Schoolwide Summer Reading Assignment 2019
Grades 6-12
Written by local author Ann Braden, The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a book with important lessons for all of us, young and not so young. Our hope is that sharing the experience of this story will bring all of us together and help strengthen the bonds within our Leland and Gray community.
We have designed specific assignments for students in middle school (grades 6-8) and students in high school (grades 9-12). Please find your reading and writing assignments on the reverse and come to school in August with your work completed. During the first few weeks of school, Ann Braden will join us to talk about her book, a visit that promises to be exciting and enriching!
Essential Questions1
- When we make assumptions about other people, what do we base them on? How do those assumptions shape our interactions? How do those assumptions affect other people?
- How are people’s lives affected when they have to struggle to make ends meet?
- When it comes to controversial issues, what role does debate play? How does it help? How does it hurt? What alternatives to debate exist?
- What cultural divides exist in communities? How might it be possible to bridge those divides?
- What happens when a person who has felt misunderstood and alone finally feels seen and valued?
Some Basic Definitions
Assumption: when you make a decision about something without fully understanding it.
Controversial: when people have strong opinions about a topic and it’s easy to get into arguments about it.
Debate: when people point out the strength of one side of an issue and the weaknesses of the other.
Cultural Divide: when there are groups of people that live differently from each other or believe different things and don’t really understand the others.
1Braden, A. (n.d.). The Benefits of Being an Octopus: An Educator’s Guide. Retrieved from http://annbradenbooks.com/
READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Summer 2019
Middle School
- BEFORE YOU READ: Answer these pre-reading questions in writing:
- Examine the cover of The Benefits of Being an Octopus. What predictions can you make about the main character in the story?
- What do you think some of the benefits of being an octopus could be?
- Read The Benefits of Being an Octopus.
AFTER YOU READ: Choose and answer one essential question (see above). Please use examples from the text in your response.
High School
- Read The Benefits of Being an Octopus.
- Read the New Yorker article “How People Learn to Become Resilient” by Maria Konnikova.
- Answer two of the essential questions (see reverse) thoroughly, using examples from the text.
- Apply the ideas contained in “How People Learn to Become Resilient” to the book by answering the following questions thoroughly, using examples from the texts:
- How does Zoey demonstrate resilience by the end of the book (as opposed to the beginning of the book?)
- What key traits of resiliency, as reported by Konnikova, do we see in her character?
Your responses are due the first week of school. We look forward to seeing you then!
Questions?
Please contact:
Ms. Doty at rdoty@lelandandgray.org
Ms. Rowan at jrowan@lelandandgray.org
Ms. Matson at amatson@lelandandgray.org
Scholar Leader Awards Banquet
Ainsley Meyer and Icabaud Clarke attended the Scholar Leader Awards Banquet at Norwich University on Thursday evening with their families and Middle School Counselor Phoebe Connolly. Ainsley and Icabaud were awarded the Middle Level Scholar Leader Award.
TIMBERFRAME Pavilion
Design and build by LGUHS HOME Program as a Service Learning Project at Newbrook Elementary School.
Project materials paid for by Newbrook Farm to School Grant; frame cut and erected by HOME Program students.
2017-2019
The Leland and Gray Band and Choir
The Leland and Gray Band and Choir traveled to Holyoke on May 3rd for the Music in the Park Festival. Both groups brought home the high school first place trophies in their respected division. They also won the Best Overall Choir and Concert Band award in the high school bracket.
You should have seen the group's reaction and pride as they carried around four trophies!
Both performances were hands down the best of the year for each group, under the scrutiny of four distinguished judges. In our humble opinion, this is quite an accomplishment at a National Festival, as compared to where we were with enrollment in band and choir three years ago!
We are very proud of our students in regards to their poise, professional demeanor, and the ability to play/sing under pressure. The most impressive aspect of this performance was that it occurred in a totally foreign environment, in a one and done competition - that's preparation at it's best!
Our heartfelt thanks to Kristina Wright and Mike Harrigan for chaperoning and helping out in countless ways to help facilitate making the day run smoothly. All in all, a fabulous first time experience for Leland and Gray's musicians!
Go Rebel Music Nation!!!!
Thanks to all of the Leland and Gray staff in your support all year of our music program, allowing us to have extra time with the kids to coordinate this undertaking. The kids benefitted from the experience immensely and will move forward with a new understanding of what a quality music program should be.
Please congratulate the kids on Monday and we will plan on sharing at the assembly!
Rene & James
Save The Date
The 2019 Jr./Sr. Prom
Proudly hosted by the Class of 2020
Will be held in the Grand Summit Ballroom at Mt. Snow
On May 11th 7PM- 11PM
Grand March at 8:30
Tickets are $30 a single & $50 a couple and can be purchased in B-7 before school and at lunch.
Off campus students can make email arrangements at csanderson@lelandandgray.org