to as well! For more information about the conference, and to see HHS students in action, please click here.

Knitting for Charity @ the Makerspace!

Join Ms. Fournier and Ms. Fairbanks in a "learn-to-knit" workshop and contribute to the Warm Up America foundation. Warm Up America distributes warm blankets to people and charities in need, thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country. Don't know how to knit, but want to get involved? Attend the makerspace workshop, and Ms. Fournier and Ms. Fairbanks will teach you! Knit one square, or several!

Already a seasoned knitter, or unable to attend the workshop? Check out some of the Warm Up America brochures and patterns to get involved.

For a recent teen Warm Up America project, read here.