24 March 2011

Monday 4 April - Mini Kids' Lit Quiz

On Monday 4 April, at 4.05 pm there will be a mini Kids' Lit Quiz in the school hall. Everyone is invited to participate in or watch this lively and enjoyable event.

This is a fun team quiz which will finish by 4.50, the end of 'coach study', in time for the late buses.

Make up a team of 6 - anyone can enter, you can even ask a teacher to join your team. OLA Junior School is fielding two teams.

Don't be afraid you won't know the answers - you WILL know the answers to many of the questions! It's a team effort, and answers are written down - no-one is put on the spot! There will be 5 rounds of 5 questions so even if you are not a great reader you should be able to answer most questions in a team.

There will be PRIZES but you will be surprised at how much entertainment the KLQ generates.

Please join us!

10 March 2011

Oxford Literary Festival

The Oxford Literary Festival runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th April, and the children's and young adults events offer a wide programme of events. Authors and illustrators include Anthony Browne, Anne Fine, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson, the current and previous Children's Laureates, as well as Eoin Colfer, Michelle Magorian, Justin Somper, Francesca Simon and Andy Stanton. Find out more http://www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com/#Childrens

07 March 2011

Book award news

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John is the Blue Peter Book of the Year. Set in St Ives it's the adventures of an 11-year-old amateur detective, Laura Marlin and her three-legged husky, Skye. More

2011 Shortlist Red House Children's Book Award. The prize is awarded annually in three categories and judged entirely by children from shortlist to final overall Winner. Children have been reading and reviewing books all year long and these are their favourite ten.
Books for Older Readers:
Trash by Andy Mulligan
The Kane Chronicles: the Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow
Books for Younger Readers:
The Great Hamster Massacre by Katie Davies
Time Train to the Blitz by Sophie McKenzie
Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
Books for Younger Children:
Gilbert the Hero by Jane Clarke and Charles Fuge
Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza by Holly Clifton-Brown
Yuck! That’s not a Monster! by Angela McAllister and Alison Edgson
Dragon Stew by Steve Smallman and Lee Wildish.

Bisto Children's Book of the Year Awards Shortlist. This is the leading annual children's book award to authors and illustrators born or resident in Ireland. More
A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton
Dancing in the Dark by Peter Prendergast
Mac Rí Éireann le Caitríona Hasting agus Andrew Whiton
Prim Improper by Deirdre Sullivan
Taking Flight by Sheena Wilknson
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
The Lunatics Curse by F.E. Higgins
The Owl and the Pussycat illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Tiny Little Fly illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Up and Down by Oliver Jeffers.

Hans Christian Andersen Award nominations
Every other year the Hans Christian Andersen Awards are given to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. John Burningham and Philip Pullman have been nominated by the UK section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) among an international field and the winner will be announced next year after detailed consideration by an international panel. More

03 March 2011

5745

5745 minutes of reading took place in the last quarter hour of the school day as everyone stopped to read as part of our celebration of World Book Day. That's about 95 hours!

01 March 2011

World Book Day 2011

We're celebrating World Book Day in a number of ways:
- House of Books installation! See below.
- Whole School Reading, 3.45 - 4.00 p.m. The three afternoon lessons are shorter by 5 minutes so everyone can stop and read. Stay with your teacher from period 8, but remember to bring something to read, or visit the Library earlier in the day;
- Read around the World: a huge selection of great reads on display on the shelf and online here;
- Fun activities based on fact-finding about countries;
- World Book Day voucher. All students will receive a £1 voucher which can be used towards book purchases in participating bookshops or towards an order from Cover2Cover magazine in school, return your order to the Library by 10 March; token valid until 27 March in shops;
- Launch of the Library's regular 'Best of OLA Library' delivered directly to your school email in-box and featuring some of the best reads and websites, hints and tips.

House of Books World Book Day sees the official launch of OLA's House of Books. This exciting installation is being developed with the Art Department who will involve the whole school and will culminate in a structure made of books. Inspired by the work of prize-winning Canadians Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, who exhibited at Modern Art Oxford in 2009, OLA's construction will be made of old books individually wrapped. Each contributor will label their parcel with details of their favourite book and a one-word description. Years 7 & 8 pupils have already contributed one brick each but more will accumulate as other year groups add theirs. Watch this space for reports of how the project is progressing, and the plan for the construction develops.