FLORAL PARK MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
(516) 488-9323
May 2015
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Educational research continually confirms the long held belief that reading provides
children with many of the skills necessary for success. In addition to preparing our
students for the challenging state assessments, reading regularly improves
comprehension, vocabulary, literacy and verbal skills. Recognizing the benefits of
encouraging reading, the FPM English Department worked diligently to revise the
summer reading assignment. Students will be required to read one book.
Required Texts:
8th Grade and 8th Grade READ 180:
9th Grade:
10th Grade:
11th Grade:
12th Grade:
Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
During the first weeks of school, teachers will review the book with their students, and
students will be given a short-answer test. Additionally, they will be given a non-fiction
assignment that is thematically linked to their specific grade level summer reading book,
to be completed during the same time period.
Students entering 9A, 10A, 11AP and 12AP will not be required to read any of the
above mentioned titles. Rather, before they leave school in June, they will be given a
specific summer reading assignment designed by the teachers that will be teaching
those grade levels for the 2015-2016 school year.
The Elmont Public Library and the Floral Park Public Library have been informed of all
of the assignments in the event your child would like to borrow the book from the library.
Please make every effort to become involved in the process of reading with your child.
We hope your child will find this experience enjoyable. If you have any questions or
concerns, feel free to contact my voicemail at 516-488-9323 before June 25th . Please
leave your name and number, and I will return your call. I thank you in advance for your
assistance.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Drexel
English Chairperson