Media Center
The Erik Jonsson Media Center is an extension of the classroom and functions as the school's information center.
With three cozy teaching areas, three fireplaces, low shelves, and stuffed animals, the Media Center is a warm, inviting area where students joyfully search for books and recommend them to one another. The Lamplighter curricula are enriched at the Media Center through a variety of well-organized resources and tools that reflect the diverse needs of the community. There are more than 24,000 items in the collection. These materials are available to all students, parents, faculty, and administration within the school community. Each student is assisted in selecting, evaluating, and using the information appropriately and effectively. (This is often described to the students as a “just-right” book.) The Media Center Coordinator supports students’ love of reading and collaborates with faculty to provide instruction, learning strategies, and practices that use essential learning skills.
Our youngest learners begin by borrowing one book at a time; this limit is raised gradually, until fourth graders can check out five books at a time. If students forget to return their books on Media Center day, they are invited to sit and read a book of their choosing. There is a display of pop-up books for those who haven’t mastered reading alone yet, or for anyone to enjoy.
An annual Book Fair is held in May and a Media Center Open House is held after Thanksgiving, during which parents purchase books in honor of faculty and staff. The Media Center supports the Dooley Author Series, bringing award winning authors and illustrators to campus for students, faculty, and staff.
Dooley Author Series
The Dooley Author Series brings notable and award-winning authors and illustrators to campus for special visits with Lamplighter students and faculty. During the 2022-2023 school year, Lamplighter will welcome children's author Stacy McAnulty to campus.
Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author who used to be a mechanical engineer. She has written dozens of books including her debut middle-grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, an Indie Bestseller, and the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor book Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Her other picture books include Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, illustrated by David Litchfield; Moon! Earth’s Best Friend and Sun! One in a Billion, both illustrated by Stevie Lewis.
summer reading 2022
Grade-level reading lists for rising Pre-K through fourth grade students are as follows:
Media Center Open House
The Erik Jonsson Media Center Open House offers a special opportunity for parents to purchase new books while honoring their teachers during the holidays. Every book purchased is dedicated to the teacher or staff member of your choosing, and will permanently reside in the Erik Jonsson Media Center. These books are in lieu of individual gifts since the Lamplighter Parents' Association provides cash gifts to each member of the faculty and staff at the holidays.