Media Center
About
The mission of a school media program is to provide instruction, resources, and services to assist students and teachers in becoming critical thinkers in the pursuit and use of ideas and information. As well as encouraging reading for pleasure to enhance our students overall reading ability.
The Piney Ridge Elementary Media Center is administered by Media Specialists, Renee Cross and part time Media Clerk, Kim Sands. The Media Center checks out approximately 20,000 books and other materials to our school community every year. Our library collection contains about 13,000 materials. The Media Center services approximately 586 students in grades Pre K through 5.
The students at Piney Ridge Elementary School visit the Media Center each week for a 30-minute lesson. Students may come to the Media Center any weekday morning until 9:10 a.m. to exchange, renew and/or checkout media materials. It is recommended that students not come in the morning of their Media Day, since the selection of materials is part of the lesson and will take place during that time.
Pre-Kindergarten students visit the Media Center once per week and can have one book checked out at a time.
Kindergarteners visit the Media Center twice a week and will select a book on one of their visits. They may have a total of two books checked out at a time but will select one book during Media time.
First and second graders check out every week during class time and may have a total of 2 materials checked out at a time.
Third-fifth grade students are able to check out every other week during library time. They may have a total of 2 materials checked out at a time. If a teacher assigns a special report, then the student may check out additional materials.
Remember students can check out items every school day in the morning.
Since our library services students from ages 4 to 11 years of age we have a wide variety of materials. If your child chooses a book that does not meet with your needs, please stop reading the book and send it back to the library so that your student can check out a different material.
Events
Programs
Battle of the Books: A county-wide reading program for 4th and 5th graders. Teams of three to nine students go to a head to head competition with students from other area schools in a quiz format contest. Questions are from a selection of books from the current Maryland State Black-Eyed Susan 4th-6th grade chapter books and graphic novels. This program runs from October to April.
Piney Reads: During the Winter, families will be asked to join this reading club. The purpose is to provide families with a literature for them to read as a family. A guide is also provided to encourage discussions, enhance vocabulary, and extend learning with activities related to that title. A culminating activity will bring closure to this program. This program runs from January to March.
Black-Eyed Susan Picture Book Contest: This is a Maryland State book award that is selected by the students in Maryland schools. Throughout the school year students will hear the current nominees during their scheduled media time. In March a celebration of the titles will be held in conjunction with the Eldersburg Branch of the Public Library. Area media specials and public librarians will select a title and highlight it with an activity. In April, students will be asked to vote for the book that they think should win the award.
Book Fair: Annually the media center host a book fair. This is to provide the students with the opportunity to purchase books for their home libraries. Students will shop during their scheduled media time. An evening family shopping night is also scheduled. This allows parents the convenience of shopping with their child. The Scholastic book fair is usually schedule for a week in November. A one day fair occurs at the PTA's Spring Fling. This fair is from A Likely Story Book Store.
Visiting Authors: Periodically Piney Ridge will host a visiting author. Students will have to opportunity to purchase copies of their book(s) and have them autographed.
Book Swap: During spring fling the Piney Ridge Media Center in conjunction with the PTA host a book swap. Families that wish to participate bring gently used, school appropriate, books to swap for books that others have donated. Donations for the Book Swap are accepted throughout the school year.
Streaming Announcements: The majority of the school will have the opportunity to appear to the school's daily streaming announcements program. 5th grade students host and run the show which highlights student work school activities, community events, character traits, and positive behaviors. The program is encrypted for the safety of the students presented and is not available for viewing off school grounds.