Media Center

Welcome to the Sterling Media Center. Our mission is to ensure that students and teachers can locate, evaluate and use information effectively, to foster a love of reading, and to create lifelong learners who are able to use their information skills to pursue their personal and academic interests. We follow the Standards for the 21st Century Learner to ensure that our students are learning the skills they will need to be independent, productive adults. Please come visit us and see what we have to offer.
Media Center Policies for Students
Library Staff: Stephanie Nichols, Media Specialist; Maxi Farnsworth, Media Clerk


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Battle of the Books 2012-13

Download the information packet

BoB is your chance to show how much you remember about a specific set of books. Students may begin reading the ten pre-determined BoB titles selected by a district committee once the list is released on or after September 1. The following January, the district releases a set of practice questions to schools planning to participate in BoB at the school and district levels. Since each school may only send one team to compete at the district level, should there be more students interested than allowed on a competition team, it may be necessary to eliminate some students based on their practice attendance, number of titles read, and knowledge of the books. Students who read all ten of the titles from the reading list will have the best chance of competing at the district competition where they will compete against other teams of fourth and/or fifth graders by answering questions about the books. Every question asked in a battle is answered by the title and author of the book and takes the form of: "in which book...?"

To be eligible to attend BoB practice sessions, students must have read at least three titles out of the list of ten. Books any be checked out from the media center or public library or students may choose to purchase their own copies. It is preferable for participants to have read a minimum of 5 of the titles by the end of January and 8 by the end of February. In order to compete well, team members are expected to have read all ten titles before the district competition in mid to late April. Practice sessions begin once the district releases the practice questions to schools sometime in January. Practice time(s) are determined by Ms. Nichol's and student's schedules during an initial meeting. For more information or if you have questions, contact Ms. Nichols via email or call 355-4593.

Parents: Ms. Nichols may need your assistance in facilitating BoB practice sessions during 4th and/or 5th grade lunch. Please contact her at snichols@greenville.k12.sc.us or call 355-4593 if you might be able to help.

Fifth Grade WWI Websites

• Dechau's Homeroom
• Newell's Homeroom
• Nyvall's Homeroom
• Survey for Parents: Please give us some feedback!

Media Center Supply Wish List

• Hand sanitizer (pump)
• Clorox wipes
• Tissues
• Pencils (for students to "borrow")

Celebration Book Club

Celebrate special events and help our media center at the same time by joining the Celebration Book Club. Supporting the Celebration Book Club is a great way to celebrate a birthday or special achievement or to honor a special person.

Here is how it works: For $15 parents, grandparents and friends or other family members can purchase a brand new library book for the media center collection and we will honor your child and your generosity by placing a book plaque inside the cover for the life of the book. To become a part of the CBC, please download the order form and return it to the media center along with a check made payable to Sterling School. You may choose a specific book/Nook book title, a general topic or series, or Mrs. Nichols will be happy to choose a title for you and your child. Once the book arrives, your child will be the first to check out that book from our library.

If you prefer, another way to help your child and other students increase their reading options here at school is by donating a gift magazine subscription to the library. While we have a great collection, it is limited by budget restraints as far as they will go to meet the needs of all of our students. Students may check out magazines for 3 days at a time. Some titles to which we would like to subscribe but currently do not for the 2012-2013 school year are (please ask if there are other magazines you would like to contribute):

• American Girl
• American Heritage of Invention and Technology
• Audubon
• Current Science
• Field & Stream
• Nintendo Power
• Odyssey (Adventures in Science)
• People
• SC Game & Fish
• Shonen Jump
• Twist
• WWE Magazine

Media Center Policies

• The media center is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students who need additional time in the library can make specific arrangements with the media specialist to come earlier or stay later.
• Students who would like to use the media center between 7:45 and 3:00 may get permission from the cafeteria or middle school hall staff upon arrival. They must go to the cafeteria or gym to check in first.
• Students who would like to use the media center after school is dismissed need to bring a note from a parent stating when they will be picked up.
• Teachers may send up to 5 students at a time with passes. Larger groups are always welcome with prior notice.
• Students are to show the media specialist or media assistant their pass and sign in at the desk upon entering the library.
• Teachers are always encouraged to sign up for research or instructional time with the media specialist.

Nooks

The Sterling Media Center has eight Barnes & Noble Simple Touch e-reader devices for students in grades 3-8 to check out. Checkout will occur on a first come, first served basis. The opportunity to check out a Nook is a privilege for students; as such, we expect students to use extra caution and act responsibly with these devices. Because the replacement value of each device is $130.00, we ask that each student requesting to check out a Nook first submit a signed permission form to be filed with media center staff in the school library before a Nook can be checked out to him/her.

SC Book Award Program

At Sterling School, we encourage all of our students to participate in the SC Book Award program. To encourage participation, the media specialist and classroom teacher will read many of the SC Picture Book nominees to kindergarten through second grade students. Students who have heard a minimum of eight of the current year’s titles are eligible to vote for their favorite SC picture book in February. During a scheduled time in the media center, younger students vote by placing a ticket in a can with a picture of the book cover on it. Students receive a small token of appreciation for participating, usually a sticker and a bookmark.

Students in grades three through five must read a minimum of five titles from the current list of Children’s Book Award nominees. Typically, students read book award titles independently although the classroom teacher may opt to read one or more of the nominees in class. As long as students have knowledge of the story whether through independent reading or reading as a class, they may count the book toward their total. Students are eligible to vote once they have read a minimum of 5 titles and met any requirements set by the media specialist to show they have read the books. Voting typically takes place right before the state deadline in February. Fifth graders may choose to read from either the Children's Book Award list or the Junior Book Award list or a combination of both. However, fifth graders must still read and complete the media specialist's requirements for five books total.

Middle school students in grades six through eight must read a minimum of three titles independently from the list of 20 Junior Book Award nominees. Once they have met the current requirements in place for demonstrating they have read at least three of the current year’s titles to the media center, they are eligible to vote. Voting typically takes place right before the state deadline in February. Eighth graders may choose to read from either the Junior Book Award list or the Young Adult Book Award list or a combination of both. However, eighth graders must still read and complete the media specialist's requirements for three books total.

Participating students in grades three through eight are invited back for a celebration (usually in March/April) to find out the State winner at each level.

The 2012-13 Nominees

Children's Book Award Nominees - 3rd-5th Grade

Part I

Part II

Junior/Young Adult Book Award Nominees - Middle School Students

Part I

Part II

Part III

Practice Link for HistoryPin

Third Grade Links

Presidents

• White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/
• American Presidents: Life Portraits http://www.americanpresidents.org/
• Presidents USA http://www.presidentsusa.net/presvplist.html
• Enchanted Learning http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/list.shtml
• World Almanac for Kids http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-Chapter.aspx?chapter_id=15
• IPL2 (Basic facts) http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/
• For Presidents’ pictures: Prints and Photographs Reading Room http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/057_chron.html

First Ladies

• The White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies
• National First Ladies’ Library http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/
• For First Ladies’ Pictures: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/058_flal.html

Don't forget Discus!