 Peninsula students will continue reading through the summer again this year. This year students have the opportunity to join one of a large number of “mini-book clubs,” led by PHS staff, or led by PHS students. In the past we have had a one-book summer reading plan: Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser in 2006 and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card in 2007. This summer, in order to address our PHS mission—Continuous learning through rigor, relevance, and relationships—we are having individualized book selections, led by a staff member or student. Over twenty staff members have already stepped forward to lead book clubs. When we make the call for student leaders to step forward, we expect to double that number.
Here’s how it works. On June 9, students will be dismissed ten minutes early from class. They will run to the sign-up station to sign up for their choice book and meet their book club leader. (Each book club will be limited to 10-12 students). In this meeting the group will make arrangements for procuring books and set a time for meeting one time during the summer after the book is read. This meeting will take place in a public area—parks, restaurants, libraries, PHS. At this summer meeting students and the leader will meet for about an hour or an hour and a half, and discuss the book. That is the end of the commitment—no papers, no assignments, no tests—just joy in reading a book that a student chooses, and talking about it with a group of friends and colleagues.
A few of the teachers who have already agreed to lead mini-book clubs are:
• Lynda Richards (Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett)
• Elizabeth Duffey (Book # 4 of the Stephenie Meyers
Twilight vampire series—due out August 2nd)
• Dale Hoekstra (Integrity: How I Lost and Repaired It)
• Melissa McNeish (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
• Kyle Meidell (Animal, Vegetable , Miracle)
• Jane Fairchild (Pride and Prejudice)
• Kim Marinelli, Alli Bennett, McCall Cowley (Queen Bees and Wannabees—big book club of thirty for incoming freshmen) of 30)
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