Filmclub @ Fresher's Fair

Come and see us in the Hall at the Fresher's Fair on Tuesday P2 (Yr 7) and Lunchtime (P8 & P9). We shall be promoting all the delights and goodies of Filmclub! 

Xmas Quiz

The weekly lunchtime quiz next Thursday will have a Christmas theme, including a Xmas music round. Bigger and better prizes as well next week!

New books!

 

Lots of new fiction books in the Hub over the half-term break: "The Perks of being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, "Sacrifice" by Charlie Higson; "The fault in our stars" by John Green; "Rebel heart" by Moira Young; "After" by Morris Gleitzman; "Now is good" by Jenny Downham; "The Chronicles of Egg" by Geoff Rodkey. Lots more new fiction on display, too many to list here. In non-fiction, we now have: the "Rough Guides to Cloud Computing & the iPhone"; "The Book of Dance"; "Big ideas that changed the world"; "The Economics book"; and "The Book of Bond". Check out the displays in the Hub. 

New DVDS in the Hub

Some new titles to choose from in the Hub, including: "Snow White & the Huntsman"; "Avengers Assemble"; "The Vow"; "Pirates! in an adventure with scientists"; and "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. All free to borrow for 1 week at a time.

Filmclub

Filmclub takes place on Mondays after school and is an opportunity to watch a variety of films, both classic and modern features, international films and short films. You get a membership card and lanyard, and a login for the Film Club website, where you can suggest films for the Club to watch in the future and write reviews on the Film Club website, with the best reviews each week having a chance to win prizes nationally. There will be themed programmes, and members will have a chance to participate in live webcasts with members of the film industry. The first film is a classic from 1984 (recently remade in 2010)???

Shiny happy new books

Lots of new fiction & non-fiction books have arrived, too many to list. Biographies from Lady Gaga to Barack Obama to Andy Murray. From Vegetarian Cooking, to the Story of Microsoft, to 100 years of Fashion, to Ethics of Sport, to 50 Modern Artists you should know. In fiction, we've got new books from favourites Jacqueline Wilson, Robert Muchamore, Rick Riordan, and a number of other highly recommended books from newer authors, including "The Glimpse" by Claire Merle & "At Yellow Lake" by Jane McLoughlin.

Win a trip to "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" in Orlando!!!

Are you a big Harry Potter fan? The publisher of the Harry Potter books, Bloomsbury, is looking for the most creative, clever and entertaining reasons why you love Harry Potter in 50 words or less. (You can also use drawings, doodles or illustrations) The closing date is 31st July, and 1st prize is a trip for 4 to Universal in Florida! Take a look at this website for an entry form and further details: http://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/harrypottercompetition

Learning Hub now on twitter!

We are now on twitter - follow our latest news tweets and other items of interest  @uptonlearnhub .

BBC World Class debate on "Respect"

Today the Hub is hosting pupils from Year 10 and the 6th Form who are taking part in an online debate with schools around the world via the BBC World Class site. The theme is the Olympic value of "Respect".  They will also be quizzing Youth Councillors in the Dominican Republic at 2pm! http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldclass/18600839

New DVDs just in!

 

Why not borrow one of these new releases on DVD - free to take home for a week. You can choose from multiple award winning silent film "The Artist"; the Steven Spielberg version of Michael Morpurgo's bestseller "War Horse; "The Woman in Black" - a gothic horror starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter himself!); or Shakespeare's "Coriolanus," given a modern twist by Ralph Fiennes.

Book of the Year 2012 - A Monster Calls

"A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness has won both Young Persons' Book of the Year and Best Illustrated Book. If you haven't read it yet, borrow it now from the Learning Hub!

500 words

The shortlisted stories from over 74,000 entries for BBC's 500 Words short story competition can be read by clicking here, and the overall winner will be announced live on the Chris Evans radio show tomorrow morning.

New stock!

New books this week include: Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis; Itch by Simon Mayo; Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane; Wonder by R.J. Palacio; and the Gamer's Edition of the Guinness World Records. Also newly arrived on DVD: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1; and Oliver Twist.

National Flash Fiction Day

It's National Flash Fiction Day on Wednesday 16th May, which celebrates the art of the ultra short story. For examples of the art check out the official page here. For a guide on writing your own flash fiction, have a look at the hints and tips in today's newspaper.

Carnegie in the Hub

The 8 shortlisted books for the Carnegie Medal have arrived, and can be read either in print or on a Kindle. Would you like to sign up to the Hub's Carnegie Medal shadowing group? You will be given a special login to comment on the group page blog, vote for your favourites and post reviews on the books. Take a look at our group site or enquire at the Hub.

Friday's lunchtime movie in the Hub!

Don't forget there is always the original book available to borrow for every movie shown on Fridays.

Read a prizewinner!

 

Check out the display of books in the Hub which have won Young People's Book of the Year for the last 10 years. There is a gripping read for everyone there.

Thursday quizzes coming soon......

Following the success of the Eco Schools' lunchtime quiz last Friday, there will be a General Knowledge quiz next Thursday 10th using the voting pads. If there is enough interest, it could become a weekly event!

New Frankenstein app

Profile Books will launch "a literary, interactive book app" this week for £2.99. Dale Townshend, a lecturer in Gothic and Romantic literature at the University of Stirling, said the app offered "a thoroughly literary experience" in the spirit of Shelley's original. "I really like it," he said. "It's done with enormous sensitivity to Shelley's narrative ... There's enormous intelligence behind the reworking." Dr Townshend was particularly impressed by a "nuanced take on monstrosity" without "cheap thrills of gore". In the second section, the reader becomes the creature. "You live and experience ... a creature called monstrous by those who don't understand him. That I found extremely poignant."

World Book Night

Today is both St. George's Day and the birth and death day of Shakespeare, and tonight is World Book Night in the UK, Ireland, Germany & the USA. In the UK alone, 20,000 passionate readers will each gift 24 copies of one of their favourite books to encourage those who don't regularly read to fall in love with reading. You can borrow some of the shortlisted titles from the Hub e.g. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro; Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Less than 100 days to London 2012!

There are now only 98 days to the start of the Olympic Games. The Hub has a small collection of books and a DVD about the Olympic Games, including the history of the games, Great Britain's involvement, and the Paralympics. Come to the Hub to check out the display. Teachers - for resources to use in class have a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/teachers/teach2012/ 

Skyhawk

The school had a visit from the publisher Oxford Press this week. Their recommendation for a great book to read this year......Skyhawk by Gill Lewis. It is a touching and thoroughly enjoyable book about what happens when two Scottish children discover an Osprey and have to struggle to protect the rare birds at all costs. The main characters are Callum and Iona and the story is also about how the discovery of the Osprey pushes them into forging a friendship. Michael Morpurgo said of Skyhawk - "Here's a rare thing, a novel, and a first novel too, that opens your eyes, touches your heart, and is so engaging it almost turns the pages for you."

Carnegie Medal 2012 shortlist announced!

My name is Mina by David Almond; Small change for Stuart by Lissa Evans; The midnight zoo by Sonya Hartnett; Everybody jam by Ali Lewis; Trash by Andy Mulligan; A monster calls by Patrick Ness; My sister lives on the mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher; Between shades of gray by Ruta Sepetys. The winner will be announced on June 14th! Check back here for details of the Hub Carnegie Shadowing Group coming soon.......

The Carnegie Medal for Outstanding Children's Book

The shortlist for the 2012 Carnegie Medal will be announced on Tuesday 27th March. All of the shortlist will be available to borrow from the Hub after the Easter break. Previous winning authors include: Patrick Ness, Neil Gaiman, Meg Rosoff & Frank Cottrell Boyce for "Millions." http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/

Borrow a Kindle

Did you know you can borrow a Kindle from the Hub? Over 30 students have already done so in the last 4 months. Each Kindle has over 60 books pre-loaded to enjoy. Ask at the Hub for more details.

(If you've already borrowed one, you can of course   borrow one again!)

New DVDs just in!

You may have read the original books, now try the new film versions of Tintin, The Help, Jane Eyre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and all 8 Harry Potter films. Or if you're studying English Language why not borrow Fry's Planet Word, recently shown on BBC 2. Something for everyone to enjoy in that selection.....

The Hunger Games

The most anticipated film of the year opens in cinemas this Friday. Why not borrow all three parts of the series (The Hunger Games; Catching Fire; Mockingjay) from the Learning Hub now and see how your imagination compares to Hollywood!

What shall I read next?

Don't know which book to read next or wondering who writes like your favourite author? For a guide to children's fiction why not try the Who Next Guide?, or for adult fiction try Who Else Writes Like?.  Both of these websites can be accessed throught the school's VLE.

BBC's 500 words competition

I've just finished judging 36 stories sent to me by the BBC. These were stories submitted from schools in another UK region. If you entered a story, it is probably being judged right now...... http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/500words/2012/

Welcome!

Welcome to the new blog for the International Learning Hub at Upton-by-Chester High School. This is where you'll find out what's happening in the Hub, what's new, what's coming soon, competitions, challenges etc. ........