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Students happy with changes to Summer Reading Program
Jul 13, 2009 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Parents should not be alarmed if their children begin this year’s summer reading book without having to be reminded. In fact, many students have said they feel a newfound enthusiasm for Darlington’s Summer Reading Program because – for the first time – they played a key role in the book selections.
“A committee made up of students and faculty looked at a long list of books comprised of many different subjects and themes,” said Abby Vincent (’09). “The one we kept coming back to for grades 11-12 was ‘Nineteen Minutes’ by Jodi Picoult.”
The interior of Picoult’s book cover reads, “In 19 minutes you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In 19 minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can stop the world, or you can just jump off of it. In 19 minutes you can get revenge. The story begins in Sterling, N.H., a typical small town with a typical public high school. That is until Peter Haughton finally takes action on the bullying he’s been dealt since he was in kindergarten.”
This book chronicles the lives of high school students Peter Haughton and Josie Cormier. Throughout the book, time flashes back and forth between events before and after a school shooting that killed 10 people and wounded 19 others. It is learned that Peter, the shooter, and Josie, a surviving victim, were once best friends. Peter was frequently the target of severe bullying at school, and Josie often stuck up for him. However, as they got older, Josie joined the popular crowd and the friends slowly drifted apart.
“This book’s theme of bullying is a timely subject that supports our school’s No Place for Hate initiative,” Vincent said. “In addition, we reached out to the Lower and Middle divisions and asked them to participate by selecting age-appropriate books that also focus on bullying. So for the first time, Darlington’s summer reading program is a true school-wide initiative with a common theme.”
Anna Scoccimaro (’12) said the students on the Summer Reading Committee felt as though “Nineteen Minutes” would encourage different opinions in discussion. “This book sympathizes as much with the shooter as with the families of the victims,” she said. “It is our hope that this book will make people think twice before making fun of others.”
Students in grades 9-10 are reading “The Body of Christopher Creed” by Carol Plum-Ucci, which focuses on a young boy named Chris who mysteriously disappears, leaving only a note to explain his absence. The citizens of Steepleton, N.J., try to determine why he left, where he went and if he is even still alive. And while most of the town in unwilling to admit that Chris was bullied, one student, Torey, begins his own search to discover what happened to Chris, and how his own actions may have affected Chris. During his search, Torey discovers that people aren’t always the way they seem and that even the most obvious judgments aren’t always correct.
“I believe these books are very true to life because bullying can happen anywhere,” said Madison Tucker (’10). “I’m glad this year’s books are about the situations students deal with every day, such as cliques, peer acceptance and personal self-worth.”
Along with the new-and-improved selection process, the Summer Reading Committee also revamped the way students are assessed.
“One of the greatest things to come out of our committee meetings is the new assessment process,” said Cole Daniel (’10). “The faculty heard our complaints, and together we created an alternative assessment that could be completed online once the book was finished rather than waiting for a test.”
Students may choose to be assessed on different topics such as the setting, characters, soundtrack or casting. Then, they will choose a format for their project – for example, producing a poster, PowerPoint, MovieMaker presentation, model or diorama, or an interactive Web site.
“The assessment choices allow students to creatively demonstrate their understanding of the novel through a format of their choosing,” said Melinda Holmes, director of library services. “The projects will be turned in once school starts, but the students have the flexibility to complete the project whenever they choose over the summer. This flexibility not only gives the student a choice, but it also easily works around vacation and travel plans that can also be an important part of the summer break.”
“A committee made up of students and faculty looked at a long list of books comprised of many different subjects and themes,” said Abby Vincent (’09). “The one we kept coming back to for grades 11-12 was ‘Nineteen Minutes’ by Jodi Picoult.”
The interior of Picoult’s book cover reads, “In 19 minutes you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In 19 minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can stop the world, or you can just jump off of it. In 19 minutes you can get revenge. The story begins in Sterling, N.H., a typical small town with a typical public high school. That is until Peter Haughton finally takes action on the bullying he’s been dealt since he was in kindergarten.”
This book chronicles the lives of high school students Peter Haughton and Josie Cormier. Throughout the book, time flashes back and forth between events before and after a school shooting that killed 10 people and wounded 19 others. It is learned that Peter, the shooter, and Josie, a surviving victim, were once best friends. Peter was frequently the target of severe bullying at school, and Josie often stuck up for him. However, as they got older, Josie joined the popular crowd and the friends slowly drifted apart.
“This book’s theme of bullying is a timely subject that supports our school’s No Place for Hate initiative,” Vincent said. “In addition, we reached out to the Lower and Middle divisions and asked them to participate by selecting age-appropriate books that also focus on bullying. So for the first time, Darlington’s summer reading program is a true school-wide initiative with a common theme.”
Anna Scoccimaro (’12) said the students on the Summer Reading Committee felt as though “Nineteen Minutes” would encourage different opinions in discussion. “This book sympathizes as much with the shooter as with the families of the victims,” she said. “It is our hope that this book will make people think twice before making fun of others.”
Students in grades 9-10 are reading “The Body of Christopher Creed” by Carol Plum-Ucci, which focuses on a young boy named Chris who mysteriously disappears, leaving only a note to explain his absence. The citizens of Steepleton, N.J., try to determine why he left, where he went and if he is even still alive. And while most of the town in unwilling to admit that Chris was bullied, one student, Torey, begins his own search to discover what happened to Chris, and how his own actions may have affected Chris. During his search, Torey discovers that people aren’t always the way they seem and that even the most obvious judgments aren’t always correct.
“I believe these books are very true to life because bullying can happen anywhere,” said Madison Tucker (’10). “I’m glad this year’s books are about the situations students deal with every day, such as cliques, peer acceptance and personal self-worth.”
Along with the new-and-improved selection process, the Summer Reading Committee also revamped the way students are assessed.
“One of the greatest things to come out of our committee meetings is the new assessment process,” said Cole Daniel (’10). “The faculty heard our complaints, and together we created an alternative assessment that could be completed online once the book was finished rather than waiting for a test.”
Students may choose to be assessed on different topics such as the setting, characters, soundtrack or casting. Then, they will choose a format for their project – for example, producing a poster, PowerPoint, MovieMaker presentation, model or diorama, or an interactive Web site.
“The assessment choices allow students to creatively demonstrate their understanding of the novel through a format of their choosing,” said Melinda Holmes, director of library services. “The projects will be turned in once school starts, but the students have the flexibility to complete the project whenever they choose over the summer. This flexibility not only gives the student a choice, but it also easily works around vacation and travel plans that can also be an important part of the summer break.”
