June 2007

Dear Parents,

A primary goal of McGee Middle School’s Reading Program is to develop a lifelong desire to read for both pleasure and knowledge acquisition. McGee’s Summer Reading Program is designed to encourage students to continue the reading “habit” throughout the summer months. This extended reading opportunity will sustain reading achievement and expand reading interests.

Students entering grade 6, 7, and 8 are expected to read and respond to at least three books during the summer months. Attached are the instructions and a list of authors whose books represent a range of genre, topic, and level of challenge. Students are to select three books from this list and respond in writing to each book. A list of response questions from which students may choose is also attached. These three responses must be brought to the student’s ILA teacher on the first day of school. Each teacher will focus an activity related to these readings during the first week of school for which your child will earn credit toward his/her first quarter grade.

In addition, McGee students will also participate in the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. All Berlin Schools will accept this challenge, and all student participants will receive acknowledgement for their effort from the State. Attached is the form from the State for documenting the titles of all books read by your child during the summer, including the three required for McGee. Students may read books by any author and apply them to the Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge form. Each student should bring this form to his/her ILA teacher on the first day of school.

Parents are children’s first teachers and your support is critical in reinforcing our expectation that every student participate in the McGee Summer Reading Program. As parents, teachers, school and public librarians offer encouragement through the Summer Reading Program, hundreds of young people can reap the benefits that only time spent reading can provide.

We wish you a good summer and look forward to working with your child in the fall.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Benigni