• Houses more than 13,500 titles
• Averages more than 400 books checked out each week
• Contains a wide variety of reading levels from early reader to adult
• Includes a mix of Christian and secular authors
• Screens authors and titles for inappropriate content, particularly in the young adult section
• Offers different activity centers for students to actively learn during Library class
• Houses a “Makerspace,” a creative area where students may gather to creatively problem-solve and work as teams
• Allows activities to be driven by student choice
• Introduces students to a wide variety of literature and authors
• Encourages students to see themselves as active learners and participants in their own literacy goals and gains
• Occasionally displays visually creative class projects (i.e. 1st grader animal dioramas)
• Facilitates 4th and 5th grader participation in Oregon Battle of the Books
• Hosts a Book Fair in the spring to raise money for the program and add to our titles list
• Abounds in volunteer opportunities

Did you know we have our very own WHCS Library website? CLICK HERE

We are proud of the strong reading program here at West Hills Christian School. Regular assessments are conducted throughout the year in order to ascertain students’ reading progress and to quickly identify any problems requiring intervention:

• Acadience screenings administered three times each year
• MAP assessments administered two times each year
• Curriculum and teacher assessments conducted as needed

The Reading Skills Practice Groups (RSP) at West Hills use a research-based, reading intervention program to identify students struggling with literacy and provide targeted teaching to help them catch up. Student participants are chosen based on screening measures as well as input from teachers, from our Dean of Academic Services, and sometimes from parents.

How RSP groups work:

• Participants engage in three sessions per year lasting five or six weeks.
• Strategic reading groups are fluid and flexible based on student and class needs.
• Efforts are heavily focused on K-2nd grades, where small groups of less than five students work with a trained instructional aide.
• Participants in 3rd-6th grades utilize more individualized, computer-based fluency intervention.
• The goal is to have all kids reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
• RSP is our Tier 2 intervention and is provided at no cost to parents. Students who struggle in RSP groups are recommended for Tier 3 intervention at a cost to the parents.

To supplement your child’s reading, Ms. McRobert has compiled an incredible list of free online reading resources. Happy reading!