As students across St Charles County head back to school, the St. Charles City-County Library is kicking off the school year with two exciting initiatives designed to support teachers and help the youngest learners get ready for Kindergarten.
Classroom Collections makes it easy for teachers to tap into the Library’s resources and bring engaging, relevant resources into the classroom. Educators can request materials based on a specific topic, theme, or area of study, along with the students’ age or grade level. Library staff will then select a collection of books and other resources and fill a Classroom Collections bag for the teacher to share with their students.
KEyS (Kindergarten Entry Skills) is a new Library initiative focused on giving children the strong foundation they need to start kindergarten ready to learn, grow, and succeed. KEyS helps families build the fundamentals of school readiness through engaging programs, activities, and resources that support reading behaviors, reading readiness, language and communication, writing, math readiness, motor skills, social skills, emotional development, and independence.
“Our schools and families are doing incredible work to help children succeed, and the Library is proud to be a partner in that effort,” said John Greifzu, Library CEO. “Whether we’re putting the resources into a teacher’s hands or helping a family prepare a child for kindergarten, our goal is to make learning more accessible, engaging, and exciting for every child in St. Charles County.”
These two new initiatives are just the beginning. Supporting learning is at the core of the Library’s work with resources, programs, technology, and spaces that support children and families from the earliest years through high school and beyond.
The Library’s role as an education partner begins well before a child enters a classroom. From a child’s first Storytime to participation in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten or early experiences in the Library’s early literacy spaces, children and families can find opportunities to build the skills and confidence that form the foundation for lifelong learning.
Once students enter school, Student Library Cards, offered in partnership with St. Charles County area schools, help to remove barriers to Library access. Student Library Cards, provided automatically to students, unless a parent or guardian opts out, connect students with Library materials and digital resources they can use for reading, research, assignments, and independent learning.
A Library card extends learning far beyond the classroom and Library walls. Students can access online tutoring and homework help, research reliable information through the Library’s databases, and build valuable skills through online learning platforms, including LearningExpress Library, LinkedIn Learning, and Gale Presents: Udemy. The Library also provides resources to help students learn how to conduct research, evaluate information, cite sources, and strengthen other academic skills.
For families who educate their children at home, Homeschool Explorers provides another connection to Library resources and learning. The program gives homeschool students opportunities to discover subjects together, participate in educational experiences, and connect with other students and families.
Sometimes supporting student success is even more fundamental: providing a place and the tools to learn. Library branches offer free Wi-Fi, public computers including MacBooks, and study spaces where students can read, research, collaborate, complete assignments, or simply focus. Library staff are also available to help students find books, locate reliable information, and navigate print and digital resources.
From a child’s first picture book to a student’s latest research project, the Library provides resources and support for learning at every age and every stage.