Letter from the Principal

Gayle Iacono

Many of our middle school students returned from Virginia an extra four days later than the rest of the students on spring break. They were enjoying an educational review of the historical importance that Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown played in the development of The United States of America. All of us agreed that it was a fabulous trip and hope that more students will be able to join us next year in Washington, D.C.!

Many parents and students are already inquiring about summer reading. Thanks to my outstanding language arts department recommendations, Ms. Bridget Wolff has compiled a list of the summer reading guidelines that will answer any questions you might have. Additionally, the summer reading requirements are described. These guidelines and requirements are as follows:

Why read during the summer break? We believe that reading year-round promotes lifelong and intellectual curiosity. All Sagemont students are expected to read during the summer months. We encourage students to choose novels or nonfiction literature that appeal to their personal interests.

How many books should I read? If you are enrolled in an advanced/honor or AP English course for the upcoming school year, you should read at least two books. If you are enrolled in a regular English course, you should read at least one book.

How will I be graded? All reading should be completed prior to the first day of school. During the first week of classes, you will be expected to give an informal presentation about the books you read and/or participate in a "book talk" in which your peers and teacher will exchange personal thoughts about their book's plot, the author's writing style, the characters, etc. As you read, be sure to make a few notes regarding the things you liked and disliked about the book(s).

Which books am I allowed to read? It's your choice! Remember, the more interested you are in the subject matter, the more likely you will be to finish the book. Read online reviews on Amazon.com, ask your friends for recommendations, or pick a title from the suggested summer reading list. If you have already read a book on the list, you must choose a new book to read. Avoid picking a book you will have to read during the school year by knowing what the required reading is for each grade level. You can find the list of novels read in English class in the curriculum bulletin under the "Language Arts" section.

Note to Parents: Please review your child's summer reading selections before he or she begins reading. Some books may have content that you may not deem age-appropriate, so be sure to check out online reviews or ask your local librarian to help guide the selection process.

A list of suggested summer reading is available on the upper campus website. If you have any additional questions regarding summer reading, please don't hesitate to contact me at 954-389-2454 or email me at giacono@sagemont.com.