April is School Library Month

School Library Month is celebrated annually in April to recognize the essential role of school library programs in transforming learning. This year's theme is School Libraries Transform Learning. A School Library is the heart of the school. Libraries open doors for learners...to dream, to explore, to learn. School libraries transform learning because Googling an answer isn't enough---

         Students need to learn how to locate, access and evaluate information as they develop essential information and digital literacy, research skills that are necessary for both college and career readiness---lifelong skills. 

During the month of April events are planned to celebrate the coolest place on campus! 

• Be a part of our new Makerspace: Sign-up your team for the engineering Build-a-Bridge contest
• Learn how to create book trailers with an app like VoiceThread of your favorites to add to our book blog or around the library with a QR code
• Find book spines to create lines of poetry (check out Pinterest for inspiration search "Book Spine Poetry"
• Thank you to the Taft CHS Booster Club for funding the new SAT, AP Test prep materials that are being added to the collection! 
• Find out how to access the EBSCO High School Collection trial of e-books!

Teen Tech Week "Create It @ Your Library" March 6-12

Visit your Taft CHS Library all week and learn ways you can create, tinker and innovate! Events are scheduled throughout the week are will occur during lunchtime each day. 

Monday: Do you have a GAFE (Google Apps in Education) account? Learn more and set-up your portal to collaborate!

Tuesday: Let's create a Makerspace here at Taft CHS! Your input is wanted to design a place for creating, tinkering, and innovation-

Wednesday: Make your own iPhone speaker, FREE.

Thursday: How to make origami bookmarks, FREE.

Friday: Work in a team of two in the "Design a Bridge" contest. Prizes!

Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Rodriguez visits Taft CHS

In 2014, Mayor Eric Garcetti named best-selling author Luis J. Rodriguez, the Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. Best known for his memoir, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. is also an award-winning poet.

A community advocate and also a vocal advocate for the power of the written word. He is the second Poet Laureate of the city of Los Angeles following Eloise Klein Healy. He is also the founder and editor of Tia Chucha Press, which has a bookstore and cultural center in Sylmar. 

The Taft community is invited on Wednesday, February 24 at nutrition for an informal "meet and greet." 

He will also speak to an assembly of classes during period 3. 

Rodriguez describes "poetry as deep-soul talk, a powerful means to enlarge one's presence in the world." Learn more at his website, http://luisjrodriguez.com.

2016 Letter to My Parents Contest in Los Angeles

The Rotary Club of Filipinotown and Reiyukai America is pleased to invite teens and youth living in Los Angeles County to participate in the 2016 Letter to My Parents Contest (TM) in Los Angeles. 

To participate, a contestant must write a letter to his/her parent(s) or legal guardian and submit it to the organizing committee by the due date of Friday, January 22, 2016. The letters that qualify for the final stage will be read by the original writers in front of the judges who will select three winners based on pre-selected categories: Proposal, Reflection, and Bravery

Participants must be between the ages of 15 to 20 residing in the County of Los Angeles. Participants 17 years of age or younger must have permission to participate in the contest. 

Writing a Letter: The submitted letter must be written under a positive intention of maintaining a healthy relationship or to improve the current family situation. 

5.1 Guiding Questions
The participant may use one or more of the suggested guiding questions to write the letter.
-How have my parent's experiences and influence affect or shape the person I am today?
-What my parent(s) or guardian(s) means to me?
-What are my thoughts about how we are a family?
-What would I like to do for my parent(s) or guardian(s)?
-How can I improve relationships in my family?

Entries may be submitted online or your submission can be emailed. More information and forms are available at their website, http://losangeleslmp.com/index.html 

Library Advisory Committee forming - Thurs. January 21

Would you like to help plan for a future 21st century library?
Do you have a vision? Would you like to help?

GREAT! BRING your ideas for technology, seating, services, materials--whatever! Dream BIG!!

When:       Thursday, January 21, 2016 
Time:        Lunch
Where:      @ your Taft Library

LA Clippers Read to Achieve Program-Creative Writing Challenge

Are you a creative writer? Enter the L.A. Clippers Creative Writing Challenge. Your creation can be short story, poem or personal essay that incorporates the theme:

• Why is education important to you? OR 
• What goals have you set for yourself for the future? OR 
• What has been your proudest moment as a high school student?

Visit the Taft CHS Library Research Center to learn more and pick up the entry forms for your parent (s) to sign. All submissions will be mailed by your Teacher Librarian on Friday, January 22, 2016.


Five high school students will be selected as the L.a. Clippers Challenge winners! Not only do winners receive a personalized Clippers jersey but students and a guest will be invited to attend a special awards night celebrating reading and education.

Banned Book Week: September 27-October 3, 2015

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Held typically during the last week in September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information---your freedom to read.  

The Freedom to Read is essential to our democracy. Every year it is constantly under attack. Both public authorities and private groups all over our country are working to limit or restrict or censor content, especially in schools or libraries. 

Reading is among our greatest freedom! Your rights are rooted firmly in the U.S. Constitution in the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Don't take your freedom for granted! Learn more this week at your Taft CHS Library Research Center. 

• Did you know that "Young Adult books are challenged more frequently than any other type of book? " -ALA quote
• JOIN in a celebration this Friday, October 2 by reading your favorite Banned or challenged book!
• How many of the "2014 Top Ten Challenged Titles" have you read?