Starting Sept. 7, the Rockridge High School Library will be open starting at 7:30 a.m.to accomidate students needing computers and books.  If anyone needs time outside the "regular library hours,"  they need to contact Ms. Peterson. Besides before school, the library will also be open to students with passes during the Learning Lab period on Wednesdays.  Passes need to be obtained from Ms Peterson or Mrs Bohnsack.

Peterson's Midnight Readings

August 31

I do some of my best reading at Midnight.  I know I should be sleeping, but there are too many books out there waiting to be read...Here are my thoughts on books featured in the Rockridge Junior and Senior High Libraries.

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee

Summary : Blubber meets Steel Magnolias in this funny and honest story about body image and family. Rosemary Goode is smart and funny and loyal and the best eyebrow waxer in Spring Hill, Tennessee. But only one thing seems to matter to anyone, including Rosemary: her weight. And when your mom runs the most successful (and gossipy) beauty shop in town, it can be hard to keep a low profile. Rosemary resolves to lose the weight, but her journey turns out to be about everything but the scale. Her life-changing, waist-shrinking year is captured with brutal honesty and humor, topped with an extra large helping of Southern charm.  - From TitlePeek...to read more about the book, click on the title or picture above.

My thoughts: For every overweight to awesome book, there is a story about a girl who is picked on by a group of mean girls and feels external pressure about her weight and body image.  Eventually she gets mad enough to change. Skinnier, Happier, and Healthier, he notices her. The story ends happily ever after skinny with her amazing boyfriend.  

Ok so this book has those elements, but this book sets itself apart from the rest thru the author's characterization of Rosemary.  There was more to Rosemary than the physical presence.  As a reader, I want to connect with the characters and see the humanity in them, and the author accomplished that.  I could see part of myself in Rosemary.  I wasn't the most popular and struggle with the same issues Rosemary does, so to read about another person, albeit fictional, can be inspiring or at least reassuring to me that I am not the only one.  Rosemary isn't a saint and she does have some flaws, but that just makes her more real to me.  Nobody is perfect, so why do I want to read about somebody who is? 

Give Artichoke's Heart a chance and you won't regret it...trust me ;)

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler

I have included the responsibity for each website...they will give a place to start your research.

What time is it....Research Paper Time!!!  Here are a few helpful reminders to make your research papers the best ever:

• Don't wait until the day before to seriously start working on your research paper! 
• If you want a book another library, please let Miss Peterson know immediately and fill out the Student Material Request Form.
• To help save the environment and save yourself some time, READ the information before you print or make copies to ensure you are getting the correct information
• When you using the internet, make sure the sites you are using meet the CARS criteria.

• Plagiarizing is BAD...Citing is GOOD - According to the Webster's Student Dictionary, plagiarizing is "steal[ing] writings from another".  The Rockridge Handbook categorizes plagiarizing in terms of Academic Fraud with "academic and/or disciplinary consequences"

College & Career Links

Area 4 yr Colleges

Ashford University

Augustana College

St. Ambrose University

Monmouth College

Illinois State University

Western Illinois University

University of Illinois

University of Iowa

Area Community Colleges

Black Hawk College

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges

Clinton

Muscatine

Scott

 Other Links

Peterson's college

http://ilcis.intocareers.org/

U.S. News & World Reports- College Rankings