Welcome to the Junior School Library!
The Library
The library strives to serve the reading and information needs of all students by providing individualized reader's advisory, a curriculum that builds literature appreciation and information seeking skills, and the resources necessary for inquiry driven learning. All grades have scheduled library time. Library classes consist of a combination of story time, library-related lessons and activities, and most importantly, borrowing books from our wonderful collection of over 12,000 print materials and a growing number of audiobooks. In addition, various teachers work with the librarian on classroom or integrated research projects.
To view Library Slide Show, click here.
The Staff
Contact: Ms. Phyllis Guering Junior School Librarian
Phone: 412-473-4426 Email: pguering@shadysideacademy.org
Welcome to the Junior School Library. I am Ms. Phyllis Guering and have been the lucky librarian at the Junior School for the past fifteen years. I received my Masters in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to coming to Shady Side Academy, I have worked in a variety of school settings. I have worked in a college library, a preschool serving children with autism and related disorders, and in a variety of preschool and pre-kindergarten classrooms.
I am assisted in the library by Mrs. Mary Aiken. In addition to being our library clerk, Mrs. Aiken is also responsible for the Junior School Before School Program, which is open to students from 7:30 to 8:00 in the morning to accomodate our working parents.
The Students
This year, the library will be home to one of the fifth grade advisory groups. The students in my advisory group will use the library as their homeroom in the morning and at the end of the day. Since they will be using the library in the morning, there will not be general morning library hours as in years past but the library will still be open at recess for the older students.
All students have scheduled library times comprised of library lessons, activities, and borrowing. Integrated research and projects with the classroom teachers and specialists result in additional library time for those classes involved. The class pages give more detailed information for each grade.
Students in the older grades have additional library opportunities. Third grade students serve as library mentors to our kindergarten students and fourth grade students do the same for our youngest students in pre-kindergarten. Both fourth and fifth grade students may join our student book club, Readers of the Lost Art, which meets bi-monthly to share snacks and our thoughts on a book chosen by the club members. Please see the library bulletin for our latest selection. Due to the new fifth grade advisory group, there will no longer be student volunteers in the library.
Special Events
NEW BIRTHDAY BOOK DONATION PROGRAM!
It has been a Junior School tradition for students to donate a book to the library to celebrate their birthday. This year, due to a very generous donation from the Wolfanger Family, we are changing the program in a wonderful way! The Wolfanger's monetary gift, coupled with library funds, will enable the school to present a Birthday Book to the library in honor of each student at the Junior School. The November and December Birthday Books were distributed at our SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) Assembly on December 1st.
Book Fair - This year's Book Fair chaired by Sarah Walsh and Mary Aiken, in conjunction with wonderful parent volunteers, was a huge success! The Book Fair succeeded in raising money for the annual author/illustrator visit, as well as providing books to classrooms through the Teacher Gift Certificates.
Author/Illustrator Visit - Each an author or illustrator visits the Junior School to provide the students with an intimate insight into the creative process. Past visitors have included: Avi, Peter Catalanotto, Wendy Anderson Halperin, Vicki Cobb, Will Hillenbrand, Betsy and Giulio Maestro, J.Patrick Lewis, Ruby Bridges, and Lulu Delacre. Our 2010 special visitor will be Jack Gantos!
