• Despines, J.       Janine Despines


               

     

     

    Librarian

    Supervising Teacher, SMART Desk

    Environmental Club Sponsor

    Library Media Assistants Sponsor

    USC Book Club Sponsor

    Background:

    I am an undergraduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Secondary English Education. I taught middle school English classes at the Ramah Navajo Reservation District in New Mexico and at the Avella School District in Pennsylvania. I earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh in 1998 and began teaching at Upper St. Clair High School as a librarian in 1999.
     

    I enjoy planning and teaching information skills to all grades, collaborating with teachers, helping students and staff with reference and technology questions, finding resources for student/staff needs, and troubleshooting audio/visual/technology equipment needs for staff.

    Phone: 412-833-1600 x2524 Email: jdespines@uscsd.k12.pa.us

    Course Taught:

    Click here for the Library web site.

    Library Orientation: Review of all library services including the library holdings, circulation policy, databases, and behavioral expectations [presented to all 9th graders and new students at the high school].

    Library/Teacher Collaborations: The library supports all departments within the high school by providing print and online resources to support the curriculum. Information skills are taught in conjunction with classroom teachers’ lessons. The librarian then presents classes on how students may best access print, online, web, and eBook/audio book materials for their class projects. Bibliographic instruction according to the Modern Library Association [MLA] or APA [American Psychological Association] is also provided along with instruction on how to apply legal principles and ethical conduct related to information use.

    SMART Desk (Course #959): SMART desk is an independent study course provided by the Upper St. Clair technology department. Students utilize their knowledge of computers to assist in fixing district technology issues. There are also many opportunities for learning experiences and independent projects. For more information… https://programofstudies.uscsd.k12.pa.us/app/#/list/3097  2 semesters, 1 credit 






    Activities Sponsored:

    Environmental Club Sponsor: In this club, I facilitate students as they pursue environmental interests and guide them through the process of making environmentally-friendly changes in our school community.  Over the years, the Environmental Club members have started paper, can, plastic, battery, ink cartridge, cell phone, and holiday light recycling initiatives in the high school, they have helped to eliminate the use of Styrofoam in our Nutrition Center, planted/care for a Pennsylvania native plants garden on school grounds, and recently implemented a unified classroom/office recycling bin system.

    Library Media Assistants (LMA’s): LMA's are students who volunteer their free mods to help out in the library. Some of their responsibilities include helping out at the front Circulation Desk by welcoming users, handing out supplies, circulating books and equipment, and doing occasional “library business” errands around the school. Students may receive National Honor Society, IB, and other community service hours for their participation.

    USC Book Club Sponsor: The USC Book Club is a student-driven club that celebrates reading for pleasure. Club members meet twice a month--once to discuss the book read and second to discuss the next book to read.