Dutchtown
Middle School
DMS Media Center/Learning Commons
- Overview
- Media Center Policies and Procedures
- SORA
- DMS Reading Bowl
- Parent Resources
- Beanstack (Henry Reads)
- Resources
Overview
DMS Learning Commons
- "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free," by Frederick Douglass.
Media Specialist: Ms. Rhonda Ennis
mailto:rhonda.ennis@henry.k12.ga.us
Media Paraprofessional: Mrs. Nova Ibe
Media Center Policies and Procedures
DIT C
EDIT CONTENTMission Statement
The mission of the library media program at Dutchtown Middle School is to promote literacy and the effective use of ideas and information for students and staff by fostering an active, authentic learning environment for students to become independent, information-literate, lifelong learners.
Goals
- To build the library media center's collection with an array of print, non-print, and electronic resources that support the adopted Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE).
- To integrate learning activities across all content areas with media center resources
- To make connections among all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community.
- To create lifelong learners who consistently utilize their information-seeking skills in accessing, evaluating, and using information to solve problems and satisfy their own curiosity.
- To increase students’ and teachers’ knowledge in accessing and integrating the various technology resources into teaching and learning.
Library Media Center Services
Hours of Operation
The media center is open daily with a flexible schedule for all students, faculty/staff, and parents. The hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8:15 am until 3:40 pm.
Media Center Rules
- Show "Hall Pass" to Media Center Staff
- All school rules apply in the media center
- Enter the media center quietly
- Respect other patrons
- Discard all food, candy, and drinks
- No cell phones and/or other mobile devices
- Come prepared with all necessary materials (pencil, paper, textbooks, assignment, etc.)
- No leaving once you are in the media center to retrieve forgotten things or to use the restroom
- Clean your area before leaving
- Push chairs under the table
Flexible Schedule
The Library Media Center operates on an open-access (flexible) schedule. During instructional time, students must have a signed pass from a teacher or administrator to visit the Media Center for research, test-taking, book checkout, and other activities.
Classes are encouraged to sign up to utilize the many print and digital resources available in the Media Center. Additionally, all teachers are encouraged to routinely sign up their classes for collaboratively planned media center lessons.
Checkout Procedures
Students may check out up to two (2) books at a time. All books must be returned within two weeks to avoid late fees.
Parents and teachers are encouraged to support daily reading habits by reminding students to read for at least 30 minutes each day to improve fluency and comprehension.
Students are not allowed to check out reference materials (dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.). However, they are allowed to utilize them in the Media Center and/or online at any time.
Overdue Books
All books checked out by students are due two weeks from the day of checkout. Books should be returned to the media center by the due date, this applies to all patrons. Students are charged $.05 per book, per day for overdue books. This fee will not exceed $2.50 per book; however, the student will not be allowed to check out another book until all overdue books are returned and the overdue fees accumulated are paid. Books will be considered lost if still overdue after forty-five (45)days.
Lost/Damaged Books
Students are responsible for the replacement cost of any lost or damaged books. If a book is damaged while in a student's possession, the damage must be reported to the media specialist immediately. The student will be responsible for the replacement cost.
Any damage discovered before checkout must also be reported to the media specialist right away. If damage is not reported prior to checkout, the student will be held responsible for any and all damage found when the book is returned.
All fees incurred due to damaged or lost books must be paid before the patron can check out another book. Once fees are paid, the patron will be provided with a receipt, and checkout privileges will be restored. If lost and/or damaged book fines are not paid, a hold will be placed on the student's account, and access to Infinite Campus (to view grades) will be denied for both parents and students. Any lost book that is found, within one month of payment, can be returned to the media center for a full refund. There is no refund for damaged books.
Computer Usage
The computers in the Media Center are available to all patrons who have a signed Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) agreement on file.
Teachers may send up to four students at a time to use the computers for research or class assignments only. Students are not permitted to use Media Center computers for non-academic purposes such as playing games or checking email.
Teachers are encouraged to share research project dates and topics with the media specialist in advance to ensure that students receive adequate and effective support.
Printer Use
Students are allowed to print using the black and white or color printer located in the media center. The cost to print in black and white is $0.25 per page, and $0.50 per page for color. If students are printing pictures, the cost, in addition to each page, is $0.10 per picture (black and white) and $0.25 per picture (color). Students must follow copyright guidelines when utilizing the printers in the media center.
SORA
E-books and Audio digital books have arrived at DMS!!
Use your chromebooks and mobile devices to read books online or
download books and read on the go...
To access Sora and checkout e-books from our library collection:
-login to Classlink
-click on the Sora icon
-find a book just right for you
-checkout the book (no lost books or overdue fines)
or
Access Sora on your Mobile Device (mobile phone, tablet, etc.)
-visit the Apple App Store or Google Play
-search for the Sora App
-Download the App
-Find your School (type Dutchtown Middle School)
-Login with your student credential (same as Chromebook login)
-Find a book to read or pick up where you left off
DMS Reading Bowl
Sponsor(s): Ms. Ennis and Ms. Watt
The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl ("HRRB") is a unique reading competition offered to all students at Dutchtown Middle School. The competition was created by Helen Ruffin, a media specialist in Dekalb County, who wanted to increase the love of reading through a fun and exciting competition.
The HRRB competition uses questions from the Georgia Children's Book Award Nominees in a quiz bowl-like format. There are four competitions that take place: District, Regional, Divisional, and State. In each competition, only the top two schools move on to the next level. We are looking forward to giving it our all and doing well throughout the competition rounds.
Official HRRB rules state that only one team can be sponsored by a school. Our team consists of not more than five players and five alternates. Alternates may be switched out between rounds. We select the 'top ten' readers out of those interested based on the following criteria:
- Amount of books read (at least 7 of 10 books MUST be read).
- 15 Questions/Answers turned in for each book read.
- Meeting Attendance (no more than 3 absences from weekly practice)
Click the following links for more information:
Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Website
The Official HRRB Format & Rules
Reading Bowl Practice Schedule
Reading Bowl Questions_BlankTemplate
Important Dates
DMS Practice Begins - September 29th (full schedule above)
District Reading Bowl Competition -January 24, 2026
Regional Reading Bowl Competition - TBA
State Reading Bowl Competition - TBA
Parent Resources
The importance of reading:
https://youngreadersfoundation.org/importance-of-reading/
https://www.gcu.edu/blog/teaching-school-administration/importance-and-impact-of-reading
Things parents can do at home to support reading:
https://www.nwea.org/blog/2025/parent-strategies-for-improving-their-childs-reading-and-writing/
Beanstack (Henry Reads)
DMS Reads
Purpose Statement: Henry Reads inspires a love of reading while building literacy skills and boosting academic success for Dutchtown Middle School scholars. Through shared reading experiences, diverse stories, and close reading strategies, students strengthen critical thinking, deepen comprehension, and grow both academically and personally—making reading a meaningful part of everyday life.
Beanstack: Beanstack is a competition, recognition, and library gaming platform to encourage you to read different types of books and help you keep track of all the books you read throughout the school year.
