Lead Out Loud By Emily

Miss. Brown, Ms. Basson, and Mr. Pearson's 7/8A and 7/8B classes are standing up to bullying!

Lead Out Loud is a program that tells you a little bit about being an upstander, not a bystander. Also, it is a pledge to stop bullying in school, at home, and with your friend(s).

I think everyone should be nice to one another, and it would make our world much better then it is right now. Just think, people have tried to kill themselves because of bullying.

When you go to school do you feel safe? When you go out for recess are you scared that someone is going to bully you? Maybe you don't, but a lot of people do. Maybe you do know how it feels. Maybe you are the one that is the bully.

My pledge is to stop bullying whenever and wherever I see it happening. If I see someone bullying another then I will say "Get real!" I know you think that telling the teacher makes you a tattle tale, but it does not. All you are doing is standing up to bullying by saying someone's feeling are getting hurt. Then the teacher will ask you for more information. That's what I will do. How about you?

So make the pledge!!(Click here to go to visit the Pledge website)

Quantum Diaries Shines Light Into Their World by Owen

“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to speak of many things.”

These lines from the book Through the Looking Glass state the common interest in discussing intelligent thought, and with the world we have today there is a million intelligent things to discuss.

Recently the online blog Quantum Diaries (www.quantumdiaries.org) has caught my attention, and there is an aspect about the site that is interesting. The concept of the site is to present many blogs in one, all of which from the point of view of physicists around the world.

Its actually quite amazing, just drag the mouse over the bloggers at the top of the screen and you will see physicists from all over. These physicists are from places such as Canada, Japan, Germany, you name it.

Interestingly, it is not all about science, the blogs sometimes just describe where the scientists are and what they are doing. That is one of my favourite things about the blog: the fact that it’s not just about what happens in the lab, it is what happens out in the real world for these scientists. So whatever your interest try and visit the Quantum Diaries page and see what's new!

Mars One By Josh

(Photo from CBC.ca)

"One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind."   ~Neil Armstrong

Home page Mars One website states that "It is the mission Objective of Mars One to establish a human colony on the planet Mars in 2023. According to Mars One, we will accomplish this through the integration of existing technologies developed by aerospace corporations who have demonstrated expertise in space travel. Mars One explains that:

"During 2011, founders Bas and Arno laid the foundation for the Mars One Mission Plan through the creation of technical documentation, from astronaut selection through the first human landing. The primary providers of the complex infrastructure were engaged, top-tier aerospace suppliers from around the world enthused to work with an apolitical integrator whose intent is to conduct a manned mission to Mars." (Visit Mars One here)

The most interesting questions that this site poses is "Will you go?" and "Why?"

I find this topic intriguing because as a kid, I have had many ideas as to "will I ever go to Mars and live there?" Another question is "What would the public think?" I believe that the public's opinion would be scary, but I would like to find out.

JRC E-books by Dylan

At June Rose Callwood, they have made a new e-book section on their website. Although there are many books on it, there aren't many books that would be approved for a grade 7 or 8 reading level. Their e-book feature includes books like Juice, by Eric Walters and other selections. I did not find this website easy to use and it does not go on mobile phones. This feature should be used by people who have tablets or laptops to go mobile. To improve this website, they should have an app for Android or iOS devices.

Good-Bye To The Hobbit Hole By Aadyn

Good-bye to the comfortable Hobbit hole, and so Bilbo Baggins' adventure begins in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. The story is about Bilbo, Gandalf the Grey, and a band of Dwarves in an epic quest to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug, a large and very dangerous dragon. The story takes place in the second age of Middle Earth at a time of peace. This is a prelude to The Lord of the Rings, another exciting adventure story by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit is now a major motion picture coming out December 14th, 2012. Watch The Hobbit trailer here.

I enjoy the book because it is a story of long ago at a time when languages and letters were quite different, a time where men drew swords and fought for honour between Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs. I recommend this book for people with a taste for adventure and a love of languages.

The Cell Phone Game By Prachi

Wherever and wherever we go, we always carry a cell phone. Either if we are with our friends or out on a dinner or even at home on a couch, we always have our cells with us.

The time we spend with our family and with our friends is precious. We should spend our time with them wisely, but you are texting away when you are out with them. You are missing what is personal. You are not seeing their expressions or hearing their tone of voice.

So, I have created a game so we can enjoy every moment with the people we see but don't really see. The game is...

Whenever you are out with another or a group of people, put all of your cells in the middle of the table or somewhere. Don't pick up the phone if it rings or someone just texts you. Don't answer it. Whoever does should have to pay the restaurant bill.

Step into the Gaming Vortex By Aadyn

Step into the Gaming Vortex and experience thrilling live action PC gaming with Hakaro and Dark Relic. The PC Gaming Vortex is a video blog series reviewing MMO games such as Dungeons and Dragons online, World of WarCraft, Star Wars the Old Republic etc... As a veteran in gaming I enjoy reliving old stories and adventures of the past.

The PC Gaming Vortex was created to show case lesser known MMO games that get overlooked but are lots of fun. They combine lets plays and tutorial aspects to have an experience where viewers go on an adventure as well and learn things along the way. For more information, visit the PC Gaming Vortex Facebook page and their YouTube Channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePCGamingVortex

What Does Remembrance Day Mean To You? By Mr. Durston

This very important question received an artistic response recently in the 6M class. The class assignment was to make a drawing in a cross that reflected each student's vision of what Remembrance Day means; in addition, the assignment was to demonstrate the use of the artistic element called value. According to the website Studiocodex.com, value is "often described visually by a scale of varying shades of gray arranged between black and white" (http://www.studiocodex.com/value_tone01.html). Studiocodex.com also notes that colours have value too.

One notable Remembrance Day cross entry was submitted by Andrew. Andrew's favourite part of his cross is the dove featured in the centre. A dove is a symbol of peace. Have a close look at Andrew's cross, and see if it is your favourite part as well. Think about how Andrew used the placement of the dove to emphasize its importance. Also, consider how Andrew uses value in his dove. You might notice that the dove is the lightest part of his drawing. What might Andrew want you to understand about Remembrance Day from looking at his cross?

If You Love Tech, You'll Love Gizmodo! by Mr. Durston

Click here for Gizmodo!

For those of you who do not already know, Gizmodo is a technology blog that is part of the Lifehacker media family. It offers many posts per day on technology, reporting the latest news and product reviews on all your favourite devices like iPhones/iPods/iPads, Andriod devices, computers, laptops, and software...and even the mighty Zune!  (What on earth is a Zune, you ask? Click here to learn more about the Zune player and innovator of the squircle). Gizmodo offers both text articles and videos, which often demonstrate new devices and software, so you can always be in the know when a new device is released.

Why I love Gizmodo so much is that it is a one stop location on the web for getting news on all things technology. Secondly, there is an abundance of stories posted multiple times a day. It is more than one person can read, so I can choose the stories that are most relevant to me. Lastly, Gizmodo defines technology fairly broadly, so the content is not confined merely to computer related stories. For instance, check out this story on the 3D printing of an Aston Martin for the movie Skyfall . Any way you look at it, it you are interested in new technology, then you should give Gizmodo a try.

How Do You Learn To Be Courageous? By Mr. Durston

Only in the Movies

Courage is a virtue. It gives you the ability to stand up for yourself. It gives you the resources to live your life how you want. Some people say that there can be no true happiness without courage. Sorry, but I do not make the rules. If you ever want to learn how to be courageous, William Bell will give you an education in his Red Maple Award winning novel Only in the Movies. The story is about a boy named Jake Blanchard who discovers at the age of twelve that he wants to become a movie scriptwriter, after he watches a film being shot in his local park. The difficulty for Jake is in turning his desire into his reality.

Jake's story can show you what being courageous requires. The novel models a young man learning how to pursue the subjects he wants to in school, even though he may disappoint his parents in the process. Jake must also travel to a new school to learn screenwriting, a school where he experiences even more challenges in his schoolwork. Finally, Jake must learn to crawl across that rocky road called love. Now before you freak out and click away from this blog post, thinking to yourself "I'm not gonna read any book about love!", give me one chance to convince you otherwise. First off, the book is laugh out loud funny. Jake repeatedly tries to win the beautiful Alba's adoration in what can only be called a slapstick comedy of errors. But when Jake falls, he picks himself up again with the help of his best friend Vanni, a girl he meets at school who also happens to have the biggest nose he has ever seen. Jake and Vanni make a wonderful and memorable team in trying to help Jake find the courage he needs to face not only his love, but also his new life. If you are looking for a good laugh, and a little help in the courage department, pick up Only in the Movies by William Bell in the JRC library.

Finding Treasure In An Old Story By Mr. Durston

Treasure Island

With so many great new adventure books on our shelves like the Hunger Games, why would I write a book review of the classic novel Treasure Island (1883) by Robert Louis Stevenson? The answer is that the novel is just that good. For those of you who have never heard of Treasure Island, it is the adventure story and coming-of-age tale of a young man named Jim Hawkins. Jim is a teenager who begins the novel working in his parents’ inn. He then obtains a pirates’ map from one of guests, and he departs on an adventure to recover a hidden treasure. The novel follows Jim as the sole young person in the crew of a ship, a ship where not all of its members can be trusted. Jim tells the reader his tale of life-and-death encounters in negotiating the dangerous adult world of treasure hunting out on the open sea.

One of the reasons that I like this novel so much is that despite the fact that it is such an old book, Jim’s challenge in dealing with adults is so current. Just like Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games, Jim must also learn and survive in a world that is created and controlled by adults. Unlike Katniss though, Jim does not have any special skills, like Katniss’ hunting abilities, that will keep him alive when things get tough. Instead, Jim must learn on his own about who he can trust, about what is right and wrong, and about what it takes to hunt for treasure with some of the most dangerous people on earth.

Welcome to the new June Rose Callwood Library Blog

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the new June Rose Callwood Public School Library Blog. This blog is designed to publish library news, book reviews, and other media information created by our students. Best of all, this blog is for you. If you have an idea for a blog post that you would like to create, please talk to Mrs. Summers or Mr. Durston. Your post can be about a book that you have read, a television show or film that you have watched, or any other kind of media that you have seen on the Internet. If you have something you want to share with your school, let us know. We want to help you get your message out.

We hope to see hear from you soon, and make sure that you keep checking back because we hope to be frequently producing new, interesting, and fun posts soon.

See you soon.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Summers and Mr. Durston