Media Center

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, and encourage reading for pleasure. 

The Piney Ridge Elementary Media Center is administered by Media Specialists, Renee Cross and Media Clerk, Patty Hagg. The Media Center houses over 14,000 items ranging from books to DVD's to computer software. The center is fully automated with thirteen student search stations and one circulation station.  Internet access is available throughout the school. The Media Center services approximately 530 students in grades K through 5.

The students at Piney Ridge Elementary School visit the Media Center each week for a 30-minute lesson and to select books and/or magazines to check out for the weeklong loan period.  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.  

Kindergarteners visit the Media Center twice a week and will select a book on one of their visits. 

First and second graders may select 1 book (Everybody, Fiction or Non-fiction). 

Third-fifth grade students may select 2 books or 1 book and a magazine.  If a teacher assigns a special report, then the student may checkout additional materials. 

Remember students can checkout items every school day.

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.  5^th 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.

Piney Ridge has many databases for the students and staff to use.  These links can be found on the "Destiny Home" page.  Please request a brochure from the media center for the usernames and passwords for these sites.