Sacred Heart SchoolSacred Heart SchoolSacred Heart SchoolSacred Heart SchoolSummer Reading ProgramSummer Reading ProgramSummer Reading ProgramSummer Reading Program Grades 5Grades 5Grades 5Grades 5----8888

June 2009Dear Sacred Heart Parents,As the school year comes to a close once again, and weall anticipate a happy, restful summer vacation, I would like totake this opportunity to remind you of the formal summerreading program for all students returning to Sacred Heart School in September who will be entering grades 5-8.The purpose of the summer reading program is toencourage and motivate students to continue readingthroughout the summer months in order to maintain theirreading skills, and to prepare for the reading curriculumrequirements for the up-coming school year.Each student is required to read a minimum of twotwotwotwo novels from the attached reading selection list. Please notice that theattached list has books selected for the grade level that yourchild will be entering in September 2009. Many of theselections are available at your local public library, or if youprefer to have your own copy of the book, the book can bepurchased from Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon.com orany other book retailer. I have visited each of the local bookretailers personally as well as the local public libraries in eachof the surrounding towns to provide them with a list of all thereading selections for students in grades 4-8. Please allow at

least 5-10 days from the date of this letter before going into thebookstores so that they will have had ample time to order thedesignated books and to stock the shelves. Your local librarymay not have all the listed selections available, but within theMorris County inter-loan book service, you should be able to find most of the selected titles.When school resumes in September, each student will berequired to complete a book report / project for each of thebooks that were read for the summer reading program. Theinstructions and guidelines for the book report will be handedout within the first three weeks after the new school year hasbegun. Each student will be given ample time to complete theassignments and the book report. The book report / project willbe graded and be applied to the first quarter marking periodgrade in Language Arts.Although the expected reading requirement is only twotwotwotwobooks per student, I strongly recommend that your childcontinue to read as many books as he / she can during thesummer. The additional book selection choices can be otherbooks which are not on the attached reading list if he /sheprefers, or they can also be additional selections from thegrade level list. Barnes and Noble is sponsoring a readingincentive program for all students in grades 1-6 who read at least eight books. Students then need to complete the attachedreading log sheet, have a parent sign it, and then return it toany Barnes and Noble Bookstore between May 26 throughSeptember 7 to be eligible to receive a free book.

Also, our new school librarian, Mrs. Green, is planning avisit to the school in the fall from a children’s author. Any childwho would like to read a book by this author in preparation forhis visit is encouraged to do so. Students who read one of hisbooks will be given extra credit in reading / Language Arts forthe first marking period. Students will also be informed andknowledgeable about his books and can have a more personaland meaningful experience when Mr. Timothy Tocher presentshis books and “book talk” to the lower and upper gradestudents. Some of his books which are currently availableinclude:

Bill Penant, Babe Ruth, and Me, The Long Shot, Chief Sunrise, John McGraw and Me, and Playing for Pride.

Pleasevisit Timothy Tocher’s web-site to learn more about him and hisbooks. We are all excited about his up-coming visit to SacredHeart School in 2009!If you have any questions regarding the summer readingprogram, please contact me before the close of the schoolyear. Enjoy your summer vacation, and happy reading!Sincerely,Mrs. Joyce BaioSummer Reading Program CoordinatorGrades 4-8