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Welcome to Your Hull Media Center!

The Hull Elementary Media Center is a resource for students, providing quality children's literature and electronic media, as well as instructional resources and literature sets for Hull teachers.  The Hull Media Center has also become a hub for a growing collection of electonic media including digital video cameras, a dedicated video editing computer, green screen, and professional-quality lighting equipment.

It is the media center's goal to provide a welcoming environment for students, staff, and parents.  The library is open daily from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  Before 8:05 a.m., students must be accompanied by a parent or have a pass from Mr. Novak or Mrs. Parrilla.  After school, the same procedure applies so that students do not miss bus rides, strand parents in the pick-up lane, or needlessly worry parents by arriving home from school beyond expected time frames. 

Lessons in the Media Center
 
During each visit to the library, students are given grade-appropriate library skills lessons followed by a check-out period.  Use of the Dewey Decimal System; choosing a book at one's independent reading level; using Destiny (our on-line catalog database) to search for specific books and genres; and finding developmentally appropriate electronic resources for research, are examples of topics covered during library instruction. 

In the computer lab, students are taught developmentally-appropriate skills to ensure a strong background in information and educational technology literacy.  Proper keyboarding skills, formatting Word documents, using PowerPoints to enliven presentations, creating digital storytelling products with Windows Movie Maker and PhotoStory, and using safe techniques to cull accurate and reliable information from Internet search engines are just some of the areas students will explore in the computer lab.

Like the library, students are given very specific instruction regarding computer lab behavior.  Respecting and caring for very expensive equipment, maintaining a sense of order and cleanliness, computer lab etiquette and noise levels are regularly reviewed and enforced.  As in the library, students who disregard these protocols, damage equipment, or violate terms of their Internet User Agreements, might have their computer privileges suspended or revoked, depending on the seriousness of the offense.  The computer lab can be a fun and exciting place to learn, but students must observe lab rules and procedures.

Library Behavior

All students are expected to behave in a manner consistent with typical library protocol.  Instruction is provided, and revisited often, concerning maintenance of a quiet library environment, proper care of and prevention of damage to books and library materials, and maintaining the order and integrity of library shelves so that library books can be located quickly and easily.  After reasonable corrective actions are taken, students who are unable to conduct themselves in a Hull Hero manner in the media center might have library privileges curtailed or suspended.  See Check-out and Lost/Damaged Books Policies.

Fundraising

Finding new ways to purchase the latest and best in children's books, and upgrade equipment is an on-going concern for the media center.  Through the generous efforts of Hull parent Scott Williams, the media center has its own student store...Sparky's Spirit Shack.  School supplies, novelties, and fun stuff are sold during student lunch times with all proceeds ear-marked for the media center.  Items are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $.25 to $2.00 so that all students may participate if they choose.  Parent and grand-parent volunteers staff the Spirit Shack...if you would like to volunteer, please contact Karen Parrilla or Tony Novak.  It's really a lot of fun!

A+ Book Fairs and events like the Wrestle for Reading pro wrestling smack down at Hull on November 6th all generate revenue specifically to media center usage.  Funding author visits (like Caldecott winner Allen Say, shown above), replacing worn-out books (our inventory is going on 10-years-old), acquiring great new titles, and purchasing equipment and decorations to give the media center a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere, are at the core of our fund raising efforts.

As always, the key to success in all of these endeavors is parent and community involvement.  Volunteers are greatly appreciated and welcome.  Whether your pleasure is repairing and shelving books, staffing the student store, working a book fair, or coming up with your own unique contribution, we would love to hear from you!  Please email Tony Novak or Karen Parrilla or call 480-883-4501.  Thank you for your support, and for helping your children to love reading!




















 

 
Last Modified on July 24, 2012