To Read on Your Device

1. Download the SORA app
2. Find “Pembina Hills” in the drop-down menu
3. Log in using your school username and password
4. Browse, search, borrow, and download!

To Read on Your Computer

1. Go to: soraapp.com
2. Find “Pembina Hills” in the drop-down menu
3. Log in using your school username and password
4. Browse, search, borrow, and download!

The Alberta OverDrive K-12 collection on Sora

…provides free, 24/7 access to fiction and nonfiction eBooks and audiobooks with your school account.

It’s convenient for students to check out titles at home, on the weekends or during school breaks with no worry about misplacing a book or running up late fees – these digital titles automatically return at the end of the lending period!

OverDrive can help students of all ages read more and improve comprehension.  Struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged, second language learners, and gifted readers can all benefit from this service.

• Enrich vocabulary and improve comprehension and pronunciation
• Introduce students to books above their reading level
• Teach critical listening
• Help busy kids find time to read

The collection contains materials for all grades and interests and students will be automatically directed to an appropriate collection for their grade range.

*Watch for 2020 Update

February Fun with Whooo’s Reading.

Students from Grades 1-6 are invited to read and have fun recording their reading at the Whooo’s Reading site, and to help raise money for elementary field trips. 

Watch for info coming home in the last week of January.

Thank you so much for your support!

Here’s how our 2019 program went:

“ Fifty-six elementary students participated in the Swan Hills School Whooo’s Reading Read-A-Thon during February. Division One (Grades 1-3) and & Division Two (Grades 4-6) were equally represented, with twenty-eight students each. Read-A-Thons are an effective way to motivate children to find time each day for reading, a good practice that develops reading skills and helps foster a love of reading.

Family members sponsored students to encourage them to read as much and as often as they could. Students were rewarded for minutes read, how many days in a row they recorded their reading, and for each email to a potential sponsor. They enjoyed accessorising their ‘owl-vatars’, earning ‘wisdom points’, challenging each other, and commenting on one another’s books.

11,472 minutes were logged by our readers during the month. That’s over 191 hours or eight twenty-four-hour days! Thirty of the fifty-six participants raised nearly $2000, which will go to elementary field trips, divided as raised by each division: seventy percent to Division One and thirty to Division Two.

Chloe led the reading with 1489 minutes or nearly twenty-five hours, and Jairus led the fundraising, bringing in $300 in sponsorships. Jairus also came in among the Top-Ten readers with 843 minutes! Other Top-Ten readers were Sahil, Iten, Brock, Owen M., Anna B., Darbie, Quinn, and Serenity. The other nine Top-Ten fundraisers were Dorothy, Darbie, Terry, Jesse F., Zenon, Hailey, Brock, Serenity, and Aria.”

The Library Award is given to the elementary class with the best record for returning their library books on time during the previous month. We believe that a seemingly small thing like taking care of and returning library books on time, demonstrates organization skills and responsibility that will serve students all through their school careers and onward in life. The Library Award is part of our Responsible Reader Program.

We believe that a seemingly small thing like taking care of and returning library books on time demonstrates organization skills and responsibility that will serve students all through their school careers and onward in life.

Elementary students who have returned all their books on time during the previous month receive a stamp on the back of their library card. After 3 stamps, a prize is awarded and once each year the student’s borrowing limit is raised. After 6 stamps there is another small prize. At the end of the year, if the student has achieved the commendable feat of returning all of their library books on time during the year, they are awarded a certificate and a prize engraved with “Swan Hills School Responsible Reader”.

Every December, the library invites members of the community to share seasonal stories with our students. Everybody has a good time as ‘regular people’ read to, or tell stories to classes in the library. If you like to read or are a story-teller, contact Mrs. Kilpatrick to volunteer for this event by November 15.

We host a Scholastic Book Fair every year during the March parent/teacher conferences. Half of the profits benefit the library! With the support of the community, we raise money for the library and add to the collection. The best part, though, is the enthusiasm with which our students anticipate and enjoy the Fair. Click here for the results of the 2018 Book Fair.

The Book Fair is truly a team effort. Many parents and other community members, as well as staff and students, help to make it happen. If you’re interested in volunteering, please see Mrs. Kilpatrick.

April is Poetry Month. The magnetic poetry comes out so all ages can express themselves. In Library Classes we explore all the different ways that poets play with words and in some classes, we hold poetry slams.

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