- Parkway School
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GRAY, OWEN - Media Teacher
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Welcome to the Parkway Library Webpage!
Search the Destiny Online Catalog to find books at Parkway!
WVA Students & Families can request books here.
What are the Parkway Library Hours?
Parkway Library is open during school hours from 8-2:30 every weekday.
How Often Will my Student visit the Library?
Students in K-5 have weekly library classes in which we learn about using the library, practice research skills, and grow a love of reading and stories. Your student’s individual Library Time depends on whose class they are in. They will also have a different day of the week that they come to the library to exchange books. This will be based on what grade they are in.
Students in grades 6-8 will also have the chance to visit the library once a week to exchange books but that is only on an as-needed basis. Outside of that, many middle school students have various classes in the library. Media Assistants, Read It, Storytelling, and Yearbook are the ones being offered this year.
How Many Books can my student check out?
It depends on what grade they are in. Here are the limits per grade level:
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K-1: 1 book
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2nd: 2 books
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3rd-8th: 3 books
If a student has checked out their limit, they may not check out more until at least one is returned.
How long can my student keep a book?
Children can keep a book for three weeks with one renewal allowed (a total of 6 weeks). After that, the book will be marked overdue. If it remains overdue for another 3 weeks it will be marked as lost.
Are there fines for overdue or lost books?
Fines are only assessed for LOST books, not overdue ones. As long as a book is returned, there will be no charge for it. I will send out overdue notices every 9 weeks to help you and your student keep track of their books. If you think your student has lost a book, please don’t rush to pay for it. I do an annual inventory of the library every May/June and many library books turn up in that inventory. If your student’s book is still missing after the inventory then the fine will be assessed and can be paid at the beginning of the following school year. These fines will be assessed through MySchoolBucks.
How are books selected for the library?
The books that are purchased for use in the Parkway Library are selected based on how they support the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for grades K-8 and how well they meet the informational and recreational needs of the students that attend Parkway School. When ordering books, I ensure that they are reviewed by trusted organizations as age appropriate for our students. The book review institutions that I primarily use are Booklist and Kirkus, with the occasional use of School Library Journal.
It is important to remember that we are a Kindergarten through 8th Grade school, which means we have a wide range of what could be considered “age appropriate.” To help with that, the books in the library are divided into different sections based on age/grade level. Students are told where they are and are not allowed to borrow books from. As I am only one librarian, however, mistakes are bound to happen. If your student has borrowed a book that is either too young or too old for them please send it back and I will help them find a more appropriate choice. I am always happy to work with both parents and teachers to ensure that the books students are borrowing are the right choice for their needs.
What about Book Fairs? Do you do those?
We sure do! We have two Scholastic Book Fairs every school year: one in the Fall Semester and one in the Spring Semester. The Fall Book Fair will be held in the library from November 14 to November 17, 2023. The Spring Book Fair dates are still to be determined. Money raised from both Book Fairs goes to the Parkway Library to help purchase books and other instructional materials.
Can I volunteer at the Book Fair?
You sure can! I would love to have your help. However! Volunteers are required to have both a current (2023-2024) background check with Watauga County Schools and volunteer training with our front office staff. Contact me (grayo@wataugaschools.org) or Mrs. Buckner for more information.
Is there anything else to know?
Not really! At least, that’s all I can think of for now. If you have any questions or would like more information you can either email me or call me at Parkway School. If you call, I would prefer it be after school hours (2:30-3:30) as the days here are quite busy. If you email, I will respond as quickly as I can.
Thanks so much for your continued support of the Parkway Library! I am looking forward to this school year and am excited to help your students make it one of the best yet.
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Phone: (828) 264-3032
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
BA in English from Appalachian State MS in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Mr. Gray
Born in Greenville, grew up in Valle Crucis, Living in Boone, Working at Parkway. Has an awesome job, an awesome family, and awesome friends. Awesome! Enjoys making connections between students and their communities by using both books and current research tools. Need help? Get in touch with him. Need to discuss important things like Star Wars, Comics, or Rubik's Cubes? Get in touch with him. Need a friend? Get in touch with him. Need to know what happened to your giant pet orangutan who goes by the name of Billy Joe? Do not get in touch with him.
Visit the Library's Catalog: Destiny Online Catalog