OLCHS Media Center Awarded Prestigious 'Feed Your Need Grant'

OAK LAWN, IL — The Oak Lawn Community High School Media Center was one of only 26 school libraries in Illinois to be awarded the Feed Your Need Grant. The competitive, statewide grant awarded from the Association of Illinois School Librarians AISLIE/LBSS Endowment Fund provides funds to be used for the purchase of books and/or ebooks.

The Feed Your Need Grant allows media specialists to update a section of the school library’s collection that is outdated or does not meet the school or district’s curricular standards and or other educational standards. Grants are awarded for a specific curricular area.

OLCHS media specialists Jennifer Sidlow and Eileen Wholley, with the guidance of Spanish teacher Nate Joiner, will use the grant to increase the young adult, high-interest Spanish language collection. Joiner is excited to use the new materials in his Spanish for Heritage Speakers class.

“Silent reading for heritage Spanish speakers is a low-stakes and enjoyable way for [students] to push the boundaries of their vocabulary beyond the everyday language use they are exposed to at home,” says Joiner. “It is also a great way for them to get connected to their cultural heritage and see it valued and represented in their school community.”

Spanish-speaking students at OLCHS make up 37 percent of the 432 eligible students in the English Language/bilingual community. OLCHS offers classes in bilingual health, world history, U.S. history, biology, physical science, algebra and consumers education.

~ Contributed by Jennifer Sidlow, OLCHS Staff Writer