Sharon High School
181 Pond Street
Sharon, MA 02067
(781) 784-1554 Fax: (781) 784-1550
Mr. Jose Libano, Principal
Mr. William Fish, Assistant Principal
Ms. Mary Trahan, Assistant Principal
Dr. Barbara J. Dunham, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Timothy J. Farmer, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Dear Parents and Guardians of Sharon High School Students:
It is with great pleasure that the teachers of the English/Language Arts Department congratulate your sons
and daughters for the hard work they have shown this year in their classes. Students’ devotion to their
studies, parents supporting them with their efforts, and teachers providing progressive lessons to challenge
and inspire young scholars have certainly resulted in a consistent truth being realized: The Sharon Public
Schools are a place where students work toward their highest potential.
One key component of this success is the creation of a vibrant and creative curriculum, and the middle and
high school summer reading program is an essential aspect of this curriculum. The ELA Department is
happy to present here the summer reading requirements for the upcoming 2010-11 year, and to highlight
many of the program updates that will be implemented this summer and fall.
Foremost, for most grades or content specific courses, there has been a reduction in the number of books
assigned. This shift is meant to accentuate an important premise: That all teachers and students, come
September, are able to discuss one uniform book. Summer reading class discussions and assignments will
be more cohesive and meaningful if all readers can access the same story.
While reading assignments will still be expected of students in the fall, for high school students there will
no longer be an emphasis placed on multiple-choice quizzes as a means of gauging student comprehension
of the assigned books. In-class discussions and activities, as well as an essay assessment, will continue to
be staples of the program.
If there are any questions or concerns about these updates, parents should feel free to contact Mr. David
Heller, the middle and high school ELA Curriculum Coordinator (d_heller@sharon.k12.ma.us or 781784-1554 x8028).
The promotion of reading, as always, remains a central goal of the ELA Department. As the novelist,
Aldous Huxley, once said, “Every [person] who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself,
to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his or her life full, significant and interesting.”
The ELA Department certainly hopes it can support such a worthy endeavor.
Happy summer and happy reading!
D avid H eller
English Coordinator, Gr 6-12
SHS Mi ss i on S tat em ent
Sharon High School is a safe and supportive community that provides relevant and diverse opportunities for all students to become
active learners and responsible citizens. By fostering a climate of respect, honesty, and accountability, Sharon High School
empowers students to apply academic skills, take creative risks, strive for excellence, and achieve their highest potential.
Sharon Public Schools
Administration Offices: 1 School Street, Sharon, MA 02067 Tel 781-784-1570 Fax 781-784-1573
The Sharon Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of
age, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.
Sharon High School
Summer Reading Selections for 2010-2011
Grade Nine:
Incoming freshmen will read Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Coelho’s novel details Santiago the Shepherd’s travels
from Spain to Northern Africa, a journey that forces the young hero to search many frontiers -- including his own
soul -- for a famous treasure. This novel excellently complements a central theme of the ninth grade curriculum: the
study of archetypes. Students will also view Tim Burton’s film, Big Fish.
Grade Ten:
All sophomores will read Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. This international bestseller traces the friendship
between two boys growing up in Afghanistan. The book highlights the thematic focus of the sophomore curriculum:
the study of world literature. Sophomores will also view the film, The Namesake.
Grade Eleven:
Standard:
Juniors in standard classes will read Michael Patrick MacDonald’s memoir of growing up in Boston, All Souls.
Students will also view the film, Pleasantville.
Honors:
Juniors in honors classes will read Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel, Ceremony, and Michael Patrick MacDonald’s
memoir of growing up in Boston, All Souls. Students will also view the film, Pleasantville.
American Studies:
Juniors enrolled in American Studies will read James Michener’s Legacy. Students will also be required to view the
first episode of the HBO miniseries, John Adams.
Grade Twelve:
(Seniors, in all ELA classes, will view the film V is for Vendetta.)
Standard:
Seniors in standard classes will read Ernest J. Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying.
Honors:
Seniors in honors classes will read Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying and Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction account, Into the
Wild.
Humanities: Seniors in Humanities classes will read Gaines’ A Lesson Before Dying and Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction
account, Into the Wild.
AP:
Seniors enrolled in AP Literature will read Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and George Orwell’s 1984.
AP students will also need to bring with them in September four op-ed pieces that highlight a thematic connection to
the assigned summer reading books. Two op-ed pieces for each novel is recommended. An op-ed composition is a
signed editorial or persuasive article commonly found in the opinion section of a newspaper or magazine (op-ed
stands for ‘opposite the editorial page’).
Students should choose an appropriate journalism source for these articles: The New York Times, The Boston Globe,
The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times are appropriate venues for newspapers; The New Yorker,
Harper’s, and The Atlantic are appropriate magazine sources. Students should make sure their op-ed selections
thematically connect with an aspect of 1984 or The Awakening.
Sharon High School
181 Pond Street
Sharon, MA 02067
(781) 784-1554 Fax: (781) 784-1550
Mr. Jose Libano, Principal
Mr. William Fish, Assistant Principal
Ms. Mary Trahan, Assistant Principal
Dr. Barbara J. Dunham, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Timothy J. Farmer, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Please Note
Students or parents may locate summer reading materials from several local sources.
1) The Sharon Public Library (located on 11 N. Main Street) will order copies of the summer reading books for
students to check out for two-week intervals; film selections will be ordered for students to check out for single week
intervals. These materials will be available on a first come, first serve basis. During the last week of August, the town
library is also graciously hosting free viewings of these films. The schedule for these events are listed below:
 Grade 9 Film: Monday, August 23rd


10:30-12:45
3:45-6:00
 Grade 10 Film: Tuesday, August 24th


10:30-12:45
3:45-6:00
 Grade 11 Film: Wednesday, August 25th


10:30-12:45
3:45-6:00
 American Studies: Thursday, August 26th

3:45-5:00
 Grade 12 Film: Friday, August 27th


10:30-12:45
3:35-6:00
This schedule can be accessed via the library’s event keeper link at:
http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=SHARON
2) Summer reading materials may be purchased at the Barnes & Noble location at the Walpole Mall (82 Providence
Highway/508-688-1303). These books and DVDs will be ordered in bulk to meet the needs of Sharon students. If
parents or students are planning on buying these materials, on June 11 the store will host a book fair in which a
percentage of the proceeds from the sale of summer reading selections will benefit the Sharon English/Language Arts
Department.
If there are any concerns or questions about the summer reading program, please contact Mr. David Heller, the
middle and high school ELA Curriculum Coordinator (d_heller@sharon.k12.ma.us 781-784-1554 x8028).
SHS Mi ss i on S tat em ent
Sharon High School is a safe and supportive community that provides relevant and diverse opportunities for all students to become
active learners and responsible citizens. By fostering a climate of respect, honesty, and accountability, Sharon High School
empowers students to apply academic skills, take creative risks, strive for excellence, and achieve their highest potential.
Sharon Public Schools
Administration Offices: 1 School Street, Sharon, MA 02067 Tel 781-784-1570 Fax 781-784-1573
The Sharon Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of
age, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.