I want to begin by mentioning how encouraging it was to see the wonderful turnout at fall conferences. Such strong parental involvement is one of the key components that make St. Joseph's such a great place to teach. The conferences were helpful and productive.
The seventh-graders currently are reading The Outsiders, a novel about the tragedy and futility of violence (among other themes). Written by a 16-year-old girl, this is considered to be the first novel in the genre that is now called Young Adult literature. Many of you parents might have read it in school (I did), and it remains popular more than 40 years after its publication.
The eighth-graders will soon be traveling back to 1930s California to follow the dreams and best-laid plans of George and Lennie in John Steinbeck's classic, Of Mice and Men.
The independent reading deadline for third trimester is March 3.