Things to read...
The next Reading Group book if 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' by Muriel Spark on 3rd November via Microsoft Teams - please contact the library if you would like to join. At the staid Marcia Blaine School for Girls in Edinburgh, Scotland, teacher extraordinaire Miss Jean Brodie is unmistakably, and outspokenly, in her prime. She is passionate in the application of her unorthodox teaching methods and strives to bring out the best in each one of her students. Determined to instill in them independence, passion, and ambition, Miss Brodie advises them, "Safety does not come first. Goodness, Truth, and Beauty come first. Follow me." And they do--but one of them will betray her.
Things for children to read...
A new book published recently aims to help children stay hopeful and positive during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story is a sequel to ‘My Hero is You: how kids can fight COVID-19!’, published in April 2020. Both books have been released by a collaboration of 60 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the MHPSS Collaborative for Children & Families in Adversity.
‘My Hero is You 2021: how kids can hope with COVID-19!’ draws on the daily realities of millions of children since the beginning of the pandemic. For many, the pandemic continues to disrupt their education, recreation, and time with friends, family and teachers.
The story – aimed primarily at children aged 6-11 years – sees the return of Ario, a fantasy creature who travels the world helping children to find hope in the future and joy in simple pleasures. Together with old and new friends, Ario addresses the fears, frustrations and concerns children are facing in the current phase of the pandemic, and explores the various coping mechanisms that they can use when faced with difficult emotions like fear, grief, anger and sadness.
Available to download free in a variety of languages.
Things to attend...
ScHARR short courses for October-December have been announced.
- MASTERIE ONLINE Course 19th & 26th October 2021 (4 x half days) 20th & 21st October 2021 (2x half-days); Fees £349
- Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis ONLINE Mon 1st, Tues 2nd, Mon 8th and Tues 9th November 2021 (4 days) The course comprises live online sessions, plus a series of short, self-directed exercises to be undertaken in addition to the live sessions. Fees £499
Things to keep children active...
Physical activity among children and adolescents is associated with lower adiposity, improved cardio‐metabolic health, and improved fitness. Worldwide, fewer than 30% of children and adolescents meet global physical activity recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Schools may be ideal sites for interventions given that children and adolescents in most parts of the world spend a substantial amount of time in transit to and from school or attending school.
The purpose of this Cochrane Review update is to summarise the evidence on effectiveness of school‐based interventions in increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity and improving fitness among children and adolescents 6 to 18 years of age.
Things to read and attend...
Next Journal Club: Tues 12 October. Contact the library for a copy of the paper and joining information
Venue: Virtually/ Education and Skills Centre, F Floor, Grey Lifts.
Paper: Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Adolescents
Things spooky...
Kelham Island Museum after dark - an event for children and an event for over-18s on October 28th. Book in advance.
Things about measuring well-being...
While there is very good national data on the wellbeing of adults, the national statistics on children and young people’s wellbeing in the UK, is not collected regularly, or nationally.
A key role for the What Works Centre for Wellbeing is to create robust, consistent wellbeing measures that can be used with confidence for different purposes and groups in the UK. With this project, they have developed a framework to measure the subjective wellbeing of children and young people, an area with growing national interest, particularly as a result of Covid-19.
Things to take part in...
The Commission on Young Lives, an independent commission set up to research and design a new national system to support vulnerable young people in England, has opened a call for evidence. They are looking to hear from frontline workers, system leaders and commissioners, and those with lived experience. The closing date for submissions is 30 November 2021.
Things to make...
I love butternut squash and this risotto is easy to make and fabulous in flavour - don't stint on the sage - the fried leaves on the top may be the best bit! I may have featured it before but make no excuses to do so again.
Things nearly finished...
Next week will be my final Blog before I retire. There will be a few weeks before my successor takes up the post so Sarah & Kate will be stretched to cover the library services. So there will be a few weeks gap in the blog. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!