The Cathedral School Library is a place where library resources, services, information, and technology come together. In addition to the non-digital library curriculum, a digital strand has been added to each grade level from kindergarten through fourth grade. This strand supports students in the development of skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

 

The Cathedral School's technology program is committed to keeping technology equipment and training current and providing students with the opportunities and necessary skills to utilize technology for learning, research, collaboration, and creative expression. Technology skills are integrated into the curriculum, and students utilize both Apple laptops and iPads during classes. 

 

In K-2, the emphasis is on helping students become comfortable and proficient with the basic use of technology: logging on to both an iPad and computer, accessing different applications, saving and sharing files, knowledge of hardware including basic keyboarding skills, and closing out of programs. Kindergarten students have a set of iPads to use in their classrooms and are introduced to the laptops during library. First and second graders have access to a classroom set of iPads and laptops. Beginning in third grade, students become more active researchers. They learn how to research a topic first in books and through teacher-selected websites. In addition to learning how to navigate the Internet, students learn how to download images and incorporate those images into a word processing or a multimedia document. Keyboarding skills are formally taught starting in January of third grade. In the fall of fourth grade, students have an additional three-month period of formal keyboarding training. Both third and fourth grade have their own classroom set of iPads and access to laptops when needed. Google Drive is introduced in fourth grade as a way for students to collaborate with peers.

 

In addition to the digital strand being discussed and taught during each library class, basic library skills are also taught. The primary goal of the library program is to foster a love of reading. With a library featuring over 7,000 books, there is a book for every interest level. Lower School students come to the library once a cycle for stories, literary discussions, exchanges of book recommendations, and an introduction to library skills. The Librarian works with classroom teachers and the STEAM staff to connect research skills taught in the library and classroom projects. An important part of the Lower School library program is learning about literary awards, such as the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Award. Students are encouraged to develop their own criteria for excellence in literature.