For Immediate Release: April 14, 2010

Archway School Presents Leadership Award to the Piedmont Ave.
Branch of the Oakland Public Library

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(Oakland, CA)—On Thursday, April 15, at 1:30 PM, Archway School’s fourth grade students will present the Lois Foster Leadership Award to the Piedmont Avenue Branch of the Oakland Public Library. Created by the Woods Edge Board of Trustees, the Lois Foster Leadership Award, in the name and spirit of Archway founder Lois Foster, honors those individuals or organizations that have exhibited dedicated service and support to the Archway School Community. The Piedmont Avenue Branch is located at 160 41^st Street, just off Piedmont Avenue.

Archway School has had a relationship with the Piedmont Avenue Library for more than 30 years. “Not only is this library a huge resource for our students and our teachers, but it feels like an extension of our school. We appreciate the warmth and individual attention that we receive whenever we walk in – the librarians have always made a genuine attempt to get to know each student and his/her interests, which mirrors our educational philosophy at Archway School,” said Melissa Zippin, Lower School Head.

Students and teachers alike use the library on an ongoing basis, for a weekly reading program and curriculum support or as a resource for their independent reading. The librarians assist students when they need help finding books for a classroom project, and they all have access to a librarian during their regular library visits with their class. “I can call them and ask for them to find me books that support the curriculum I’m teaching in the classroom and they always come through with dozens of books for me to use with my class,” said Kathy Brandenburg, Archway School Kindergarten teacher since 2000.

As one Archway Mom said, “I was blown away when I took my son to the library on a Saturday and the librarian not only welcomed him by name but had some book suggestions that she knew he would enjoy.”

Archway School, a program of Woods Edge, Inc., is a non-profit K – 8 co-educational independent school with campuses in Oakland and Berkeley.

For more information please see the school website at www.archwayschool.org or call (510) 547-4747. For library information, please call (510) 238-3271, or see the Oakland Public Library’s Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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