The Watervliet City School District will continue its literacy initiative at the middle and high school level by requiring all students entering grades 8-12 to read over the summer.

In an effort to improve literacy at all grade levels, students will be required to read one specific text that has been selected by the school district. This year’s reading task and novel study will be on the book, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The topics, ideas and themes presented in the novel will be a focus of study and discussion for the 2019-2020 school year.

Students will need to purchase the novel at a bookstore, locate the novel in a public library, or download the pdf http://www.learnstrong.co/thug-novel.html.

The Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School also has a limited number of copies available at the school for students to borrow. This reading and a cumulative project must be completed over the summer. It will be a graded assignment and will impact the students’ first quarter grade. Summer reading provides an excellent opportunity for students to stay connected to literature and to enhance literacy skills developed throughout the school year.

Teachers in the Jr./Sr. High School English Department are avid, enthusiastic readers, who understand the power of literature to change lives. A lot of time has been dedicated in selecting the novel, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It was purposefully chosen because it depicts real and important matters with a powerful message that is both interesting and educational.

Additionally, we will be hosting a weekly book club where students can come and discuss the novel with their peers and teachers. The book club will be held at the Jr./Sr. High School every Wednesday starting July 17 through August 14 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

On August 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., we will be offering a summer reading project day where students can come by with completed projects to get advice or work with our teachers to start the project. We look forward to discussing this novel with our students.

If you have any questions, please contact Tami Karbowski at tkarbowski@vlietshools.org.

Cordially,
The Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School English Department

Please be aware that the novel chosen for summer reading has some sensitive and mature content and uses profanity. The novel was chosen by the Watervliet administrative team and the English Department because it is highly engaging and relevant for young adults. We are excited to discuss these topics with our students as the novel will be a focus of study for the 2019 – 2020 school year. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact administration at 518-629-3200.