1. Hazel
Hainsworth
Young Library
at Jack Yates
High School-
2019-2020
Our Year of
Celebrations
Table of Contents
September January
October February
November March
December
2. September/October
Each fall, we start the school year by
celebrating Banned Book Week. This
year’s Banned Book Week celebration
was our Toni Morrison Festival with book
talks and video sharing of the late
author’s works.
In October, we recognize Hispanic
Heritage Month with lunch-time teach-
ins focusing on customs and traditions
such as Loteria contests and dia De La
Muertos.
3. October
Our annual summer reading recognition is
combined with American Library
Association’s TeenTober and Yates
Homecoming Activities. Participants of
the collaboration between HISD and
Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading
Program are recognized with a display of
their maker space creations. Students
transform alumni donated pumpkins into
various representations of our mascot-
The JY Lion.
4. November
November brings the kick-off of our campus
poetry club with our annual (Edgar Allan) Poe
Party. Classes read several works of Poe, then
celebrate the author’s works with a Poe/Gothic
Literature Party- Name That Book style !
5. December
In December, scholars come to our
Holiday World Wonder to relax
and study for finals among
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, La Posada,
and Christmas books, cultural
displays, and a hot chocolate and
coffee bar.
6. December
Celebrating the end of the semester
with Hour of Code !
Our Maritime Academy scholars
prepare for final exams by
programing Sphero robots to locate
answers to final exam questions.
7. January
Celebrating the Year of the Mouse
For Chinese New Year and the
Martin Luther King Day’s tradition
of service, students choose books
to read to younger aged friends
and family. Chosen books feature
mice and are borrowed from the
Houston Astros Literacy
Foundation.
8. During Chinese New Year our students greet
staff members with good luck tokens of
oranges and apples.
January
9. January
In honor of Martin Luther King, we
celebrate our library’s annual Civil
Rights Month with displays of the
James Hundemer Civil Rights
Collection, Martin Luther King, and a
student book trailer display of
Congressman John Lewis’ March.
Student book trailer:
https://animoto.com/play/AkRiPHXTeA1OuLhcNfg4qg
Alicia, 2018
10. February
JY Book Dating – Celebrate Books!
Students participate in reader’s advisory
by completing online (book) dating
surveys to determine books in which they
would be interested. Afterwards, the
library is transformed into a Book Love
Tapas Bistro where students who
complete the dating service app are
invited for refreshments, blind dates with
books, and instant photo booths.
13. February
Celebrating African American History-
Scholars prepare for biographical
research through our African American
Read-in and Harlem Renaissance
inspired JY Salon.
15. March
In recognition of Dr. Seuss Day, our Silent Reading Club chose Dr. Seuss books and voted daily for the version of Green Eggs they would view their librarian eat each morning.
Celebrating Dr. Seuss Week at Yates
Our Silent Reading Club choose Dr. Seuss
books and vote daily for the version of
green eggs they would like to watch their
librarian eat each morning.
17. March
Twelfth Annual Party in the
Stacks!
Our self-contained students who were
involved in an extended chapter book study
focusing on service dogs hosted a Mardi Gras
themed party with HISD’s Canine Officer
Arias as the guest of honor.
18. March
Each day that I am a school
librarian,
I find something to celebrate.
Each day that my students enjoy
learning,
because of our library
programming, we
celebrate even more!
