Bagpipe Phenom Pack Member

As we approach the annual West Hills Multicultural Fair, I encourage everyone to check out a slated performance by junior Austin Diepenhorst. I hear he has performed in past years and so is likely a crowd favorite already, but I didn't find out about his bagpipe playing skills until just recently. Luckily, due to the special testing schedule, I had an opportunity to chat with him yesterday.

To begin with, I learned that Austin is incredibly talented when it comes to playing the instrument. Having started only four years ago, Austin is impressively already competing at Grade One, which is the highest of five levels just short of Professional Grade. Check out the video below of Austin playing recently in Las Vegas - make sure to watch through the end!

Beyond his obvious skill with playing, my conversation with Austin quickly made me realize that he is also highly informed regarding all aspects from mechanics and craftsmanship of the instrument to historical knowledge about traditions and particular artists and songs. Austin has not only connected with bagpipers locally, but has also found mentors and become friends with enthusiasts across the globe. For instance, he is currently studying under Bruce Gandy who lives in Nova Scotia, and the two conduct lessons via video chat. As Austin explained, being involved with the community has "made a big world smaller."

All of this talk also reminds me of Seth Godin's Tribes theory (NOTE: Godin's seminal work Tribes is available in the West Hills library for checkout). Clearly, Austin has created his place in the Bagpipe Tribe, and to have discovered and tapped into this passion at such a young age inspires me. It is also a good reminder that as an educator, I need to continually prioritize finding ways to connect with students regarding their interests - our students are amazing!

With my lack of scaffolding, I can't really do justice in representing the knowledge that Austin shared with me, but here are a few pieces that he has recommended. Give them a listen, and if you want to know more, just ask Austin. He exudes infectious energy when talking about the topic, and it is an honor that in our profession, we get chances to see our students light up like this and to learn from them.

• The Kings Taxes - Performed by Austin's instructor Bruce Gandy
• Medley, performed by the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band - Austin referred me to this link as a good example of an exemplary pipe band.
• Medley, performed by the Cameron Highlanders - This is the pipe band that Austin played with during the Las Vegas Highland Games last month.
• His Father's Lament for Donald McKenzie
• Field of Gold
• Flame of Wrath

Going Green With Digital Sign-In

The librarians across the district meet regularly as a Library Council to discuss and work on various joint initiatives, but we rarely have casual time to connect and catch up more generally. Last week, though, a few of us made an effort to meet up socially, and within this informal environment, I gained some fresh ideas that I've been able to bring back to work. It was a helpful reminder that great insights can come from unstructured experiences, interactions, and conversations.

One idea that I implemented the very next day was to set up digital self sign-in kiosks for the library. This was inspired by my colleague Chansamone O'Meara, Teacher Librarian at El Capitan High School. Chansamone handles her sign-in process a little differently, because she has a Google Form that she or her student library aides fill out for students who visit the library. I've borrowed her Form concept, but since we had some outdated iMacs available, I have re-purposed those machines to serve as dedicated sign-in kiosks.

With the help of my library aides and our Technology Specialist Jovan Bessette, we have spruced up the old iMacs, breathing new life into them at the front desk. It is a bit of a training process to develop new habits in students who are accustomed to coming to the library, but so far, all is going well. I know that we'll never be able to get 100% of students signed in since I don't have the resources to station someone at the door full-time. Also, I am not requiring sign-in at peak times like break and lunch since it would be unwieldy during these rushes. Still, I am hoping to capture better information regarding library use at least during scheduled class period times.

Once I have better data, I am looking forward to publishing some awesome infographics. And, while I'm disappointed that I will not have that data available this year, I am excited that I'll be moving into next year with the streamlined user process already established.

My appreciation goes out to Chansamone for coming up with and sharing great ideas, and also to my library family at West Hills for helping me make the idea a reality. If anyone else has good ideas to share, I always want to hear them!

Heartbeats, Book Talks, And Ballots

Amid the regular hustle and bustle of today's lunch hour, there were some cool activities going on. At one workstation, there was a crowd of students gathered, and I learned how they were performing an experiment in conjunction with Jen Johnson's biology class. They measured heart rates of participants before and after watching emotionally-charged videos such as an animal abuse public service announcement. Would there be a change in heart rate? Early indications point to yes!

Meanwhile, in the library's back room, the weekly Readers and Writers Club meeting was taking place. Once a month, the club is fortunate to be visited by librarians from the Santee Public Library. These librarians provide engaging book talks and allow our students to borrow copies of the featured titles right from the comfort of our West Hills campus. This is a great partnership that was started years ago and one that I've been grateful to inherit. The students and I look forward to these visits every month!

Finally, our photo and digital arts teachers Jean Conant and Lori Sokolowski have graciously shared their students' top READ posters once again. Continuing their annual tradition, the posters are on display in the library, and all staff and students are invited to vote for their favorite one. Come by the library soon. Voting ends May 20th!

Do Students Come To The Library For Computer Use?

Yes and no.

This morning was like any typical morning in the library. During Period 1, when a number of students on campus do not have a scheduled course, the library was filled at any given time with about 60 students. About one-third of these students were working at computer workstations, but the majority were seated at the regular tables, side-by-side with their peers.

So, do the students come to the library for computer use? Yes, they do make use of this technology resource. But, perhaps the biggest draw is having a place to work socially in community with others. At times, the social may trump the work, but I do find students quizzing each other with practice AP exam questions, serving as de facto peer tutors working through challenging chemistry models, helping one another memorize monologues, and more.

Within a reasonable sound-level range, I do not discourage the social. To me, the library is more than a quiet place to read; it is a place that welcomes every single member of the learning community to "be" together. After all, while the tools of teaching and learning may become increasingly digital and virtual, we are still human, and empowering our students to connect and communicate in-person is critical to their development and success.

Reflecting further on the social aspects, I find that the library serves at least two different types of needs. While there are students who gather socially in the library with peers, there are also students who seek out space for social solitude. Whether students come to the library on a pass from class in order to work in a quieter environment, or to secure a safe spot away from the lunch crowds, the library is here for them, too. I have attempted to create a few areas for students to work and be with more privacy (see pictures), and these are popularly sought out for retreat. While I am sensitive to how noise levels may affect these students, particularly during the highest activity times like lunch, I have found that technology usually provides the solution with students simply plugging into their ever-ready earbuds.


Some related thoughts: First, while in the role of Teacher Librarian, I am the main caretaker of the library, but the library space belongs to the entire school community and should continue to evolve to best meet the needs of all current and future users. Second, beyond nurturing this shared school space, I am a co-educator who complements, but is separate from the library as a place. I am here as an instructional resource for students and as a ready collaborator for teachers, and this is a constant that remains amidst changes that occur to the library space.

Taking Care Of Yourself And Each Other

The West Hills community has really touched my heart as they've come together with such love. As I hear from and think about all of you on our staff, I also want to acknowledge that I see how all of you are also grieving, just as students are. Many of you have had or currently have the students involved in your classes and extracurricular activities, and all staff work with students who were witnesses or are otherwise deeply affected.

In the library, alongside tissue boxes, there are bookmarks with "Things That May Help You Along Your Grief Journey" on one side and ideas to "Create a Grief Support System" on the other. They are free for anyone to take, including you.

If you would like to print out any on your own, here is a PDF version.

Thank you again for all that you are doing.