Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to announce our Middle School Summer Reading Program! This summer, students entering grades 5–8 will participate in a shared reading experience focused on the theme of empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others.

Students will choose one of the following novels to read over the summer:

• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

• Restart by Gordon Korman

Although students will be reading different books, both novels explore important themes such as empathy, perspective, belonging, resilience, and personal growth. Throughout the summer, students will have access to reading guides and optional staff video reflections to help them engage with the text and think about the themes being explored.

Our summer reading website will be updated every two weeks with new content, including reflection questions, reading updates, and staff videos sharing thoughts and reactions to the books. Families are encouraged to check back on the following dates for new materials:

• July 6

• July 20

• August 3

• August 17

• August 31

To support different learning preferences, books will be available in both print and audiobook formats through Learning Ally. Directions for logging into Learning Ally can be found here. If you requested a physical book, please plan to return the book in September in good condition.

Our goal is to foster a shared reading experience that encourages meaningful conversations and helps build a strong sense of community among our students. We look forward to celebrating their reading and reflections when we return to school in the fall.

Thank you for your support, and we wish your family a wonderful summer of reading!

Sincerely,

Michael Melvin

Principal