The Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL) recently named Chickahominy Middle School (CMS) as the 2020 school library program of the year. The award recognizes one school library program for excellence in the state each year. CMS is the first school in Hanover to receive this award.
Award recipients must demonstrate the school library’s commitment to ensuring students and staff are effective users of ideas and information, as well as outline the implementation of multiple learning standards and guidelines. They must also illustrate how well the school integrates the library’s mission into its overall mission, goals, and objectives, as well as present evidence of ongoing outreach initiatives to parents and the broader community.
Ms. Alicia LeRoux and Ms. Christina Stewart, CMS school librarians, said, “We are thrilled to be recognized by the Virginia Association of School Librarians as school library program of the year. Our entire program is based on reaching every student in our school through programming and collaboration. We are so fortunate to be able to do this as co-librarians at Chickahominy Middle School. We are thankful for the support of our administration and our teachers with whom we collaborate. We are grateful to be recognized by our professional organization for what we do each and every day to help our students be successful.”
Mr. Mark Beckett, CMS principal, said, “Chargers are greeted with great enthusiasm at the library door. Mrs. LeRoux and Mrs. Stewart offer great book recommendations for both the avid and the reluctant reader. They welcome students to this safe space and replicate this same safe environment for learners and teachers to take instructional risks.”
The VAASL will recognize the CMS library program at the fall conference author/awards banquet in November.