We’re thrilled to start 2025 with exciting new initiatives and opportunities for students, staff, and families. Read on to learn about Beanstack, a bookmark contest, and some great winter reads. 

Introducing Beanstack: Track Your Reading and Reach New Goals!

We’re excited to announce the launch of Beanstack, our new online reading tool designed to encourage and celebrate reading at both school and home.

What is Beanstack?

Beanstack is a web and mobile app that helps track independent reading time, providing students and staff with engaging challenges and opportunities to build a culture of reading. Easily accessible through ClassLink, the app is also available for download on your mobile devices to make logging minutes a breeze.

Why Use Beanstack?

  • Motivation through Data—Beanstack’s user-friendly interface uses data-driven strategies to inspire consistent reading habits.

  • School-Wide Participation—Our goal is to encourage a shared love for reading across our community, with every minute logged bringing us closer to our collective goal of 135,000 minutes!

First Challenges

  • Student Challenge: Runs from January 3-31. Try to read for 10 minutes a day and compete to see who can read the most this month! There will be prizes. :-) 

  • Staff Wellness Challenge: Runs from January 1 - March 31. Stretch your reading skills and explore new genres, or specific types of books. Read new books to earn Bingo and enter a drawing for a boatload of Wellness Bucks!

Together, we can create a fun and supportive environment that celebrates the joy of reading. Please reach out to Mrs. Barry, Secondary Schools Librarian, or Greg Tacconi-Moore, Literacy Interventionist, with any questions.

Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) Bookmark Contest: Find Your Path in the Library

The MSLA Bookmark Contest is here, and this year’s theme is "Find Your Path in the Library." This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your school library program by designing a bookmark showing activities, lessons, resources, and/or experiences your school library and librarian provide that show how you find your path in the library. 

Here are some ideas to help you think about what to include in your bookmark:

  • Think about the things that are important to you in the library.
  • Think about one of your favorite experiences in the library.
  • Think about your favorite book, genre, or character that has helped you learn something new.

Deadline: All entries are due to Mrs. Barry or Ms. Maruskin by January 21st.

Submission Details: Visit the contest page for more information: MSLA Bookmark Contest.

WINNERS! Winners will be announced at the MSLA Conference in March.

Contest prizes include:

  • Bookstore gift card ($50 for 1st place, $25 for honorable mention)
  • Invitation to an in-person Awards Ceremony (details to follow)
  • Certificate, enlargement, and reproductions (50 for 1st place, 25 for honorable mention) of winning bookmark designs

Good luck and have fun!

January Holidays

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, the library is featuring a special collection of books highlighting Dr. King’s legacy and the Civil Rights Movement. Stop by to explore powerful stories that inspire courage, equality, and justice. Also, this blog post from the Library of Congress has some excellent resources  to explore the history and traditions of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with students. 

Lunar New Year: Welcoming the Year of the Snake

Lunar New Year begins on January 29, and a Chinese New Year Celebration will take place at Weston High School on Saturday, January 26. This event is proudly organized and hosted by the Weston Public Schools Mandarin Classes and the Little Helping Hands Club, with invaluable support from the WPS administration, and both current and former WPS families. (See this post for details). 

Winter Reads: Recently Added Books & Award Winners

Looking for your next great read? Check out our latest additions to the library collection: Recently Added Books. Browse online or visit the library to find a cozy, winter read. January is also awards month! Every year the American Library Association (ALA) announces the top books, digital media, video, and audiobooks for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, and Printz awards. A complete list of the 2025 award winners can be found here. We also have many award-winners on display in the library this month.

Thank you for supporting our library initiatives! We’re looking forward to a fantastic year filled with reading, creativity, and community engagement. Be sure to log those reading minutes! 

Mrs. Barry & Ms. Maruskin