I encourage everyone to read every day over the summer. Parents, I'd extend this encouragement to you, too! Our children are inspired by our behavior, and studies confirm that having a parent who reads can encourage a child's reading. Further, books can be a great conversational topic and shared interest, for people of every age. So pick a time each day to read and stick with it until it's a habit. Create a reading nook in your home, make sure there are books and magazines on hand in every room, and visit the public library weekly. We are lucky that there are so many delicious places to eat right near the Manhattan Beach public library! Consider making a tradition of pairing your library visit with the Tuesday farmer's market, a trip to Jamba Juice, or lunch at Lemonade. The public library is offering many fun summer events along with the summer reading program, with signups beginning June 16, the first day of summer break. The district summer reading lists offer suggestions for books but please note, they are not required reading until students are heading into sixth grade.
Thanks to Pennekamp's students, families, teachers, and staff for a very fun and productive year! Highlights for me have been the Shakespeare and Ferdinand plays, the library renovation, and our very successful food drive. It's been a great year here at Pennekamp, but as with every new year, I'm already looking forward to sharing new the books and experiences that will come along next year. Happy summer, happy reading!