18333c88e37d457c0a05fe38241d3d4f.jpg

MONROE: Holt visits Oak Tree School to promote library SKILLs

Amy Batista, Special Writer
   MONROE — On Jan. 12, Rep. Rush Holt of the 12th District visited Oak Tree Elementary School library to promote the Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act, which he plans to soon introduce on the federal level.
   During the visit, Rep. Holt announced his plans to introduce the SKILLs Act to strengthen school libraries around the nation and help libraries better serve job seekers.
   Rep. Holt also gave a presentation at the Monroe Township Public Library before visiting Oak Tree School at 226 Applegarth Road.
   The SKILLs Act includes key provisions to support school libraries in their efforts to acquire funding support and grants.
   According to its website, monroenj.schoolwires.com/oaktreees, Oak Tree Elementary School, which opened in September 2008, is a Pre-K through 5th grade school and part of the Monroe Township School District. The school library, under the direction of a certified school librarian, provides services and instruction for approximately 820 students.
   Along with Rep. Holt, NJ 101.5 also showed up for what was actually just another normal class period in the school’s fourth grade curriculum; something the students do just about every day. In essence, everyone came to support what the fourth graders were already accustomed to doing.
   In addition, Rep. Holt had some discussions with other special guests in attendance, which included Councilwoman Leslie Koppel, Carol Lange, Oak Tree Elementary Librarian; Kathy Kolupanowich, president of the Monroe Board of Education; Louis Masters, another board of education member; Dennis Ventrello, principal of Oak Tree Elementary School; Norma E. Blake; New Jersey State Librarian; Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the Washington, D.C. office of the American Library Association; Patricia Tumult, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association, Susan Hildreth, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C. as well as parents and their children.
   ”We have research that shows that a school librarian presence makes a difference in terms of the test scores and the success of students,” said Ms. Hildreth.
   The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.
   Karen O’Connell, district technology specialist, described a typical fourth grade class in the library.
   ”It covers a lesson over a period of time. We call it understanding by design,” she said “So (students) will move from station to station. Each station has a different component. In some places they are creating a list of books that are related to a book that they’ve read. Here they are writing reviews of books they’ve read so then they can go in and look at what they read and see everyone else’s review plus a model review, plus they can edit their review which goes along with their writer’s workshop which we do within our classes. Another group over here is blogging. We have constant blogs going on.
   ”These are all activities they can do from home. They have access. This is pretty natural for them as they progress in each grade they get different components.”
   ”What an amazing experience my class endeavored that day,” said Carol Pignataro, a fourth grade teacher. “They really felt special having so many important people watch them in what they see as just an ordinary day in their fourth grade lives. The media center is really the extension of all our classroom learning experiences. I continually view my students taking out and reading books on whatever current academic area, subject of discussion, author study or reading series that we have worked on in our classroom.”
   The library has an average circulation of over 20,000 books and materials per school year. In the library, students actively engage in learning activities using print and digital resources preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century information age, according to a Monroe Township School District press release.
   There are all kinds of quotes painted on the walls and bookshelves to inspire students along with words. Pillows sitting on a long bench with stuffed animals displayed on tops of shelves are spread throughout the library, creating an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and want to come to read and learn.
   The quote “A person is a person, no matter how small,” by Dr. Seuss was just one of the several found on bookshelves to inspire the students.
   According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 9,000 public schools nationwide do not have a library. Further data shows that of those schools with a school library, over 22,000 public schools do not have a full or part-time state-certified school librarian.
   ”Four years ago in New Jersey, there were between 1,900 and 2,000 school librarians. There are now about 1,500” Rep. Holt said. “Now that more schools are being built and there are more children in schools, and the need for librarians is greater, and the technology that librarians can use is more available we are having few librarians.”
   He continued, “It just doesn’t make sense. It’s cheating the kids.”
   He said it’s not good to have an unattended collection of books.
   Kids can get a lot of misinformation if they’re turned loose without guidance on a computer for example,” he said. “We need to restore the public demand for librarians. We need to make sure that school boards, town councils, the state government understand that libraries are essential not peripheral.”
   ”The other thing that is important with a school librarian is that they are a certified teacher first, (with) a master’s degree in library science,” Ms. Pignataro said. “(Librarians) are instructing, not just providing books to check in and out. They are instructing every day. They have a curriculum to follow and we also follow every other curriculum in the school so that we can collaborate with teachers and meet the needs of the kids in the classroom. So they are not just librarians.”
   ”Our approach now in Monroe has been a little different too,” said Dr. Kenneth Hamilton, superintendent of Monroe schools, who was also present. “We view the library or the media center as an extension of the classroom. We view it as the hub of the school so when you look at this state’s definition on how we define literacy it really isn’t just reading and writing. It’s reading, writing, speaking, viewing and listening and what better place to have those skills reinforced than in the media center with folks who have an advanced degree in training but know how to incorporate all those components of a sound literacy definition.”
   The highlight of the visit was when Rep. Holt spent some time visiting with the students during their class time and interacted with them. He had discussions with them, which centered around their book reviews they were typing up on the computer.
   He also joined the students as they blogged on the computer, and read along with some students.
   ”I am doing a book report on ‘Ivy & Bean’,” said Ava Friedman, a fourth grader, as she was typing on the computer. “It’s coming along pretty good. I keep making other (reports) for each (book). I write ‘awesome’ or ‘good’.”
   ”I picked ‘The Titanic: Tragedy at Sea’,” said Joanne Mulroney, a fourth grader. “It was very sad. I liked the movie.”
   ”The Oak Tree PTA recognizes the importance of school libraries and librarians. Not only does a school library promote literacy, it also provides lessons on technology. The automated check-in/check-out system at Oak Tree demonstrates how technology is used in every aspect of our lives,” said Chrissy Skurbe, Oak Tree Elementary School PTA President.
   She continued, “Additionally, the library curriculum that Mrs. Lange, Oak Tree School Media Specialist, follows is a vital element to the education our children receive at Oak Tree School. Through our fundraising efforts, the PTA provides the library at Oak Tree with books as well as an Author’s Day. Mrs. Lange works with the PTA every year to bring a children’s author to Oak Tree School. The day is filled with presentations for all students to meet and interact with the author.”
   ”I was proud for the Monroe Township community to show off our wonderful library facilities to Congressman Rush Holt and the nation’s top librarian,” said Councilwoman Koppel said. “One only has to walk through the door of our Monroe Township Library to know that you are in a special place created for learning and the advancement of our community. Our Washington visitors were most impressed in Oak Tree School and the quality of involvement with the students and the media staff.”