Dear
CMS Families~
Despite
the warm winds and verdant lawns the calendar tells us that we are
officially in the winter season. I’ll look forward to welcoming all our
students back to school, perhaps with their down coats and gloves, on January 4,
2016. The holiday break is always a welcome one; it is a time to recharge and
rest. And what better way to rest than with a good book! With an 11 day
vacation almost every student should be able to read one book toward our 10
Book Challenge. We appreciate your support at home of our commitment to
developing strong, independent and engaged young readers.
The start of the New Year always brings our
very popular Battle of the Books competition. Students form four-person teams
and then read a variety of books. Teams compete in Jeopardy! style preliminary rounds which lead to our Final Four
extravaganza. Our theme this year is “Read
Around the World.” Registration for
the Battle will close on January 6th. Let us know if your child
wants to participate and can’t find enough friends to join in. Just contact our
super coordinator, Mrs. Ellen Miller at emiller@westgenesee.org. The titles
this year can be found here.
Why
is reading so important? Frank Bruni, a regular contributor to the New York
Times, wrote most eloquently about what our children need most in life. On his
very short list he included, “Words.
A child needs a forest of words to wander through, a sea of words to splash in.
A child needs to be read to, and a child needs to read.” You can read the
entire article here.
So
how is your child doing with our 10 Book Challenge? If you are looking for some
suggestions my annual recommendations for school break reading can be found
below…there is something for everyone and all are available on Amazon or at
your local library.
The Boys in
the Boat by Daniel James Brown-This New
York Times best seller is set in the Depression Era American West where
nine working class boys inexplicably beat the elite East Coast rowing teams.
The crew then goes on to the 1936 Olympics where they challenge the German team
rowing for Adolf Hitler. The book has recently been adapted for young adult
readers and includes archival photographs. USA
Today called it “a suspenseful tale of triumph.”
Life in
Motion by Misty Copeland – Another bestseller, this beautiful memoir
tells the story of an unlikely ballerina who rises from an impoverished family
to become the only African American soloist dancing with the prestigious
American Ballet Theatre. Ms. Copelands progression from the barre of a local
Boys and Girls Club, to a summer scholarship to study in New York City and
finally to the corps of ABT will
leave you breathless. Her “life in motion” will inspire you to live your own
dream with grit and determination.
Peanuts: A
Tribute to Charles M. Schulz – The Peanuts cartoon strip just celebrated its
60th anniversary. It is hard to believe that it originally ran in
only 7 newspapers. So many of our
current cartoonists have been influenced by Charlie Brown and the gang. This book
gathers many of their pieces along with classic strips from Schulz.
Only What’s
Necessary: Charles M. Schulz and the Art of Peanuts – Another
great read about this iconic cartoon, but here we get to see Schulz’s early
drawings and discarded strips.
A Christmas
Carol by Charles
Dickens
– I always include this classic story on my annual list. The true meaning of
Christmas is well-known to all of us through the many movie versions. The book,
however, is so much more poignant and moving with scenes that just can’t be
captured on film. Think your children are too old to be read a story aloud? Try
this one…the Lozier children all-time favorite. (I love the version illustrated
by Roberto Innocencti.)
Wishing
you all good things in 2016!
We
Celebrate Learning!
Beth
Beth
Lozier - Principal
@camillusmiddle
IMPORTANT JANUARY DATES
January 8, 2016 – Wildcat Friday
– wear your blue and gold!
January 11, 2016 – PTO Meeting at
Easthill Elementary – 6:00 p.m.
January 18, 2016 – No School –
Martin Luther King Day
January 22, 2016 – 6th
Grade Dance/Open Gym – 2:15-4:15 p.m.
January 29, 2016 – Report Card
for 2nd marking period available on Schooltool
