July 2, 2020
Dear PALS 7 Students,
Congratulations on completing 6th grade!
We know that the spring was not as anyone expected and we hope that you and your family are healthy and safe. This summer the PALS Program had hoped to bring nearly 100 rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders from four schools in Lawrence to the Phillips Academy campus in Andover for programming in July. Instead, due to on-campus restrictions, we are sending this package to you and over 40 other students.
Research has shown that staying engaged with learning over summer break can help prevent what is often called the “summer slide” – or the loss of acquired knowledge while away from school. Reading is a great way to keep your brain active and provides huge benefits!
We have designed the PALS Summer program to be at-home and at your own pace without the need for a computer or internet connection.
While your engagement with these books is on your own schedule, see the Getting Started sheet (also outlined on the PALS 7 webpage) for a proposed timeline to help you finish both over the month of July.
The Big Life Journal for Kids is broken up into 10 chapters, and each chapter has two parts. You could choose to do one part each day and finish the book in four weeks or go at a slower pace and work through the journal over the course of the whole summer.
For Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper, we will be releasing recordings of chapter read-alongs each week according to the chapter schedule on the Getting Started sheet. Be sure to also reference the Thinking Questions sheet as you read this book.
Though a device is not required, we will offer additional ideas and programming through this page.
Each week in July, we will send out an email update and add new content to the website.
We hope that you will also take our online PALS Summer Survey at the end of the month as well as keep in touch with us over the next four weeks through emails, photos, and videos – sharing your reading, reflecting, journaling, learning, and enjoying what PALS has sent you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach us at PALS@andover.edu.
Sincerely,
Ms. Shadeed
Director, PALS Program