The Middle View

Incoming grade 6 students should choose one of the following novels to read over the summer, and complete the graphic organizers linked below while reading the novel. Students will take an essay test on the novel in English Language Arts in September. They will have an opportunity to ask questions upon returning to school in the fall.

Mary Lou Finney is less than excited about her assignment to keep a journal over the summer. Boring! Then cousin Carl Ray comes to stay with her family, and what starts out as the dull dog- days of summer quickly turns into the wildest roller-coaster ride of all time. How was Mary Lou supposed to know what would happen with Carl Ray and the ring, or with her boy-crazy best friend Beth Ann, or with (sigh) the permanently pink Alex Cheevey? Suddenly a boring school project becomes a record of the most exciting, incredible, unbelievable summer of Mary Lou's life.

This novel is a contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents! Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking is challenging. He’d much rather hang out there with his dog Rosie than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno—for his one good leg. What Zane doesn’t know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy. A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he’s destined to release an evil god from the ancient Mayan relic he is imprisoned in, unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. To survive, Zane will have to become the Storm Runner. But how can he run when he can’t even walk well without a cane?

Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay are both in Ms. Hussey's sixth-grade class. When they strike up an unlikely friendship they discover they have a lot more in common than their age (11) and their deep appreciation for their sixth-grade teacher. They both love art, museums, and blue M & M's for starters. When a thief steals a pricey Vermeer painting en route to Chicago, Petra and Calder team up to solve the mystery and recover the painting. When the thief leaves clues in the local newspaper, Petra and Calder use all their resources before the painting is destroyed as the thief has indicated. With the help of a set of mysterious books about unexplained phenomena, Calder and Petra race against the clock to chase down the painting and catch a thief.

Michael Arroyo grows up in the shadows of hallowed Yankee Stadium, a boy forever on the outside looking in. He realized that he will have his only chance to see his field of dreams, pitch his Bronx all-star team to the district finals, and take a shot at the Little League World Series. But there is a problem. Michael is good... too good. Rival coaches and players can’t believe a boy could be this good and be only 12 years old, and Michael has no way to prove it: no mother, no father, and a birth certificate that is stuck at home in his native Cuba.

Jamie Grimm is a middle schooler on a mission: he wants to become the world's greatest stand-up comedian, even if he doesn't have a lot to laugh about these days. He's new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn't let Jamie's wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible. But Jamie doesn't let his situation get him down. When his Uncle Frankie mentions a contest called “The Planet's Funniest Kid Comic,” Jamie knows he has to enter.

The War That Saved My Life, a 2016 Newbery Honor book, is a standout coming-of-age story set in the English countryside during World War II. Wartime brings new, scary things into the characters' lives, from bomb shelters and destroyed homes to the plane crashes that kill the pilots at the nearby air base. Far more troubling, especially to sensitive readers, is the character of Ada and Jamie's abusive mother, who regularly smacks the kids around and has kept Ada, born with a clubfoot, locked up in one room her whole life and who hangs ominously in the background when the kids land in the country, where they experience care and kindness for the first time in their lives. Kids and adults will cheer for Ada as she discovers she has value and learns to stand up for herself, but will her mother take the kids back and destroy it all? There is a lot of historical detail about World War II in England, from the evacuation of kids to the countryside to details about British military planes.

Choose one of the following books to read over the summer. Then complete the graphic organizers linked below.

Echo weaves together the stories of four children from different backgrounds, all of whom are connected by a magical harmonica. Set during the tumultuous times of World War II, the novel explores themes of family, friendship, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The prose is beautifully written, and the characters are vividly drawn, making this a poignant and thought-provoking read for all ages.

The Retake is a fast-paced young adult novel follows the story of Charlotte, a high school student who discovers a way to travel back in time and relive her most embarrassing moments. As she navigates the complexities of time travel, she learns important lessons about self-acceptance and the value of living in the moment. Calonita's writing is engaging and humorous, and her characters are relatable and well-rounded.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl is a middle-grade novel that tells the story of Lucy, a genius-level math prodigy who is struggling to adjust to life as a "normal" middle-school student. As she learns to navigate the social challenges of middle school, she also grapples with her own insecurities and anxieties. McAnulty's writing is both witty and heartfelt, and her characters are endearing and relatable. Overall, this is a heartwarming and uplifting read that encourages readers to embrace their own unique strengths and quirks.

Read the book, The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, over the summer. Then complete the graphic organizers linked below.

The Wednesday Wars is a compelling story about a teenage boy’s mishaps and adventures over the course of the 1967–68 school year in Long Island, New York. Holling Hoodhood, a student at Camillo Junior High, must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. She doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside of class? But everyone else has bigger things to worry about, like the war in Vietnam raging and the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. Holling is also experiencing turmoil at home. His father wants him and his sister to be on their best behavior- the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with?As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds motivation in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny in spite of himself. Gary Schmidt’s first-person narration cleverly captures Holling Hoodhood’s progression from an angst-filled yet innocent boy, to a wiser, self-aware young man.

The GCMS library provides access to a growing collection of eBooks and audiobooks through Sora. These eBooks and audiobooks are accessible through desktop and laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones with an internet connection. The eBooks can be accessed using a web browser or an iOS or Android app. The GCMS Library owns a limited number of licenses for each title. This means all titles may not be available at all times.

Sora

All summer reading titles listed above are available on Sora. You can access Sora/Overdrive through ClassLink. You can also download the Sora App for easy access to eBooks and audiobooks. You can sign into Sora using Google. When you "borrow" these books, you will have access to them for two weeks.

To support the growth of our students over the summer and foster the transition into World Languages Courses, we continue our commitment to deliver a meaningful summer packet to your child. The packets are designed to review key concepts necessary for success in not only upcoming courses but also future language courses.

The ability to communicate in a second language enables us to know the hopes, dreams and visions of others around the world. The study of World Languages prepares today’s youth for tomorrow’s opportunities by supporting basic skills instruction, development of cross-cultural understanding and preparation for entrance into the global marketplace. Language learning is a cumulative process that can be compared to constructing a building with blocks - adding blocks daily to the ones that were laid the day before. Just as this type of work requires a steady application of blocks, so does language learning require absorption and layering of new material day by day.

Should your child need assistance, various online resources are available; however, your child should also utilize notes and worksheets that were received throughout the year. We suggest that the student complete the packet at his/her leisure but strongly recommend not waiting until the very last minute to do so. On Monday, September 11, 2023, students will be required to bring the completed packet to language class so that it may be reviewed. Please be advised that this assignment will count as two homework grades. Teachers will provide opportunities for students to ask questions and students will be tested on material included in the packets. This will serve as a diagnostic tool with which the teacher can assess your child’s skills, as language learning is comprehensive.

The World Languages Department would like to thank you for your support during the 2022-2023 school year and we look forward to witnessing the blossoming development of your child’s language skills when classes resume in the fall.

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It is recommended that all students engage in mathematical thinking throughout the summer. There are a variety of ways to engage in mathematical thinking. There is a significant presence of mathematics in everyday activities that can be embraced. Engaging in conversations about discounts when shopping, proportions and fractions when cooking, or statistics while watching sports are just a few ways to communicate about mathematics in everyday life.

Students can also do targeted practice of math skills already learned. This will help students reach mastery of content and increase their ability to use facts and operations easily and accurately. Practice will also help strengthen or deepen their content knowledge and ensure that they have the prerequisite skills to be successful in their future math classes.

Additionally, students can play games and do puzzles that enhance their logical thinking, spatial reasoning, and problem solving skills. Any time spent working on mastery, reinforcement, or enrichment will greatly benefit all students.

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The Phoneix staff, under the advisory of Ms. Feerick, has published the Spring 2023 issue of Garden City Middle School's newspaper!

Members of the Phoenix newspaper club meet weekly to work on writing news articles, sports articles, editorials, advice columns, and interviews for publication. Students are encouraged to write about events, issues, and people that they are interested in and feel others should know about.

Click on the picture to read the full publication.

Please enjoy the 2022-2023 edition of the literary magazine by the Dead Poets' Society under the advisory of Ms. Aquilo. The annual literary magazine highlights our talented writers. The club meets every other week to write and experience each stage of the publishing process.

Click on the picture to read the full publication.

Students are nominated for the “Kindness Counts” Award when they are caught in the act of committing a random act of kindness.

Congratulations to May's recipients: Gregory Buccella, Joseph Conetta, Tess Cortiglia, Maeve Durkan, Aydan Eschmann, Antonella Falzone, Kellan Garvey, Sabriye Geller, Colin Gillespie, Madeline Healey, Emerson Lewis (not present for picture), Matthew Martone, Fiona McCartney, Molly Moon, Neave Mulrooney, Anna Padala, James Santucci, Wilmer Summers Saint-Ilmont, Luke Vendetti