Letter to Parent/Guardian from Miss Sis

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Here is a little information about “The Monarch Award After-School Program”. 

   The Monarch Award is given annually (beginning in 2005) to an author and/or illustrator of a book voted as their favorite by participating K – 3^rd grade children in Illinois.  The award is sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) and is designed to encourage Illinois students to read critically and to become familiar with children’s books, authors and illustrators.

   The award is named in honor of the Monarch Butterfly, Illinois’ state insect. The butterfly symbolizes growth, change and freedom–qualities that also characterize the emergent reader.

   This program is designed for grades K-3^rd but is open to everyone (please note that only K-3^rd graders will be eligible to “officially” vote).

   We will meet every Tuesday from 3:30-approx. 4:30 p.m., from September through February at the Little House.

   Voting on the Monarch Award will be at the end of February.

   Parents and/or guardians are not required to stay with the children during this time but we do ask that you stay on the Library’s premises. 

   Each week I will read or begin a Monarch Award nominated book and then do activities related to that book.  There will be no silly songs (as of yet), no games (maybe a few) and no foolishness (I’ll try to refrain).

   Each child will also get a bookmark with all the nominees and scoring for each book that they can take home.  Nominated books may be read at home, which is encouraged, in any order you choose, as many times as you choose.  Bookmarks do not need to be returned.  They are just to help the children remember the books when the time comes to vote.

   We will read all 20 nominated books during the program.  For the K-3^rd child to be eligible to vote, at least 12 of the 20 books must have been read.

Thanks for all your support,

Miss Sis