Home Technology, Libraries & Research
Park Day School is located within walking distance of the Temescal and Rockridge branch libraries. As a school that believes that impactful learning experiences take place in the larger community, we prioritize bringing students off campus to our city libraries for large scale research projects.
Park Day School builds micro-libraries in each classroom that are customized and curated to appeal to each developmental stage, passion, interest, and stretch zone. All Park Day micro-libraries feature diverse voices and students select new books with guidance from their teacher. We have classroom libraries in every classroom K-6, and 7th & 8th grade share one extensive Library space in the Magnolia Building.
Reading every night is part of the homework expectation for all students, K-8. Choosing new books from our classroom or community libraries is a key part of our learning to love reading process!
At Park Day School, student use of technology is viewed as a path to a wider understanding of, and engagement with, the world. Technology is a tool, and is used in a purpose driven way to further student learning. iPads may be used during math and literacy centers (typically not more than twice a week, for 15 minutes), and students learn how to use Google Slides for presentations as early as 1st and 2nd grades. In 3rd grade, Chromebooks are introduced at school, and are used to learn coding for the first time. drafting written work, and more. Typing homework begins in 3rd grade, and continues through 5th grade. Middle School students engage in higher level coding work, and most of their written work is produced in the Google suite. They learn to organize their workload using the online tool, Blackbaud, as well as with paper planners.
Park Day School partners with outside organizations including Common Sense Media regarding digital citizenship. personal cyber safety, and cyber literacy. At every grade level there are lessons, discussions, and touchpoints about analyzing sources paired with scaffolding that guides inquiry and research habits while preparing work. Watch the videos below to hear alumni talk about research and study skills and faculty talk about our approach to technology.