The document provides details about the current and planned facilities at Richmond Hill Elementary School in Richmond Hill, Georgia. It describes the school's vision, current media center space, policies, resources, and plans for a new media center in a new school building. The current media center has limited space and outdated furniture but serves the school community. Plans for the new building include expanding the media center space and updating it with new furniture, equipment, and resources to better support teaching and learning.
2. Table of Contents 1) Vision and Belief Statement of Richmond Hill Elementary School 2) School Profile 3)Demographics 4) RHES Media Center Philosophy 5)Policies of Richmond Hill Elem. Media Center 6)Current facility plan 7)Description of Current Media Center 8) Photo gallery of Current Media Center
5. Vision and Belief Statement The vision of Richmond Hill Elementary School is to provide an educational environment where all students may attain knowledge and skills necessary for full participation in the 21st century.
6. School Profile Richmond Hill Elementary was originally built in 1963 as a first through twelfth grade facility. Currently RHES houses only second and third grades. 20 second grade classes and 20 third grade classes. Students are residents of a coastal community of about 8,129 within city limits.
7. Demographics Currently at RHES we have 47 certified teachers and 36 non-certified staff. RHES is located very close to military facilities(Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field), so there is a significant movement of families in and out of the community. This is reflected by continuous enrollment and withdraws throughout the school year. Student enrollment at RHES is approximately 800 students, of which approximately 600 students are Caucasian.
8. Current Media Center Seating for 44 or more students. Two computers available for research or catalog search. Two computers used at front of media center used by students to “scan” books to be checked out. Furniture and equipment is placed with adequate space allowed for handicapped children to move around MC freely in a wheelchair or walker. One emergency exit door in left rear of media center. LMS office overlooks main body of media center. Conference room is to the right of front double-door entrance. Story area marked with scenic rug.
9. RHES Media Center Philosophy The Richmond Hill Media Center staff believes that its role is to increase the ability of students to access information successfully and independently. By acquiring information access skills, students should grow intellectually and thus become: critical and independent thinkers well-informed , responsible citizens
10. Student Use of the Media Center Each student may check out 2 books at a time. Books may be checked out for two weeks at a time. If books are lost, students will be billed for the amount of the book(s). Careful handling of books is encouraged. If a book is damaged, the student must pay a fine. If a fine is owed, it must be cleared before any further materials may be checked out.
11. Student use (continued) Students may come to the media center at any time during the school day between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Quiet voices are encouraged in the media center. No loud talking will be permitted. No food or drink will be permitted for any reason. Computers are available for student use: card catalog, or Internet. There will be only one student at a time at a computer.
12. Policies The Bryan County Board policy requires that each school have a media committee that is composed of administrators, media specialists, and teachers. The make-up and functioning of the committee reflects the needs of the school. The committees address building concerns within the framework of the system’s media policies giving building level detail to them.
13. Copyright Adherence Processes Guidelines as “quick reference” to address some of the copyright concerns in Bryan County Public Schools: Rented videotapes will not be shown in classrooms. Videos copied off-air by students or parents may not be shown in classrooms. Videos or software owned by students or parents may not be shown or used at school. Copyright adherence warning labels will be placed on all school-owned equipment that can be used to duplicate materials. The medial specialist at each school is responsible for ensuring the availablilty of current copyright information to school personnel. RHES and its employees must abide by the Copyright law (PL 94-5530). No materials, print or non-print, are to be reproduced until proper clearance has been obtained.
14. Teacher/Media Specialist Planning Besides regularly schedules book selection visitations, class visits must be scheduled one day prior to visit. Whole classes may be scheduled by filling out a planning sheet and by scheduling a time on the calendar. Classes taught by the MS need to be scheduled ahead of time to allow planning time for teaching skills. Teachers must remain with whole class while they are in the media center.
15. Television Broadcasts RHES has an internal distribution system which allows each classroom access to many television channels. Channel 2 and channel 4 are reserved for school-wide broadcasts of approved videos.
16. Facility Use A large collection of print and non-print media including books, videocassettes, newspapers, and magazines is provided to support and enrich the school curriculum. In addition, we can access materials from other schools and from the Internet. Two computers are provided for this purpose in the corner of the media center.
17. Equipment available RHES is well equipped with audiovisual equipment. Each teacher is provided with a television, VCR, DVD player, LCD projector and screen, tape and/or CD player, and a SmartPad/School Pad. There is also an opaque projector available for use. Several digital cameras are available to be signed out by teachers. They are to be returned upon completion of use so they are available for others.
18. Broken equipment A-V equipment should be brought to the media center by a teacher or assistant. A note should be attached to the equipment describing what is wrong. The MC staff will have the equipment repaired by the RESA A-V repair shop and will inform the teacher when it is ready for use.
19. Facility Use Assessibility Hours of operation for the learning laboratory of the school, also known as the media center are from 7:30-3:30. This allows for visitation and check-out 30 min. prior to school and 30 min. after school. Classes are offered on a set schedule each day for 15 min. book borrowing sessions. Flexible scheduling is also offered from the Library Media Specialist per request of teachers through collaboration with the LMS. Many topics for classes are offered as suggestions by the Richmond Hill Elem. LMS. These classes will be offered in open windows in the LMS’s schedule.
20. Teacher Resources Teachers can select from materials such as videos and professional resource books to aid instruction. Resources available are: books, software, and periodicals for professional reading. Teachers will be allowed to use up to five videotapes at a time. The laminating machine is located in the workroom and is available for use each day from 7:30-3:30. Only trained faculty and staff members are allowed to use the equipment in the workroom. Parent volunteers may not use the equipment.
33. MS Offic e Work Room Storage Room Production Room Conference Room round table 43” bookshelf – double sided 62” bookshelf narrow work table atlas stand office chair rectangle table power big screen office desk Story Pit office filing cabinet 5 shelf office bookshelves lounging library chairs
34. Specifics 55 sections to house current fiction book inventory (a section has two shelves as we have tall picture books) 35 sections to house current nonfiction book inventory 2 office desks, 2 filing cabinets, (2) 5 shelf bookshelves 12 round tables seating 4 to a table It would be nice if the conference room tables and the office furniture would match – maybe dark cherry? They don’t have to match the light cherry wood that will be in the main part of the MC – maybe just blend with The large conference room table should house at least 10 people There needs to be 2 work tables in the workroom. One needs to be a medium size to be able to sit at. The other needs to be narrow to use with the Ellison die machine.
35. Survey Results Persons interviewed: 1 media specialist, 1 media paraprofessional, 20 teachers and 21 children(my class) Questions asked: 1.) What improvements would you like to see in the current media center? 2.) Are there any series of books that need to be added to the current selection? 3.) Do you foresee any problems in the new media center? 4.)Are you happy with the hours of visitation offered currently in the media center policy? 5.) Do you see a need for more computers in the current media center? 6.) Is the size of the current media center suffucient? 7.) Are there any furniture items you would like to see in the media center that we currently do not have?
36. Resources Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement report for Richmond Hill Elem. 2007 Richmond Hill Elem. School Media Center Handbook Bryan County Schools Student Handbook 2008-2009
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39. A Unique Situation We are very fortunate to be moving to a brand new facility this summer (2009). The upcoming photos will show our new school and media center still in the construction phase, so it may be somewhat difficult to visualize what it will look like upon completion. Hopefully the floor plan will help!
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41. Possible Problems & Solutions The only way to get to the computer lab is entering the media center main door. This may propose some disruption of services in the checkout area and possible lessons being taught. Solution: Place some sort of screen to form a separated walkway in this throughway. Another option could be higher bookshelves that block the view of the traffic pattern going to the computer lab.
42. These photos show opposite sides of the new media center. Media Specialist Office Entrance to Computer Lab
44. View of Story Pit Story Pit will have tiered seating and sits in the corner of the media center
45. Many large windows allow for natural light. Modification: Possibly tint these windows or install blinds to protect books and resource materials from sun damage.
46. View from center of new Media Center Media Specialist Office News Network Taping Room