90 Second Newbery Film Competition and Festival

Elizabeth and Astrid created this short animation and entered it in the 90 Second Newbery Film Competition & Festival!

The 90-Second Newbery Film Competition & Festival celebrates the biggest award in children’s literature – The Newbery Medal – presented annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Learn more about the Newbery Medal here.

Filmmakers of any age (but mostly kids and teens), are challenged to make a movie that creatively compresses the story of a Newbery Medal or Honor book into 90 seconds or less using (at least mostly) kid and teen actors. The best videos received are shown at annual 90-Second Newbery Film Festival screenings in New York City, Chicago, and Portland. We are delighted that author James Kennedy brings this hilarious event to Tacoma.

The public is invited to the film festivial.
Saturday, February 23 @ 2 p.m.
Olympic Room, Main Library
Please join us for a screening of the top videos, hosted by the festival’s co-creator, James Kennedy, author of Order of the Odd Fish and the awesomely entertaining, Kevin Emerson, author of Carlos is Gonna Get It, “The Oliver Nocturne” series, and his newest The Lost Code.

Watch all the films here.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It was a busy week at the Middle School! We had Writers’ Club, Yearbook Club, and another group go help at St. Leo’s! Today we also had an awesome Taekwondo presentation by A., made Valentines, and had a nice, low-key party. Happy long weekend, everyone!

Snowshoeing and St. Leo’s

What a busy two weeks at the Middle School! Last Thursday we had the wonderful opportunity to go snowshoeing up at Mt. Rainier. It was a blast being outside in the fresh air and snow.

On Wednesday, students walked up to St. Leo’s Food Connection to help with their backpack program as part of the Middle Schoolers’ social studies unit on hunger and food insecurity. The students seriously rocked and unloaded the food truck, restocked the shelves, and packed two BARRELS worth of backpacks in one hour. Way to go!