Read-a-thon for WorldBuilders

On January 10th, the first Friday back from break, we will be hosting a Read-a-Thon from 3:30 - 11:30 PM in the Middle/Upper School Library to raise money for Heifer International. We will read while we help raise money for this important organization! Over your holiday break track down all relatives and friends to raise at least $25 (hopefully much more).  There will be prizes for the most money and most sponsors. See details at this link for the sponsor sheets.
We will send our money to Heifer International through WorldBuilders, a charity started by my favorite author Patrick Rothfuss author of the King Killer Chronicles, so we can be entered in a lottery for awesome things which you may find on his website.
Bring your sponsor sheet and any dontations with you to the Read-a-Thon. Remember to bring your favorite books, pillows, blankets, and PJs!  See this spreadsheet to sign up to READ and to bring food and drink.  At 6 PM we'll have Lasagna in the PA Room.  If you have any questions email me at gbergstrom@ravenscroft.org.

Gaelan Bergstrom
10th Grade

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Our Group - posted Dec. 13

4:45 PM on Friday, December 13th @ Six Forks Cinema

All Upper School students welcome!   The movie starts at 4:45 and we're going to leave the school at 4 PM, so you'll have time to go to tutorial and get together all of your work for the weekend.

Please RSVP at this link if you’re interested in seeing “The Hobbit” with us!

See the Trailer here! 

Questions: see  Ms. Kelly and Mrs. Thrash

Ender's Game

Join us as we go see Ender's Game after school at 4 PM on Friday, November 1 @ Six Forks Cinema

We'll leave on the bus at 3:40. Bring $6 to get in and a few dollars if you want a snack at the theater.

Please RSVP if you’re interested in going with us.
https://docs.google.com/a/ravenscroft.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEtWOXkyTG5LeGI0VmFMMXExWmpBOHc6MA#gid=0

Trailer and news about the movie:  http://news.moviefone.com/tag/enders+game/  We'll also be discussing the book on Tuesday, October 29 in Book Club (room 196 at lunch).

Questions: see Chloe, Mykayla, Jonathan, and Mrs. Thrash

Mariel's Internship

Mariel Ziperski

June 5, 2013

Internship Paper--Ravenscroft Library

I went into my internship unsure of what to expect. I was working with Mrs. Thrash in the library for up to six hours in a day. I didn’t know what work she had in store for me or what jobs I would do to pass the time but I had been pulled to work in the library for multiple reasons. I had always loved to read. Throughout my childhood I had spent summers nose-deep in the entrancing plots embedded in novels and knew that I wanted to get back into it. As any Ravenscroft student can tell you, the workload for a high-achieving student can be strenuous to say the least, and over the past four years, I didn't get much opportunity to read for my own interest. Working in the library would allow me the precious chance to delve back into the literary world, like getting reacquainted with an old friend. The feeling of getting into a good book and being unable to put it down was something I missed. Mrs. Thrash had always been one of my favorite teachers and I realized that an internship with her would allow me to be around something I loved (books). However, I wasn't exactly sure what I could do to contribute to the library.

I was nervous going into the internship. I had no idea how the dewey decimal system worked and always needed help finding a book. I knew that I would be spending a lot of time in the library next year and college and needed exposure to “library culture.” Over the course of my time in the Ravenscroft library, I shelved books and got to the point where I could point out any genre or author`s section to a confused student. It made me appreciate the things that are usually done for me. While before I hadn't thought about mindlessly taking out books and not putting them back but now I realize the work that goes into maintaining a library. I had taken it for granted and now as a library assistant, I finally understood how much the librarians cared about the students.

In addition, I set up book displays, suggesting various novel series. I hoped that my collection would inspire people my age to put down their phones and pick up a book. Reading a common series unites students and brings them together under the struggles and triumphs of the characters that they relate to. I hoped that finding interesting and popular novel display would spark an interest in high school readers. During middle school, reading had been huge; everyone kept up with the latest best-sellers but as the homework kept piling on as years went on in high school, the numbers of readers dwindled. I like to think that my display of books (while it is a far-fetched fantasy) would bring back a population of high school readers. I just want other high school students to appreciate reading as much as I have.

I also had to learn the library technology; while the scanner and database system may seem simple, it`s actually quite complex. After a few frustrating and tedious tries with unsuspecting middle school students hoping for a quick and speedy checkout, I finally became a barcode-scanner aficionado. I am now totally comfortable looking up books for students and finding them anywhere in the library. Honestly, being a conductor of the Alexandria Database system made me feel like a true librarian at heart.

Being a part of the library team also brought me closer to the Ravenscroft community. Even though I’ll be graduating in just a few days, I assisted Mrs. Thrash in planning the new freshman buddy tour for new students for next year. I worked with another senior interning at Ravenscroft to try to come up with suggestions and improvements to better welcome the new kids. It taught me how to work as a team in order to create the best possible event. I also helped create social media outlets for the Ravenscroft Key Club. I set up a Twitter, Instagram, and Vine profile for the club. It allowed me to get experience in social media, marketing, and public relations. I even trained the incoming club officers on how to respectfully utilize the sites in order to expand club membership and participation. I prepared a contract for each of them to sign in order to guarantee that they would justly represent the school on a public website. We talked with each of them in order to help plan the most successful Key Club year yet.

Though there were times when I was less than ecstatic to do the work. I spent a solid five hours sorting old newspapers and archiving the stacks, placing each into a cardboard box designated by year. The task was tedious, I hunched over the floor filing through the hundreds of old newspapers, my fingers turning black from all of the ink. At one point I had used up all the boxes and had to stop so I could look for more, scouring the library and even the upper school to find any available box. In addition I had to stack the incredibly heavy boxes of filed newspapers on the top of the shelves lifting them up above my head. It’s possible I pulled a muscle in my shoulder putting the final boxes up (I’ve completely healed by now).

The best part of the internship by far was the hours of downtime that allowed me to catch up on reading. When Mrs. Thrash didn't have much work for me to do, I was given time to seek out new literary adventures. I was able to finish an entire book in just two days. I read Mindy Kaling`s Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and started other novels such as David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day, John Green’s A Fault in Our Stars, and A.J. Jacobs’ A Year of Living Biblically. After a hectic and stressful year of college applications, I couldn't have been more thankful for the quiet hours to myself curled up with an interesting book.

The greatest thing I learned from my entire experience as a library intern is that I now have a newfound appreciation for librarians and all that they do. I had no idea how devoted they are to the students. And now with the struggle to maintain an interest in reading during a modern and majorly technological era, librarians have to work tirelessly to keep students reading. It helps improve vocabulary, and improves reading comprehension as well as test scores but also unite a community of readers under the author’s spellbinding story that pulls them in. The library provides a quiet sanctuary for students to work and lose themselves in books. I appreciate the chance to learn more about it and now that I understand the dewey decimal system, I feel confident in my ability to find books next year in an even larger and more confusing library. I can’t thank Mrs. Thrash enough for the wonderful opportunity she gave me to be a librarian for ten days.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

We have read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Eragon and countless other books, but they are severely outclassed compared to the beautiful work we know as the Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Set against a traditional fantasy background, this tale of adventure, magic, and wit is written in true epic tradition and in epic proportion. Many of you may be deterred by the book’s size, but you will be grateful for this within the first 15 pages. While maintaining the integrity of the genre, this fast paced novel lacks the pauses or painfully detailed descriptions of traditional fantasy. Simply put, this book is amazing and we highly recommend it for mature readers of all levels. It is so good that we intend to let it speak for itself:

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree. "The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire. "The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age. I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic. My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them. But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know." I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned. I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

This book is available at the Ravenscroft library, the public library and as an E book. This fall we will discuss this book in the Upper School book club.

By Jonathan Prather and Robin Kikuchi

Tina Fey- Bossypants

This was honestly the greatest book I have ever read. Like because of these few hundred pages, I now hold literature (and yes I consider this literature) to a new standard. Though the chapters may broach subjects that mostly concern mothers struggling with parenthood, however anyone can relate to Tina Fey's witty observations. For instance, if you are an avid comedy fan, you'll recognize her career in the Second City and work on Saturday Night Live. However, every reader can relate to the hilarious Fey. You should definitely read this if:
-you like to smile
-you like to laugh
-you know how to read
-you aren't a soulless demon that can't appreciate a well-written book
If you're still not convinced, just ponder this quote: “To say I’m an overrated troll, when you have never even seen me guard a bridge, is patently unfair.” She addresses controversial issues in a weirdly sarcastic yet optimistic way. I cannot rave about this book enough, a true 10/10.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Being a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I knew the reputation of Hitchhiker before I even began thinking of reading it. I knew it was a cult classic with a movie and a fan base parallel to Star Trek or Doctor Who. Russell T. Davies, TV Producer and a writer of Doctor Who even gave Hitchhiker a forward: " …in my whole life, I can’t remember a book being so shared. We owned it with pride, so many of us – not just the elite, but the whole range.”
The adventures of Arthur Dent,  a human taken from Earth by his alien friend, Ford Perfect (a name at which I giggled), right before Earth is destroyed to make way for an intergalactic freeway, are comedic rays of brilliance. Some of the British humor that the book is drenched in works for the American reader. I was afraid at first that the humor was going to be stupid, only knowing jokes from the book such as 42 being the answer to the meaning of life and "don't panic." As I read through the book, I couldn't stop laughing.
I took my dog to the dog park and read this book, and in between stopping my dog from lying in the mud and cracking up at the blunt satire this book has to offer, I had a conversation with a man (actually named Arthur) who loved the book and even had a tattoo on his forearm of a giant "42."
Hitchhiker has it's own personality that will put stitches in the side of everyone - no matter if they like sci-fi/fantasy or Nicholas Sparks.
It's a short book, but filled with some legendary quotes. 10/10 would recommend.
And remember, in case of interstellar travel, grab a towel and don't panic.

Trailer to movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbGNcoB2Y4I

And for you fans of BBC's Sherlock, Martin Freeman (Doctor John Watson) plays Arthur Dent. He's adorable.

The Great Gatsby

You've read the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and many of you have seen the 1974 version starring Robert Redford as The Great Gatsby.  

Are you ready for the bigger and bolder Baz Luhrman edition?  With the style, the cinematography, and a soundtrack produced by Jay-Z, it's bound to be electric!  

Here's the official website for the movie. thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com/

Here are a few reviews from Huffington Post and Variety.    

Join us on Friday, May 10th at the 4 PM showing at our favorite theatre, the Six Forks Cinema on Six Forks Road behind Chick-Fil-A and KMart!  Bring $6 for your ticket.

You can meet us there, but if you need a ride, be sure to sign up on our Google Doc so we'll have room on the bus for you.  We'll leave Rhonda's cafe at 3:40 on Friday.

See Allyson Take, Mr. League, or Mrs. Thrash for details!

If you're interested in writing a review on our blog, feel free to join our site and post!

The Hobbit @ Six Forks Cinema

Celebrating after our last exam!

If you've seen the movie, what did you think of The Hobbit?  Are you bothered by the changes made to the original book to stretch the film out into three parts?  Or are you happy with Peter Jackson's interpretation of Middle Earth?  Join this blog and add to the discussion.

Going to see the movie of the freshmen summer read, The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.