July 11, 2021
Our administrative leadership team continues detailed planning for the smooth return of your students less than one month from now. Later this week, you'll receive a letter from me with some back-to-school tips that may aid your student in returning to the productive rhythm of our college preparatory school-day schedule.
As a helpful reminder, you're encouraged to ensure your student is making progress on completing their summer reading assignment, which is located HERE on our website. Scholarly studies are replete with data proving students who read during the summer break sustain their fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Summer reading in grades 1-2 focuses on "remembering and understanding" with parents making reading charts with their students. Students' summer reading in grades 3-12 includes writing assignments that vary in their complexity consistent with a student's grade level. The writing assignments are completed as a student reads the text requiring them to have a conversation with themselves about the text, and in high school, the writing assignment also encourages reflective questioning. This type of reading varies significantly from the "skimming" of content on a smartphone and is a critical skill students must master to be prepared for the rigors of college. The design of our summer reading program ensures assignments are not stressful, but they are best completed gradually over the summer and not the last week before school starts.
We hope you are having a safe summer break. The window of youth closes more quickly than parents often expect; please treasure this time with your children and make lifelong family memories.
Blessings,
