Kwami Alexander Author Visit!!

Welcome back, Cockrell Community!!

A new school year means another great author is coming to Prosper!

Award-winning poet Kwami Alexander is coming to Prosper ISD on Monday, October 1st in honor of the Prosper ISD One District, One Read event. It will be a unique event will be a pep rally for poetry (more details will be released soon).

To prepare for the event, Prosper ISD is hosting a district-wide poetry contest. If you would like to participate, all entries are due to the Cockrell library no later than September 17th. To access a paper & electronic entry form (either are accepted), click the links below:

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Want to learn more about Kwami Alexander? Click here! 

Want to learn more about the One District, One Read event? Click here! 

(November Edition)

Where did November go?? November was another busy month in the Sonntag library! The month started with the closing of our fall Scholastic Book Fair. Because of the wonderful Sonntag community, the library as well as classroom libraries were able to acquire so many books for the students! Wow! In addition, 5th graders researched ecosystems using library books, encyclopedias, as well as our online databases. Kinder students also participated in a fantastic pumpkin technology project. Finally, the library played host to a Librarian & Library Aide of the Day. Check out the photos below to find out more about these amazing activities! 

Here are some of our fantastic 5th graders researching using the online databases. 

The 5th graders also used other library resources to use during their ecosystems research. 

Check out this amazing pumpkin technology project that Kinder kids participated in! 

Meet our wonderful Librarian & Librarian Aide- of - the - Day! 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

81

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

2,118

Number of Items in Collection

11,969

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Wrapped up the 2012-2013 fall Scholastic Book Fair 

Assisted and hosted all 5th grade classes during their ecosystems research

Collaborated with the technology facilitator as well a fellow librarian to create a pumpkin technology activity with the Kindergarten students 

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Updated the Where in the World Do You Read? board

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Updated a daily Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei fact

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families  

Hosted parent library volunteers

Hosted & promoted the Sonntag Staff Book Club for the 2012-2013 school year

Administrative Activities

Won a grant from the Frisco Education Foundation that will add more Playaways to the library shelves!!!! 

Wrapped up fall Scholastic Book Fair

Processed and added several new books to the library collection that were purchased using funds from the fall Book Fair

Collaborated with tech facilitator and fellow librarian to create tech-based activities for a pumpkin technology project with kindergarten students  

Planned and implemented the UIL Spelling tryouts for 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders 

Assisted the staff members in hosting the Sonntag Science Night for Sonntag families

Maintained the mobile app for the Sonntag Library

Maintained a forum for staff to discuss book club books

Adjusted the library schedule to accommodate classes for various activities 

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials 

Updated library blog and Twitter account weekly

Planned weekly library lessons

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended campus meetings

Attended district library meeting

Read and kept up with new professional library journals  

On the Horizon...

Sonntag staff book club meeting in December & January 

Even more books for the library collection from the Book Fair are on their way! 
Weekly UIL Spelling practices for the UIL Spelling Team

Spring Book Fair will be in February

5th Grade book clubs are on the way

Mysterious school activity will be here soon! ;o)

Before the Thanksgiving break, the library, technology, and kindergarten staff members collaborated and hosted an AMAZING interactive technology and learning event that directly supported classroom lessons regarding pumpkins. The kindergarten students not only had the opportunity to listen to nonfiction stories about pumpkins, but they also participated in hands-on  pumpkin measurement activities as well as a wide variety of technology-centered stations around the library. The students (and staff members) had a FANTASTIC time and learned so much about this amazing fall icon. Some of the technology stations included pumpkin videos on iPod Touch devices, a Kidspiration Life Cycle activity on desktop computers, pumpkin puzzles on MacBook Airs, and MUCH more! A HUGE thank you goes out to the parent volunteers, teachers, and technology staff members who helped to make this all possible!! :)

Check out the pictures below to take a peek inside this awesome activity! 

(March Edition)

March was a fantastic month to be in the library! Throughout the month students researched, checked in & checked out books, and relaxed with a great book or magazine! Some of the preschool-aged siblings of Sonntag students enjoyed a weekly storytime with their parents. 5th graders also researched a variety of ecosystems in order to prepare a report for their science class. Check out some pictures from their research:

Check out the library statistics for the month of March! Happy reading! :)

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

96

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

5,256

Number of Items in Collection

11,775

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Assisted in 5th grade ecosystems research

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Facilitated the Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Updated a daily Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei fact

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Hosted 4th grade students as library helpers 

Hosted parent library volunteers

Facilitated staff book club meetings

Administrative Activities

Participated in creating an opening day collection for the 3 new elementary schools

Helped 5th grade teacher with here playaway order using grant funds

Maintained the mobile app for the Sonntag Library

Facilitated the Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program

Served as a STAAR testing monitor 

Created a forum for staff to discuss book club books

Attended PTA Board meeting

Adjusted the library schedule to accommodate classes before and after STAAR testing

Collaborated with a 4th grade teacher to create leveled book browsing boxes for their classroomsAttended and helped with Rough Riders ticket table during Open House

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials (using Book Fair profits)

Processed new library books acquired during Scholastic Book Fair

Updated library blog and Twitter account weekly

Planned weekly library lessons

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended campus Site Based meeting

Attended campus meetings

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

On the Horizon...

New books purchased using fall & spring Book Fair profits are on the way! 

Sonntag staff book club meeting in April

Library will be closed April 24, 25, & 26 due to STAAR testing

Volunteer Breakfast will take place in the library on April 19 

Tickets for students who participated in the Six Flags Read to Succeed will arrive later in the spring

Mrs. Mattei will collaborate with the 1st grade team to conduct a Leo Lionni study in May

Happy March, Sonntag Community! Are you loving this warm weather? February was an extremely busy month in the library. The library hosted the spring Book Fair. The spring Book Fair was a HUGE success! Students, parents, and teachers truly enjoyed the Book Fair and books were added to home, classroom, & the library. 

In addition to a wildly successful spring Book Fair, 5th grade students completed their ecosystems research using library books, encyclopedias, as well as online databases. Check out some of the pictures from these busy researchers: 

Check out the library stats from February!

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

96

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

4,789

Number of Items in Collection

11,712

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Hosted UIL Spelling practices 

Assisted in 5th grade ecosystems research 

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a book & a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Updated a daily "Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei" fact 

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Hosted the Sonntag Student Counsel meetings in the library

Hosted 4th grade students as library helpers 

Hosted parent library volunteers

Facilitated staff book club meeting

Administrative Activities

Assisted in UIL grading

Attended PTA Board meeting

Represented the Specials team at Chick-fil-A spirit night

Promoted a mobile app for the Sonntag Library

Planned, set up, & hosted  the Spring Book Fair

Facilitated the Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program

Contributed an article for the PTA newsletter

Collaborated & maintained leveled book browsing boxes for a 4th grade teacher's classroom

Planned UIL Spelling practices and activities

Met with Scholastic representative to complete Book Fair financials

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic (using Book Fair profits)

Processed new library books acquired during Scholastic Book Fair

Updated library blog and Twitter account weekly

Planned weekly library lessons

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended district-level professional development at HHS on February 20th

Attended district-level library meeting

Attended campus meetings

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

On the Horizon...

New books purchased from the spring Scholastic Book Fair are on the way! 
The next Sonntag staff book club meeting in April 

Six Flags Read to Succeed participants will receive their ticket later in the spring

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Want to keep up with the events of the Sonntag Library? Scan this QR code to get the official Sonntag Library app! Happy reading! :) 

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Wait...is that a frog Mrs. Mattei is kissing??? 

Check Out Our 5th Grade Ecosystems Research! 

This week the 5th grade students completed their ecosystems research using our amazing library resources. The students were researching for information on ecosystems such as deserts, tundras, prairies, oceans, and rainforests. Not only did the students use the online databases to search for information about their ecosystem but they also utilized the library books and encyclopedias. The students were eager researchers and enjoyed collaborating with each other to dig for important information about their ecosystem. The final ecosystems products will include a written report. Check out our busy researchers:

(January Edition)

January was a BUSY month in the Sonntag Library! The library was buzzing with research, checkouts, and even student helpers! The events and happenings in the month of January is a sign of great things to come in the second half of the school year. It will be so exciting to see how the spring semester unfolds! 

Most exciting, perhaps, is the brand new Sonntag Library mobile app! Now you can take the Sonntag library with you anywhere you go. You can either scan the QR Code below or click this link. If you want to know more information about this app, click here to go to the blog post. Happy reading! :) 

Here is Mrs. Mattei with the amazing Tom Angleberger (and his latest book Fake Mustache) at the ALA Midwinter Conference! 

Number of Whole Class Visits: 

92

Number of Total Items Circulated (Checkouts & Checkins)

7,145

Number of Items in Collection

11,594

Library Instruction/Programs/Community Outreach

Hosted UIL Spelling practices with UIL Spelling competitors

Assisted in 3rd grade Arctic research

Promoted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Program with 3-5 grades

Hosted the 2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award voting party 

Promoted the 2011-2012 2x2 Reading Program with Preschool-2nd grades

Presented a weekly Good Morning Sonntag Book Bits update

Maintained student writer & new items displays to promote reading interests 

Updated a daily Fact of the Day by Mrs. Mattei fact

Open checkout every day for all Sonntag students, parents, and staff

Weekly preschool storytimes with future Sonntag students and families 

Hosted the Sonntag Student Counsel meetings in the library

Hosted 4th grade students as library helpers 

Hosted parent library volunteers

Facilitated staff book club meeting

Administrative Activities

Created and launched a mobile app for the Sonntag Library

Began planning the Spring Book Fair

Planned and facilitated the Six Flags Read to Succeed reading program

Contributed an article for the PTA newsletter

Substituted for teachers who were administrating the COGAT test

Collaborated with a 4th grade teacher to create leveled book browsing boxes for their classrooms
Helped administration relieve grade levels during lunch and recess duties

Attended and facilitated a booth at the Sonntag Science Night

Planned UIL Spelling practices and activities

Met with Scholastic representative about the spring Book Fair

Contributed to Specials weekly newsletter

Purchased new library books and materials through Scholastic (using Book Fair profits)

Processed new library books acquired during Scholastic Book Fair

Updated library blog and Twitter account weekly

Planned weekly library lessons

Opened new parent accounts

Hosted new and returning library volunteers

Professional Development Activities 

Attended campus Site Based meeting

Attended campus meetings

Attended the American Library Association Midwinter Conference Exhibit event in Dallas

Attended the Peggy Sharp conference in Richardson

Read and kept up with new professional library journals 

On the Horizon...

New books purchased from the fall Scholastic Book Fair are on the way! 

UIL Spelling Team will compete in the UIL Competition on February 16th 

3rd Sonntag staff book club meeting in February

Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be open from February 13th through February 17th 

Six Flags Read to Succeed logs are due to your students' teachers on February 27th 

- Do You Know the History of Frisco? - 

(Retired Frisco ISD Librarian Catherine Fowler does!)

Last week in the Sonntag Library, 3rd grade students had the distinct privilege of hearing about the history of Frisco, Texas from the Frisco ISD legend Catherine Fowler. In order to prepare for their study trip to the Frisco Heritage Museum Mrs. Fowler brought a wealth of knowledge and antiques to Sonntag for the 3rd graders to see and touch. The students learned about how the pioneers settled this community as well as how much Frisco, Texas has changed over the past 109 years. Check out some of the pictures from the presentation: 

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- Books to Love - 

Want to learn more? Check out these good reads in the Sonntag library:

Frisco: The First 100 Years

by Steve Quinn

Describes the history of the community of Frisco, Texas, through many voices of its past and present residents.

Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic: Early Schools of the Frisco, Texas Area

by The Heritage Association of Frisco, Inc. 

Describes the history of schools in the Frisco area from the late Nineteenth through the beginning of the Twenty-first Centuries.

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- Links to Love - 

Did you know that Fowler Middle School is named after Mrs. Fowler? Click here! 

Want to learn more about the Frisco Heritage Museum? Click here!

Happy reading! :)