Dear Families, Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the OJCS! And just on time for Hanukkah! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. Here’s everything … Continue reading The OJCS Scholastic Book Fair is Next Week!
On November 20th, the OJCS will welcome two fabulous Jewish authors who will be speaking with our grades 4-8 students about their various works. Grade 6-8 will get a presentation by author Rona Arato from 11:05 until 12:05 in the library. Our middle school students have been reading her book ‘The Last Train: A Holocaust … Continue reading Authors Day for Grades 4 through 8
Over the past few weeks, our middle schoolers have been visiting the library for a workshop on AI Chatbots. In this Common Sense Education lesson, our students learn about how these Chatbots are designed, why they are made to sound human-like, and the issues that can arise from developing personal relationships with Chatbots. This topic … Continue reading Middle School Workshop on AI Chatbots
Today, grade 4 got a library workshop on the topic of caring for their new classroom laptops. Common Sense Education has a wonderful lesson on this topic. Our students designed their own emojis to demonstrate some device care tips. This is a great topic to discuss as a family too. Feel free to download this … Continue reading Caring for Our New Devices – Grade 4
When I first started at the OJCS many many years ago, there was a completely different admin team and sadly, no commitment to the library at all. I had no budget at that time and had to rely on donations, there was no scheduled library time for classes, and I was told that I could … Continue reading Thank You For Your Commitment to Literacy…and New Wave
It can be tough to get our sometimes reluctant tweens and teens reading and off of their devices, but this list is sure to pique their interest. This list includes everything from horror to romance, addictive series, biographies on their heroes, and graphic novels and manga. Make sure to stock up on a few books … Continue reading Great Reads for Summer 2025 – Middle School
This summer reading list for our grades 4 and 5 students has something for everyone, even our most reluctant readers. From adventures, to graphic novels, to high drama, and even a few fun non-fiction books, kids will want to read their summer away. Stock up on a few titles before the kiddos head out for … Continue reading Great Reads for Summer 2025 – Grades 4 and 5
This summer, spark your grade 2 and 3 reader’s imagination with a diverse and exciting book list that’s perfect for curious minds and growing readers! From simpler chapter books and action-packed adventure series to eye-catching graphic novels and fascinating non-fiction, there’s something here for every interest and reading level. Whether your child loves exploring new … Continue reading Great Reads for Summer 2025 – Grades 2 and 3
Get ready for a summer full of adventure, imagination, and learning with our fun-filled reading list just for kindergarten and grade 1 students! Whether your child is just beginning to read or already turning pages with confidence, this list has something for everyone—from colorful picture books that spark curiosity, to fascinating non-fiction that answers big … Continue reading Great Reads for Summer 2025 – SK to gr 1
Today we got a special visit from author Sheila Baslaw. She read our grade 3 and 4 students her beautiful book The Light Keeper, which she wrote with Karen Levine (author of Hanna’s Suitcase.) It is the story of Shmuel, who is eager to help support his poor family, but no one in his shtetl … Continue reading Author Sheila Baslaw Visits the OJCS Library