Dig Into Reading–Join our Summer Reading Club -- Registration Begins Monday June 17th!

 

A reminder for people looking for summer fun ideas…there are lots of links to area activities under events in the  “great websites for families” section of the blog.  If you are receiving this as an email, click on the headline and bring up this newsletter between the virtual bookshelves to see them!

June 17th – Dig Into Reading – Summer Reading Club registration will begin June 17th  (and continues all summer).  Come on into the library and sign up for fun and prizes!

Sing-along: Summer Songs (All ages) Wednesday, June 19
2pm  No registration required  Slip into Summer with these warm weather tunes!

 

Summer Reading Kick-Off  Days of Knights (Grades K - 5)
Monday, June 24 from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. Registration required.
A knight in shining armor is coming to the library! Join Sir Kenneth and his squire as they re-enact a classic medieval fairytale! Throughout the interactive story, kids in grades K-5 will learn all about knights. They will also get to see an exciting swordfight, try on real armor, take pictures with the performers, and more!

Drive-In Movie: Monsters, Inc. (Ages 2-8)Wednesday, June 26
from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm.  Registration required.   Make your very own kid sized car and buckle up as we watch 'Monsters, Inc!' Feel free to bring your own sack lunch to eat in your car.

Dig It: Sterling Mining Museum (Ages 4-8)Saturday, June 29
from 10:30 am - 11:30 am. Registration is required and begins June 14.  Celebrate this year’s Summer Reading Theme by joining staff from the Sterling Mining Museum as they present an exciting program on the world of mining,  minerals, and their importance in our everyday lives!

Ninjago Training Camp (Grades K-5) Monday, July 1 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm  Registration required and begins June 17.
Attention Ninjago Fans!!
Prepare for your ninja skills to be tested! Get ready for an afternoon of adventurous challenges, games, and activities. Dressing up as your favorite character is encouraged. Unlock your true potential.

Hot-Diggity-Dog: Dig It! Let's Rock! (Ages 3-6) Tuesday, July 2nd
10-11am  Repeats at 11:30. Registration required and begins June 18
Rock your way into summer with lively music, stories and activities (and take home your very own pet rocks!)

Family Night Storytime (All Ages) No Registration Required Tuesday, July 2 at 7:00 pm.  Wear your pjs to our all ages nighttime storytime with Miss Gretchen.

 

 

Drop-In Activity Day (All ages) Wednesday July 3, 2013 All Day.  Repeats Friday July 5th. No registration required
Throughout the summer we'll be offering mornings and afternoons where you can drop in to play you favorite board game, put together a craft, or watch one of your favorite movies.
Check back with a librarian at the desk to see what we'll be doing this week!

Sing-along: Fourth of July! (All ages) Wednesday, July 3 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm  No registration required
Just in time for the 4th of July -- Tap your toes and tickle your funny bones with these all-American tunes!

Mariah's Puppets - The Giving Tree (All ages) Saturday, July 6. 10:00 am. Registration required and begins June 21
Through the escapades of the Selfish Litterbug Giant, students learn about the problems caused by litter. With their help during the puppet show, he is finally encouraged to stop littering and reduce, reuse and recycle. 'The Giving Tree' teaches a powerful message about the gift of nature and how we can give back and make a difference.

Play Group (ages Birth to 3 years) Monday, July 8  10amNo registration required
Come and play with toys, dance to music, and make new friends!

 

Hot-Diggity-Dog: Dig Into Adventure! (Ages 3-6) Tuesday, July 9th 10-11am  Repeats at 11:30. Registration required and begins June 25.
Come treasure hunting with pirate stories and crafts!

 

Snack Attack (Grades 3-4) Tuesday, July 9  4:00 - 5:00 pm. Registration is required and begins June 25
Join us as we talk about our favorite snacks, find out about popular snacks around the world and then we will create our own snack masterpiece. Food will be served.

Talk It Up: 'Powerless' by Matthew Cody (Grades 5-8) Tuesday, July 9th 7-8pm   Registration required and begins June 25. If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. Parents and parent substitutes are welcome to join the discussion.    This month's book:  'Powerless' by Matthew Cody
Soon after moving to Noble's Green, Pennsylvania, twelve year-old Daniel learns that his new friends have super powers that they will lose when they turn thirteen, unless he can use his brain power to protect them.

Baby Time (For ages birth - 18 months) No Registration Required Wednesday July 10, 2013  Repeats Thursday July 11th, 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM  Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and let your baby feel the beat of stories, songs, and nursery rhymes.  **Due to the popularity of our early childhood programs, we appreciate your cooperation in attending only one storytime program per week.**

Dig Into the Earth (Grades 1-5) Wednesday, July 10th  3:00 pm
Registration is required and begins June 26
Why did dinosaurs go extinct?  We’ll read about the prehistoric creatures and excavate fossils from sandstone blocks.

5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Wednesday, July 10th  7-8pm. Registration required and begins June 19  ATTENTION STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 5 AND 6:
Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! This summer, you can help the library with special projects including preparations for our carnival in August, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

Toddler Time (For Ages 18 months-36 months) No Registration Required. Thursday July 11, 2013  10:30 AM to 11:00 AM.  Second session at 11:30 am. Clapping and singing and listening to books...introduce your toddler to the beginnings of storytime!  **Due to the popularity of our early childhood programs, we appreciate your cooperation in attending only one storytime program per week.**

Lego Club (Grades K-6) Thursday, July 11 4:30 pm. Registration required and begins June 27
Hey LEGO fans, here's a club just for you! Get together with other LEGO-maniacs, share ideas and tips on building, and have a great time!  Library LEGOS will be available for building, so you do not need to bring your own. Please Note: Parents are welcome to stay; however, younger siblings cannot be permitted.

 

There are ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS at other system libraries for children & teens…find their online calendars under the “events/programs” tab on our home page. Planning ahead for July? -- Check out our library calendar.

If you register for a program and realize that you won’t be able to come, please call (908 526-4016x126) or email us(bwljuv@sclibnj.org) as early as possible so we can make someone on the waitlist very happy. Next time that waitlisted participant might be your child!

@ Bridgewater Library for Teens:

Open Mic Cafe Night (Ages 13+) Thursday June 13th,2013 From 7-8:30pm. Registration required TO PERFORM. Want to share your poetry, comedy, or original music? Not an artist, but would like to witness some of the most inspiring artists Somerset County has to offer? Then join us for this one of a kind experience, and help local musicians and writers have their voices heard. Depending on registration, artists will receive 10-15 minute slots to play music or recite poetry. Sign ups will be on a first-come, first-served basis. **Please help support local artists and musicians – you don’t need to be an artist to enjoy our Open Mic Night!**

Tween Party After Hours (Grades 4-6) Friday, June 14  6-8pm
Registration required and begins May 31
Tweens, grades 4-6, get locked in the library after hours!  We'll have a movie, video games, crafts and snacks! No admittance after 6:15 pm. Advance notice required if tween must leave the program early.

TAB Meeting (Grades 6-8 Tuesday June 25th, 2013 5:30-6:30pm TAB Meeting (Grades 9-12)Tuesday, June 25th 6:30 PM to 7:30 PMRegistration required Do you want to make a difference at your library? Do you have suggestions for programs, new books, movies, or video games? Then come to one of our upcoming T.A.B. meetings! Community service hours will be awarded for attendance and snacks will be served!

Teen Summer Reading Kick-Off  Games 2 U: Laser Tag Wednesday, June 26th  Evening (exact time TBD)  Raindate July 1st. Registration required and begins June 5.  We’re starting off the summer with an exciting game of laser tag on the lawn behind the library! Players compete in teams to find and tag their opponents using high-tech lasers. Obstacles on the battlefield create opportunities to hide and ambush opponents. With a little bit of strategy, some quick wits (and even quicker reflexes) your team will emerge victorious! A release form is required to participate in this program.  We will have two half hour sessions to accommodate more teens. More details to come!

Teen Movie & a Sundae (Grades 6-12) Monday, July 8th  6-8:30pm
Registration required and begins June 17
Come cool off at the library! Make your own ice cream sundae and watch a good movie! Movie titles have yet to be determined, but will have a rating no higher than PG-13. Check our website for more information as the program dates get closer!  Have a suggestion for a movie? Email Lynn at lmazur@sclibnj.org.

Talk It Up: 'Powerless' by Matthew Cody (Grades 5-8) Tuesday, July 9th 7-8pm   Registration required and begins June 25. If you love to read and talk about books, you are cordially invited to an hour of book talk and friendly company. Parents and parent substitutes are welcome to join the discussion.    This month's book:  'Powerless' by Matthew Cody
Soon after moving to Noble's Green, Pennsylvania, twelveyear-old Daniel learns that his new friends have super powers that they will lose when they turn thirteen, unlesshe can use his brain power to protect them.

5th & 6th Grade Volunteers Wednesday, July 10th  7-8pm. Registration required and begins June 19  ATTENTION STUDENTS ENTERING GRADES 5 AND 6:
Here is your chance to make a difference by volunteering at the library! This summer, you can help the library with special projects including preparations for our carnival in August, organizing and tidying up the Children’s Room, and much more!

 

Want more info about upcoming programs? Check out more July teen calendar here.

Around the Community:

Come experience a very special autism-friendly matinee of  Disney’s The Little Mermaid  WHEN: Wednesday, June 26 at 4:00 PM  WHERE: Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn

Paper Mill Playhouse, in cooperation with Autism New Jersey and the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University, is proud to bring you a very special autism-friendly matinee ofDisney’s The Little Mermaid. Come experience the all-new musical production based on the animated classic!  For one magical afternoon, the theater environment will be altered to offer a comfortable space that is welcoming for all families. Click here to learn more about our autism programs and to purchase your tickets today.

SPY THRILLER FARCE OPENS @ CIRCLE PLAYERS JUNE 7

THE 39 STEPS By Patrick Barlow  directed by John Dowgin   WHEN: June 7 - 23, 2013
WHERE: The Circle Players,  416 Victoria Ave., Piscataway (Directions)
TICKETS: Adults $18; Seniors and Students $17
PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE HERE or call 732.968.7555  Combining a spy thriller with farcical comedy and ingenious theatrical invention, The 39 Steps is an engaging, fast-paced whodunit that celebrates the magic of theater. Closely following the storyline of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, the play features more than 150 characters brought to life by a cast of just four actors.

5K Race through History at Frantic Fun Run!  The Frantic Fun Run 5K on Tuesday, June 25 is a rare opportunity to run through the 19th century Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township.  Participants race through history on a cross-country trail.  Runners receive custom moisture wicking t-shirts, and awards. Enjoy the post-race party including raffle prizes, DJ entertainment, and food.  Course Map  Preregister by June 20 atwww.raceforum.com/frantic.   Preregistration: $20  Day of Registration:  $25 Schedule:  5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. : Registration 7 p.m. : 5K Start 7:45 p.m. : Awards and post-race party (approximate time) For more information call, 973-326-7616.

Thanks to Ruth Ross at NJARTSMAVEN.COM for some of these listings.
There are lots more things to do around our community. Look at the “Useful Websites for Families” (on the right side of this blog – click the headline if you are reading this as an email) for many more options!

Looking for events around our community? Check out the “Events” links under the “Useful links for families” list on the right side of this blog listing. (If you are getting this as an email, click on the headline title to open it as a webpage and then you’ll see all these useful links!)

Let Your Fingers Do More Walking:

KidPower – Look at what one kid was able to do!

• Petitioned Mike Perry

Slide show about this petition:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eDz6RQlUFQ

Crayola, Make Your Mark! Set up a marker recycling program

June 2013

Victory

Thanks to everyone who signed this petition! We know that everyone wants to help the planet. Crayola sent us a letter saying that it listened and is helping to reduce waste and pollution with a new program to 'ColorCycle' markers. We hope that a real recycling program will happen in the future, too. This is a good decision to start, though, and it happened because you helped us. We are happy that companies like Crayola and Dixon Ticonderoga are listening to kids like us! It feels good.

Every year, Crayola makes about half a billion markers -- enough markers to wrap around the earth more than three times! -- and sells them all around the world. Millions of kids use and love Crayola products -- including the students at Sun Valley School, where I volunteer. That's why we're asking Crayola to make sure these markers don't end up in our landfills, incinerators and oceans.

“I love your markers, but I’d like to tell you it’s polluting. So can I please send some of your markers back? I love your product, but hate pollution," Zachary, age 9.

Around the world, people are starting to realize the massive problem of discarded plastics. It's not only a waste of resources -- it is detrimental to our wellbeing. Plastics, which escape into the ocean, are entering our food chain as they are weathered and broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. By establishing a take-back program for their plastic markers, Crayola can stop millions of markers from becoming pollution and waste.

“I want to let you know that I am not a useless little kid. I can make a difference! By telling you to recycle your pens," Dante, age 10.

”Will we ever be able to fix the hole in the ozone layer? I don’t like pollution because it hurts the Earth," Georgia, age 7.

“If we all came from the Earth… Then why are we hurting it so much? Earth is all we have left," Olivia, age 11.

We want Crayola to "make their mark" by starting a “take-back” recycling program for their markers. If Crayola can do it, we know other companies will follow. Crayola can be a leader for the environment.

Sincerely,

Mr. Land and his “Kids Who Care” from Sun Valley School 

As we come to the end of a school year, food for thought from this article in the Washington Post.

What if Finland’s great teachers taught in U.S. schools?

By Valerie Strauss,

Finland’s education expert Pasi Sahlberg

Finland’s Pasi Sahlberg is one of the world’s leading experts on school reform and the author of the best-selling“Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn About Educational Change in Finland?” In this piece he writes about whether the emphasis that American school reformers put on “teacher effectiveness” is really the best approach to improving student achievement.  Read MORE.