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Good afternoon, RJ Grey Families:
I hope you are doing well. Over the years, I continue to be reminded of the importance of reading. Reading helps us to improve our vocabulary and get better at making claims and backing them up with evidence. Additionally, we learn empathy and see characters who are similar to and different from us. All told, reading is important! Just yesterday, my wife and I went to a teacher conference for our youngest daughter, who is in second grade. Her teacher, joined by my English-teacher wife and me, talked about the importance of kids reading on a regular basis. This particular daughter does like to read, so when we tell her to grab a book and read, she does. Her older sisters are harder to convince.
I have never called myself a super-reader. I can go for a few months without picking up a book for fun, and during other seasons of the year, reading can be a go-to hobby for me. There are moments in my own reading history that stand out: In 4th grade, I remember loving the stories of Encyclopedia Brown, along with any of the sports-oriented novels by Matt Christopher. Later in life, The DaVinci Code and Angela's Ashes stand out. Whistler, Atmosphere, and Project Hail Mary were riveting reads last year. I'm currently working through 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin.
Last year, I came across an article that talks about reading from the perspective of a college instructor: A College Professor Explains What Happens if Your Kid Doesn't Read. I shared this article last May, so if you read it then, you may remember it. The author, Marek Fuchs, lays out the challenges he sees as a college professor in 2026. If you choose to read it, keep going until the last paragraph. The author says, "Too many parents ask me what they can do to get their kids to read. Meanwhile, their homes are bookless, and the last thing they’ve read was The Hardy Boys. Let ’em see you read." We try to do lots of reading here in school and at home for assignments. In addition to letting them see you read, please continue to ask questions: "What are you reading for your Independent Reading Project (IRP)?" "What did you read in Social Studies this week?" "Are your friends talking about any books that they like?" If your kids need a starting place, please direct them to Mrs. Langberg, our Librarian, who will be thrilled to help them find a good book. And if you're looking for something to read, please ask a friend, neighbor, or even me, and I can pass along a recommendation or two! And please send me the names of any books you've loved recently.
Tomorrow, staff from ABRHS will come talk to our 8th graders about what ninth grade at AB looks like. Most of our students will transition right down Charter Road for high school. Some will apply to Minuteman or other tech schools. And we know some will apply to private high schools. If your child is considering a private school, please visit the Counseling Office's webpage for the required procedure, as there are quite a few steps and important details. The first step is for a parent to complete this form at least 20 days before the school application is due. If you have any questions about the application process, please email Kerry Lewis at klewis@abschools.org.
I hope you have a good weekend,
Jim
Friday, October 23: ABRHS visits 8th graders to talk about high school
Monday, October 26: Early Release at 1 pm
Wednesday, October 28: Picture retake day
Monday, November 2: Library closed to students after school
Tuesday, November 3: Town of Acton elections in the RJ Grey Gym
Thursday, November 5: ALICE drill #2 at RJ Grey
Thursday, November 5: End of Quarter 1 for PE and Health classes, and Grey Block classes
Friday, November 6: Minuteman HS Field Trip for interested 8th graders
Monday, November 16: Early Release at 1 pm
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