July 2026

Dear Families, 

We hope the summer has been a great time of rest and relaxation for your family.  Just a reminder of the Summer Reading Requirements as we reach this point of summer break.  Carving out a small bit of time each day for your child to read is a great activity that keeps them busy and keeps them reading!  

The required novels for each grade level are listed below.  All students left at the end of the school year with a copy of the specific novel they need to be reading.     

Students Entering 4th Grade– Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Life with his little brother, two-year-old Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing. Fudge is actually a tiny terror in disguise, causing mischief everywhere he goes. Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing mashed potatoes on the walls at Hamburger Heaven, or trying to fly, he’s never far from trouble. He’s an almost three-year-old terror who gets away with everything, and Pete’s had it up to here! When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter’s pet turtle, it’s the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge for too long. Way too long! How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change? 

Students Entering 5th Grade-  Frindle by Andrew Clements 

A quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words that will have readers inventing their own words.  Is Nick Allen a troublemaker? He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. Soon the school is in an uproar, and Nick has become a local hero. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.

Sincerely,
Mrs. VanderSchaaff and the 4th and 5th Grade ELA Teachers