The LUNAR month from April 2 to May 1 heralds the Muslim observance of Ramadan, which focuses on self-discipline and building empathy for others, through acknowledgment of one's own good fortune and acts of selflessness. . This event, rooted in Islam, touches on many aspects of human experience, whose themes can be seen reflected in many different forms of art and cultural expression.
Here is just a sampling of books that have some kind of connection to characters that share Islamic culture.
The Library's curated list of books, Reading a Diversity of Voices, includes works that express the Black experience in America.
Popular Books:
- Between the world and me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates - How to be an antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi - "Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?" : and other conversations about race , by Beverly Daniel Tatum - Tyler Johnson was here, by Jay Coles - Every body looking, Candice Iloh
For this year's OBOA you will have a choice of books, either fiction or nonfiction. All we ask is that the book you choose from one of the selected topics have a focus on Social Justice. To help you pick the best book, look at this list of recommendations from the One Book One Amity committee and the high school librarians. (Please don't pick a book that is already part of the AHS curriculum.) Questions? Watch the OBOA 2021-22 video.
Science Full Text Selectis a full-text science-specific database providing publications focused on a range of different topics. It combines content from Applied Science & Technology Full Text, Biological & Agricultural Index Plus, General Science Full Text and other renowned resources(access until June 30, 2020).
Literary Reference Center Plus is so useful because it limits its content to literature and literary criticism, so students are not overwhelmed with irrelevant materials. There are several compilations of materials for a few key works, like Macbeth, Gatsby, Lord, and Crucible, as well as many pieces of literary criticism on class AND contemporary works, including many YA works. Some fun additional material includes colorful charts clarifying things like character relationships in major works(access until June 30, 2020).
Books: Poetry & Short Story Reference Center has over 350,000 full-text poems, and 40,000 short stories, as well as articles. Do an advanced search with a blank field, click Full-Text, and then use limiters on the left to sort by poems, short stories etc. Or look at the list of poetic forms or techniques, and add that to your search terms(access until June 30, 2020).
Shakespeare Speaking Contest Held in Library
The 2019-20 One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 are receiving a copy (one per family) of Dear Evan Hansen, by Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Dear Evan Hansen, by the creators of the Broadway musical of the same name, is a story about a social awkward, anxiety-ridden teen.
When a letter that was never meant to be seen draws him into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell--that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.
Special events will be held around the year at Amity built around the themes in the book.
Watch the OneBook, One Amity video reveal, created by Amity students. Ask your teachers or librarians for the password.
It's Here! The 2019-20 One Book is Dear Evan Hansen
Dear Evan Hansen, by Val Emmich with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, is a story about Evan Hansen, a social awkward, anxiety-ridden teen. When a letter that was never meant to be seen draws him into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell--that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.
The One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 will receive a free copy of the book chosen, (one per family).
Special events will be held around the year at Amity built around the themes in the book.
Spanish Students Present Campaigns to Protect the Amazon
Image by Neil Palmer (CIAT). Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Students Give High Marks to Author and Journalist Jake Halpern Visit!
33rd Library Art Award Winners
The 33rd Annual Patricia E. Martin Library Art Award was held on May 16th.
Congratulations to the winner, Elaina Ferraro, for her digital print on paper titled "Women's Rights, Madonna". Elaina will receive a cash award from the Amity PTSO, and the artwork will be displayed.
Cartoonist and Author Dave Roman Visits Amity Library
Computer Reservations during Mid-term Exams
Since the normal reservation system is not adapted to the exam schedule, teacher reservations have been compiled on this alternative reservation sheet. For changes or additions, please contact the librarians.
It's Here! The 2018-19 One Book is "All American Boys"
All American Boys, by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds, the story of a young African-American man who finds himself at the center of a social movement arising from the very real issues of racial bias and violence that plague American society.
The One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 will receive a free copy of the book chosen, (one per family).
Special events will be held around the year at Amity built around the themes in the book.
Well,it's happening. Summer break is ending, and it's back to school for students, back to work for teachers.
The good news is that we all get to see a lot of people we like again, and, as always, we are all going to work together to make this year the best it can be.
On April 24th, Amity's junior class will be taking the SAT in school. The Library has all the latest test prep books for the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, and AP Tests.
Photo by Ryan McVay
The Story Slam!
Participate as a contestant, or just come and watch other students tell real stories about their lives at the THE STORY SLAM!, sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Foundation Wednesday, April 11th, after school in the library. If you want to tell a story, ask your English teacher for the guidelines.
Library Visit: Graphic Novelist and Illustrator Dave Roman
Library Visit: Editorial Cartoonist Bob Englehart
The Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation (jamiehulleyartsfund.org) is sponsoring a presentation by noted editorial cartoonist Bob Englehart. Students in selected classes, including Art and Social Studies, will attend.
An Hour of Code is an international event to show everyone how easy it is to learn to program. Schools around the world are joining in, and prizes will be awarded for participation.
Start with a short tutorial, using fun drag-and-drop tools like Minecraft, Star Wars, or Anna and Elsa, or tutorials from tech partners like Khan Academy, Tynker, Thinkersmith, Lightbot, and CodeCombat.
You don't have to create an account or sign in to do a tutorial, but if you do, you can track your progress. If you do sign in and want to be counted as an Amity student, fill in the Add-a-Teacher Section Code (coming soon).
It's Here! The 2017-18 Book is "xxx"
The 2017 One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 are receiving a copy (one per family) of xx's Title, the story of a young xxx man who finds himself at the center of a social movement arising from the very real issues of racial bias and violence that plague American society.
Special events will be held around the year at Amity and our partner libraries, planned around the themes in the book. Check the list of events as they are organized!
It's Here! The 2016-17 Book is "Every Day"
The 2017 One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 are receiving a copy (one per family) of David Levithan's Every Day, a story of "A", who spends each day inhabiting the body and the life of a different person.
Special events will be held around the year at Amity and our partner libraries, planned around the themes in the book. Check the list of events as they are organized!
It's Here! The 2015-16 Book is "The Boy who Harnessed the Wind"
The 2017 One Book, One Amity program is an all-out, community-wide effort to create a shared experience and promote literacy.
All staff, faculty, and students in grades 9-12 are receiving a copy (one per family) of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (young readers edition). This is an inspirational true story of a young man who overcame enormous difficulties to try to improve his family's life in rural Africa.
Special events will be held around the year at Amity and our partner libraries, planned around the themes in the book. Check the list of events as they are organized!
We would like to thank our business and community partners whose generosity made this possible.
Watch this video, starring your favorite teachers and students, revealing the title of the book. Ask your teachers or librarians for the password.
Come to the Story Slam, with author and storyteller Matthew Dicks. Tuesday, March 28th, at 2:30, in the library.
Do you want to tell your story? Look at these resources to get a feeling for what a story slam story is like. Also, make sure to read the storytelling guidelines.
Come to the Story Slam, with author and storyteller Matthew Dicks. Thursday, April 20th, at 2:30, in the library.
2015-16 Library Art Award, 31st Edition, is Open for Submissions
The 31st Annual Patricia E. Martin Library Art Award is open to all students. Categories include two and three-dimensional works, and must fit in the scope of the theme, which is "Library, Information, and Technology".
Submission date is May 16th. For more information, view the submission guidelines. Submission forms can be printed out and turned in to the Library.
31st Library Art Award Winners
The 31st Annual Patricia E. Martin Library Art Award, in which students submitted works of art that illustrated the theme, "Library, Information, and Technology", was held on May 25th.
Congratulations to the two winners, Bianca Gibbons-Morales, for her wearable paper sculpture, and Elizabeth Poland, for her pastel drawing.
32nd Library Art Award Winners
The 32nd Annual Patricia E. Martin Library Art Award, in which students submitted original works of art, was held on May11th.
Congratulations to the two winners, Micha Aviad, for her politically inspired mixed-media work entitled "No Evil" (left), and Charlotte Gorham, for "Zoom", a pastel on board (below).
Like to Write? Author Caragh O'Brian Visits Amity
The AHS Library will welcome best-selling author: Caragh O’Brien on Thursday, October 29, sessions 5 and 6. Ms. O'Brian will discuss “why and how we write” with members of the Creative Writing classes, and other interested students. Students will have the chance to practice writing, view each other's work, and volunteer to read their pieces aloud. Interested? Come and talk to one of the librarians.
This event is sponsored by the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation.