One of the most critical times for children to be reading is over any break or vacation from school. Parents play a key role in the development of reading skills in young children. They help provide background knowledge and real life experiences that help beginning readers make sense of the stories they are reading. As children grow, parents continue to play an important role, modeling and guiding reading development.

Children can continue to grow in their reading performance if they read over the summer. Children who do not read over the summer generally regress.

For beginning readers, simple rhyming books or early reader books are good choices. Books such as The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, 

Go Dog Go, Hop On Pop, or Green Eggs and Ham are some of the traditional favorites. 

Series books are one of the best ways to help children really get into reading. A trip to the local library might spark a new interest in reading for your child. Some of the series books to look for for developing readers are Little Bear, Biscuit, Frog and Toad, and Dr. Suess.

For students who are already reading, some popular series include Franklin Turtle, Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, Dear Dumb Diary, A-Z Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Geronimo Stilton, Judy Blume, Wayside School, Lemony Snikkets and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The non-fiction section for children has many books of high interest. With non-fiction, parents may need to provide more help, depending on the difficulty of the book. 

For older students, their interests and reading level will guide their choices. Ask the librarian for appropriate books for your child’s reading level. 

Ways to promote summer reading:

• Become involved with the public library. The reading program is free for all.
• Help your child find a series book that sparks interest
• Your child’s interests should guide the books they choose
• Independent reading books need to be at your child’s reading level 
• More challenging reading needs to be shared with an adult for support
• Encourage reading as you are going places over the summer. Have books available in different places: the park, the car, the beach (during the safety breaks), the bathroom, etc. The more reading your child does, the better reader he or she will be. 
• Always remember to read when it rains

There’s no limit to the adventures you can discover through reading! Watch for summer monthly reading postcards to be mailed to homes with students in kindergarten–grade 5.

Summer Reading Log

With the St. Francis High School graduation ceremony at hand, we are reminded of the excitement of achievement. The class of 2013 will conclude a journey that started, for most of them, in 2002. Each of these students has experienced an independent journey,; yet, they will collectively share the celebration of their accomplishments as one. After May 31, they will be remembered and referred to as the Class of 2013. Each of them are destined to design a blueprint for life completely independent of one another. We wholeheartedly congratulate them and wish them well with their post-graduation endeavors.

As the Class of 2013 engages their future, the rest of our students continue to shape the experience they will garner in our school system. As summer knocks at the back door, we are reminded of the important role families play in activities for June, July, and August. From a teaching and learning perspective, we believe each and every day brings an opportunity to help our students excel. What does that mean? We need you to help us continue to keep intellectual growth a priority. Our students have had an impressive year of knowledge acquisition, and our families enter the summer with a multitude of ideas and options on the horizon.

What are some activities that help families continue to blaze trails? Great question. Questions asked and answered during each family outing enrich the summer educational experiences. Let’s plan our trip. How many miles will we travel? What will our expenditures total? Do we need to plan to stop at hotels, motels, or campgrounds? What is the cost associated with these vacation moves? This is exciting. How about reading a great book, writing in a journal or on an electronic blog, or, or, or...? Sounds like the potential for a fabulous summer.

By Edward Saxton, Superintendent, Independent School District 15

As a district, we will continue to advance the summer reading program aimed at preventing the "summer slide.” When families continue to encourage each other to read for information, to read for a purpose, and most of all, to read for fun, everyone wins. Watch for additional information about this summer reading program soon.

ISD 15 will provide a host of activities for our Saints this summer. Check this edition of The Courier or visit the district website at www.isd15.org for information about academic, athletic, and arts opportunities. Summer school classes and camps will be available to flavor the summer as families see fit.

As students enjoy organized experiences, many of them are equally excited about spending time recreationally or pursuing a favorite hobby. Regardless of the choice, please explore 

avenues available and make the most of each situation. In the blink of an eye, the Class of 2014 will start the final year of their career at St. Francis High School as the Class of 2026 enters kindergarten with a story about to begin. 

It’s an extremely exciting time to be in the business of education. Creating a positive environment for growth will continue to be a priority for ISD 15. With the formal school year coming to an end, the summer learning is about to begin. Please take the time to enjoy the summer of 2013.

If the summer does slow down for a day or two, I am still interested in the answer to the question, “What did happen to April?”

1981 was the year I graduated from St. Francis High School. Even though it was an exciting time in life, the exhilaration of being done with high school was replaced with the reality of deciding what I wanted to do with my life. Fast forward 32 years and I’m still not sure that I have that answer. Many from the 2013 graduating class have their game plan in place, whether it be college, technical school, the armed services or to join the work force. It is probably one of the first of many important crossroads decision they will have in their lifetime.

I have been fortunate to have been on this earth for close to (but not quite) a half of a century. Along the way, there have been a couple of things that I’ve learned that I would like to share with today’s graduates. 

The first thing is… get your finances in order. In other words save, save and save. Saving money is very much like exercise. If we do nothing, we gain nothing. And remember, it’s okay to start small. When you go to a gym, you wouldn’t start lifting weights that you can barely handle, would you? Of course not. You would start with lighter weights and progress from there. The same principle applies to saving; start small and build your way up. The key thing is to just start.

Secondly, take care of yourself. I always think of a first aid class I took, when the instructor asked, “When you arrive upon an accident scene, who’s the most important person there? You are.” Think about it, without your presence, who can help those that need it most? Same thing in life; people depend on you. Whether it is laughing, crying or just being there, everyone needs someone to depend on and you may be that person. And even though you have reached the status of young adults, I’d like to end this article with a verse from a children’s book that I will be sharing with my soon-to-be born granddaughter. It is from the book, I Like Myself, by Karen Beaumont. It states, “Inside, outside, upside down, from head to toe and all around. I like it all! It all is me! And me is what I want to be.”

Good luck, Class of 2013. Live well.

ISD 15 Community Ed Rec Department is looking to fill coaching positions for the youth tackle football program that serves students in grades 2-8. If interested, fill out a coaching application. Applications are due to the Rec Department office by June 28.

Head coaches must attend draft night on Sunday, July 28, 5:00 pm in the Commons at St. Francis High School.

For more information, call 763-213-1823.

Graduation ceremonies were held at St. Francis High School on Friday, May 31.

Watch the commencement exercises for the Class of 2013. 

This is a reminder that if you would like to order a supply kit for your student for the 2013-14 school year, the deadline to turn in your order form to the school office is Friday, May 31. Extra forms are available in the SFMS Main Office, 763-213-8500.

Online orders will be taken through June 7, 2013. Use account number 18343.

Don't miss the fun. Register soon1

Students will have an opportunity to explore, create, discover and play at this unique summer enrichment camp. Throughout the week, instructors will ask, “What would Leonardo do?” Eight qualified instructors that include a mix of licensed teachers and other professionals will lead students through this exciting experience. Students will participate in three, two-hour sessions daily. We will use scientific clues to solve mysteries, discover numerous critters in pond water, create “living” creatures through art, solve problems through engineering and math. Students won’t even realize they are learning because it will be so much fun.

The camp will culminate with a day of pageantry and a field trip.

Students will need to bring a bag lunch and snack each day. Morning transportation is available from designated bus stops that will be used for other Independent School District 15 summer programs. No transportation options are available for the end of the day.

Don’t miss the fun! Sign-up online today.

• Course #DWSUM13B, 5 sessions
• For grades 2-6 (2013-14 school year)
• Monday-Friday, July 8-12
• 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
• Camp will be held at Cedar Creek Community School
• Field trip on Friday, July 12
• Lead Instructor is Christine Tauer
• $225, includes all materials
• Deadline to register is Friday, June 7

Questions? Call Christine Tauer at 763-213-8872 (before school only, please)