May 16, 2008

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This past year, the district had requests to revisit the High School Summer Reading Program. We are pleased and excited to announce that the Pine-Richland Administration and High School English Department collaborated to create enhancements to the Summer Reading Program. The 2008-2009 new PR Summer Reading document provides an overview of expectations for each grade level and course.

The English Department expended great effort to select required reading choices that included rigor for all students. The classic selections have been referenced repeatedly on the Advanced Placement Exam and/or are considered to be recommended readings by colleges and universities.

In every grade level, students of all abilities will read one required common novel. The district provided novel will be in paperback and students will be able to keep the book. In this way, students may take notes in or highlight text during their reading.

Students enrolled in Honors/Pre AP and AP will have assignments and books similar to what they have had in the past. However, students enrolled in the College Preparatory courses 9-12, in addition to the required reading selection, you are to select any one book of your choice from the American Library Association website at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm.

The books on the American Library Association website represents a cross section of young adult literature and do not reflect an across the board endorsement by the PR school district.  However, parents are encouraged to help their children choose a book from the website that is appropriate for them.

The selected choice book may be obtained through the local library, a bookstore of the family’s choice, or other means.

Students will have an objective test/writing assessment on the required readings. A different form of assessment will be used for the website selection. Students should be prepared for the assessments within the first two weeks of school and following the Labor Day break.

Dr. Richard T. Vacca, Past President of the International Reading Association, states in The National Middle School Association’s Publication entitled Strategies for Integrating Reading and Writing in Middle and High School Classrooms, “The literacy learning that takes place in adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 is of critical importance in preparing for life in and out of school. As a society, we can ill afford to marginalize adolescent literacy at a time when the literacy development of young adolescents and teenagers is more critical than ever.”

Much educational research acknowledges the significance of reading and writing on overall student achievement. We are asking our families to purposefully and intentionally continue to support student summer reading in your household.

Please review the reading program document by clicking here. If you have any questions, you may contact the High School English Department Chair Lisa Erb, English Teacher John Dolphin, a secondary Principal, Dr. Manley or Dr. Rondinelli.

Sincerely,
Dr. Bille P. Rondinelli
Assistant Superintendent/Secondary