Library Media News

 Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!  It is hard to believe that we have already been back in school for 2 ½ weeks, yet in other ways, it seems like the summer vacation was long ago.  To all of the new families, welcome to The Dorset School and I have enjoyed meeting all of your children.

 Class time is scheduled in the library on a flexible basis.  This means that students come into the library to learn their research and library skills as they are doing projects in the classroom instead of on a regularly scheduled library class.  I will be collaborating with the classroom teachers to teach the skills as they are being used.  Therefore, the students will be learning by doing which leads to better retention of the material.  Already, the third grade has been in the library to learn dictionary skills and the fourth grade is starting their research on Vermont.  I will continue to have the regularly scheduled ‘Book Selection’ for each class so that the students, and you, can establish a routine for selecting and returning library books on a particular day.  Classes are scheduled for Book Selection as follows:

• Monday – 2^nd grade, and 4^th grade.
• Tuesday – 5^th grade and middle school homerooms 6T, 7L, and 7S.
• Wednesday – kindergarten, 1^st grade, and 3^rd grade.
• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday – 8^th grade has study hall in the library and can select books then.

This year I will be handling the duties of the enrichment coordinator that was previously done so well by Diane Levitz.  To start off the 7^th grade is attending the Smokey House Center where they will experience a hands-on, environmentally based curriculum that integrates the academic disciplines.  The students will work with the Smokey House staff on conservation, ecological research and land management tasks learning in the process science, math, writing, problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork.  This week the 8^th grade attended the performance of Athol Fugard’s “’MASTER HAROLD’ … and the boys” at the Weston Playhouse. 

 Our wonderful Dorset Parent Volunteers will be sponsoring a Book Fair in the library from September 24^th-28^th.  Watch for more details and thank you DPV!

I look forward to another productive, fun, and exciting school year. If you have any questions or comments you can reach me at the school Monday through Thursday, or by e-mail at lmc@dorsetschool.org

Happy reading,
Phyllis Tate
Library Media Specialist or Librarian