for us

1. Diamond Lakes
Elementary
School
The front of the building.
The main office is to the
left of the front door and
the media center is to the
right.
Patricia Krezinski
ITEC/FRIT 7132
PSC/NCATE Assessment
#3

2. Walking into the School
Front Door of the Media
Front Door of the School Center

3. In the Media Center
Walking into the media center first thing in the
morning.

4. After the lights are on and the
blinds are opened!

5. Student tables
Let the sun shine in!

6. Space for students
in the media center.
This slide shows that the
media center has lots of
space for students and
classes but that it also has
empty space on our book
shelves where we don’t
have it! The square footage
of the entire media center
is 4,503 sq. ft.

7. About our School
Diamond Lakes Elementary School is a PreK 4 through 5th grade school.
The school is in the suburbs of Augusta, Georgia in a rapidly expanding
neighborhood. We have seen a rapid influx of inner city students
moving into our neighborhood as government housing projects
downtown are closing. As a result of the increase in population most of
our students are either at or below the poverty line. At 645 students, we
are at 102% capacity.
Diamond Lakes opened in 2006 as one of two elementary schools
opened at the same time in the same geographic area. Our schools were
built in the middle of 5 other elementary schools all around us in an
effort to relieve overcrowding .
We have been able to make AYP every year that we have been in
existence. We have high hopes for making AYP again this year.

8. About Our School
When our school opened in 2006, we had a beautiful building with all
the necessary furniture but with NOTHING else. There were no books,
no computers, no televisions, and no other equipment. We opened in
August as most Georgia schools do but it was October before there
were any computers in the building. It took another month to get them
all set up and in the classrooms and the media center. In December of
2006 we finally got televisions in the classrooms. Around that time, the
library began to receive book orders. It has taken all of the four years
we have been open to get to the place where we are today.
All the problems aside, Diamond Lakes Elementary is a beautiful
school, a great place to work, and a wonderful environment for
students, parents, faculty, and staff.

9. Student Survey Results
I surveyed students and got some interesting results. All the students
wanted to have web sites like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook unblocked.
100% wanted control over web sites removed. That is something that is
done at the district level and I have no control over blocking or
unblocking web sites. Even if I could unblock those sites, I don’t think I
would in an elementary school. 75% of the students also wanted more
time to be in the media center before and after school. That is an issue
that I can address at least in the morning. I have an afternoon duty
outside the media center so the afternoon is still a problem. 50% of
respondents in fourth and fifth grades also wanted me to add the Twilight
series to our collection but I think that is better suited to a middle or high
school.

10. Faculty Survey Results
The faculty survey was not as forthcoming into what the teachers
actually want. They know that I have already worked on buying the
books for the collection that correlate to their curriculum. This is
something they like and want me to continue. The faculty also said
they would like to see more teaching of research and library skills. I
plan to add classes of this kind next school year. My district is already
purchasing an ActivBoard with ActivVotes for the media center. I am
excited about that and know that it will help tremendously in
teaching the skills the teachers mentioned.
20% of teachers wanted me to read to their students at least once a
week. There is nothing I would like more but time is a problem. If
they sign their class up for a half hour block of time and want me to
read, then I make every effort to read to the class. 100% of teachers
are happy that the media center has an open schedule and is open
during the entire instructional day.
All in all I believe the faculty and student body is happy with the
Diamond Lakes Media Center.

11. Media Policy
Media Center Policies are set by our District Department of Media
and Instructional Technology. They can be found on the district web
site at http://rcboe.org/home On the home page links, you can find
the policy for Internet Acceptable Use. To find the media policies,
click on Educators then Media Specialists, and finally Media
Handbook. From this site, all media specialists in the district can
view the policies for administration of the media program.

12. The Media Center

13. The Circulation Desk
Standing just inside the front door Looking from the Media Workroom

14. The Circulation Desk front view

15. Media Specialist’s Office
Behind the circulation desk!

16. Computer
workstation
Media Workroom
Laminator and poster maker
Storage cabinets

17. Around the Media Center

18. Media Reading Well
The Kindergarten Student
Gem of the Month sits beside
me in the small rocking chair
while I read to the class!
Kindergartners LOVE this place!

19. Computer Use in the Media Center
Media Center Networked printer

20. Big Books and Magazines

21. Media Extras
Paperback book Rack Nutrition books from GaDOE

22. Fun in the Dewey Decimal System

23. Holidays and Favorites
St. Patrick’s Day Junie B. Jones & Captain Underpants

24. Characters welcome students!

25. Book Fair/Events Space

26. Production Area
Control station News desk

27. Media Storage Options
Distribution Center Media Server

28. More Storage
Large storage drawers Upper cabinets
Storage in
There is ample storage in three different media
rooms with cabinets and shelves. workroom

29. Map of Media Center
Diamond Rest
Circle R room
Circulation Desk
Main Hallway
Reading Well
Front of Building

30. Minor Changes to Facilitate Flow
Diamond
Circle My new mobile Promethean
Rest Board will reside here when not
room in use
I have removed the two book
cases in the middle of the floor
to facilitate flow and make
more space available for book
fairs.
Front of Building

31. My Mobile Promethean Board
 http://www.academicsuperstore.com/products/Prome
thean/Activote/928475
 This site shows the ActivVote system that has been
ordered for me.

32. Promethean Planet Site
 http://www.prometheanworld.com/server.php?show=
nav.15
 This is where my mobile ActivBoard will be purchased
from. The price of the entire set up is in the
neighborhood of $17,000.00.

33. Conclusion
 Our media center is very new and needs almost no
changes to the facility. Every need has been
anticipated. The school has only been open since
August, 2006.
 Our policies have been worked on for many years and
are working well as is. I really don’t think any changes
need to be made. I love being a media specialist and
have a very supportive media and technological staff at
the district level.