Academy
High School Calendar
Media Center
Welcome to the media center where literacy is at the heart of our curriculum as we provide students with opportunities to become effective users of information and ideas and lifelong lovers of reading.
IMPORTANT DATES!
February - Celebrate Black History Month with us! Displays feature achievements of African Americans in the fields of sports, the arts, the governement and technology. You will find recommended reading from Just Read, Florida at the following website: www.justreadflorida.com/bhm.asp
HIGHLIGHTS!
BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB
Inheritance, or the Vault of Souls and The Son of Nepture have topped the favorites list for VHS readers and are the featured books for November and December. Latest books in many series have hit the shelves recently, so we're encouraging readers to stock up for the upcoming winter break. Media center accounts must be cleared of overdue books and/or fines before checking out new books!
MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL - READ!
Whether you're an avid reader or a reluctant reader, these websites will link you to reviews of young adult books by popular teen authors and to the newest books in favorite teen series.
Florida Teens Read - if you read one of these 15 books, you’ll be back for another. The 2011-2012 list has been released. Read about these books by clicking on the Florida Teens Read document below.
2011 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers - this list of 87 titles is sure to have a book for teens who struggle to find a books that they really enjoy. Find this list at Quick Picks.
YALSA's 2011 Best of the Best - the top ten list of best fiction foryoung adults, graphic novels, and paperbacks for teens. Explore the top ten at YALSA.
Teens Read - the ultimate reading list for teens! Search for books that were made into movies or search for your favorite series and authors. Read reviews by teens about what's cool and new. Check it all out at Teens Read
RESEARCH? WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT RESOURCES!
RESOURCES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
The Florida Center for Instructional Technology offers the following resources for research projects. Maps ETC - maps from around the world. Lit2Go - audio files of K-12 literature. ClipArt ETC –illustrations. ClipPix ETC - photographs.
Interested in free online stories and poems? Check out the USF collection at Lit2Go.
RESEARCH SOLUTIONS
Facts on File Online Databases - a reliable resource for magazines, newspapers, and images. We subscribe to the following databases: Bloom's Literary Reference Online; Health Reference Center; Issues & Controversies in American History; Today's Science; World Geography and Culture Online. (Username and password available in media center)
Infotrac – magazine, newspaper and reference online resources that provide reliable, accurate information in all subject areas plus special databases for business, health and Spanish classes. http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb (Username and password available in media center)
Infotopia – a search engine with trusted websites. A reliable alternative to Google. www.infotopia.info
World Book Encyclopedia - www.worldbookonline.com (ID and password available in the media center)
Florida Electronic Library - www.flelibrary.org (Login with the 14 digit # on your public library card)
AWARD OPPORTUNITIES!
2012 STUDENT ASTRONAUT CHALLENGE
The Florida Department of Education has partnered with Challenger Learning Center, FSUS, and Walt Disney World and is proud to announce the first-ever Student Astronaut Challenge. This opportunity is a chance for high school students to compete in aerospace science and involves team demonstration of knowledge of understanding in the field as well as demonstration of problem-solving and performance within a flight simulator. Click here for an application. Due date is January 27, 2012.
INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM SCHOLARSHIP
Florida high school seniors are encouraged to write an essay of 1,000 words or less, on "The Importance of Intellectual Freedom.” This scholarship is offered by FAME (Florida Association for Media in Education). Click here for an application.
PARENT INFO
Looking for Parent Involvement Service Hours?
The media center has a few opportunities for parents interested in fulfilling service hours. Volunteers are needed to assist with preparations for our lunch time book chats. We also greatly appreciate parents' book donations and award PI service hours based on the retail value of donated books and their condition. When you donate one of the following books requested by our students, you help us create a win-win situation for everyone!
· Inheritance by Paolini · Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys · Under Dogs by Markus Zusak · Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Parenting Books for Informational Hours
We offer an extensive list of books for parents to read for informational hours. Successfully passing each quiz will award you two hours per book. Both qualifying parents may test on the same book to earn a total of four hours. See the list of parenting books located under Media Center PDF Documents below.
MEDIA CENTER POLICIES
We have established the following policies to encourage students to demonstrate our core value of stewardship as they use media center resources:
- Two books may be checked out for two weeks and renewed for another two weeks.
- Late books and overdue fines will restrict signing out additional items.
- The replacement cost will be charged for lost or damaged books.
- Late books will be charged $1.00 per month.
- Student computers are provided solely for academic purposes.
- Students are asked to be respectful of others using the media center for reading, studying, and conducting research.
Contact: Susan.Whittaker@tvcs.org.
Media Center Acrobat(.PDF) Documents
2011-2012 Florida Teens Read books - Books and their summaries.
Parenting Books for PI Informational Hours - Updated with new books in English and Spanish
Media Center Links
Curled Up With a Good Book - Book reviews of young adult booksFacts on File Databases - A reliable source for magazines and newspapers
Fantastic Fiction - Find the latest books in favorite authors' series.
Florida Electronic Library - Login requires the 14 digit number on your public library card
Guys Read - Books for guys
InfoTrac Database - See media specialist for username and password
SAT Question of the Day - Set up an account and track your Question of the Day stats
Shelfari - Recommended books by the VHS Media Center
Son of Citation Machine - Interactive web tool that assists with creating citations for research papers
Sumter County Library - Access their catalog and reserve books with your public library card
WebMath - A math-help website
Website on Plagiarism - Explains and reminds students about plagiarism rules
World Book Encyclopedia - ID and password available at the media center
