Sticking Your Neck Out...I Want to be a GIRAFFE!

So, here is my new goal in life... to be a giraffe. About Giraffes: Here at the Giraffe Heroes Project, we have long honored the risk-takers, people who are largely unknown, people who have the courage to stick their necks out for the common good, in the US and around the world. This site will tell you more http://www.giraffe.org/ YES, I want to be a giraffe! Giraffes stick their necks out. We all have to stick out necks out if we want to create a better world. I am a baby giraffe right now. I do the recycle program at Pattimura School, I run the roots and shoots after-school program. I am Captain Code Green, reminding everyone about helping mother earth. I have encouraged service at school in many different ways. BUT...I still want to be a big giraffe with a long neck. What could that look like? I think I have to get my hands dirty and really get out there and do something. 
So...here I am at a huge crossroads in my life and I really could check out the me to we organization. I could send them my resume that I started on service and see what happens. Why stop here. Why not sent the resume to a slew of service organization world-wide and see what happens. Why not really stick my neck out!  

Don’t JUST google Please, Where to find information with your children?

Do you realize that if you GOOGLE the word dogs, you get 153,000,000 hits. What can you do with all that information about dogs? Who wants that much information about dogs? How long would it take to read all that information about dogs? How much of that information about dogs is accurate? This kind of searching is overwhelming for our students. We want to teach your children how to best access information and for now in elementary school we want to keep it simple.
Our library catalog is created by a company called Follett Destiny. Besides just finding books for you in all JIS Libraries, you can go to Webpath and find sites that are kid friendly. JIS has given Follett the names of our units of study and they have been able to find sites that are evaluated by experts. We know these sites contain correct information that is helpful and kid-friendly. We would like to invite parents to explore the PEL Catalog and see if they can use Webpath. It operates like any other search engine. Here is where you find it. Explore!

One Search is also a great place to find information. You can find a number of different kid-friendly online encyclopedias, and other kid publications like Yahoo! Kids, Atlapedia, World Book, GOT QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS, netTrekker, sirs, and KidsClicks. You can find One Search on the PEL Library Catalog under Find, all the way to the right with a handheld magnifying glass.

If you are still not information rich, go to the PEL Library Homepage. There are connections to a number of search engines, but remember these are not evaluated or censored. Some of my favorites are PBS Kids and Onekey for kids (a google site for kids). You will also find DK Encyclopedia and Smithsonian on the homepage.
If you are more confused than ever...please stop in the library and ask. We are here for you and your child's information needs. Or email me at rpolonsky@jisedu.or.id.


Remember the PEL Library Homepage for your information needs!