Library/Media Services

In a world offering so many distractions to keep our children away from the printed page, the importance of reading as a key to personal fulfillment and academic success becomes increasingly apparent. Our faculty at Dumbarton is committed to conveying to our students the love of books and the practice of reading, a habit that will last a lifetime.

Therefore, in an ongoing effort to raise the already high standards of our students at DMS, and to meet the need expressed by parents, we are pleased to continue the Dumbarton Summer Required Reading Program. It is our hope that through reading enjoyable books, our children will become better readers, increase vocabularies, and experience the feeling of being lost in a good book. Written notesheet records of summer reading will be accepted from your child from the first day of school opening. Your child's first report card and first interim will indicate that he or she completed or did not complete the reading requirements.

Follow the links below for the list of possible authors (these are only suggestions; there are many fine children's authors) to help you and your child with the selection of books. In addition, the librarian at the Children's Desk at the Towson Library will assist you and your child. The Children's Desk at the Towson Library keeps a copy of the Dumbarton list as well as lists from other area schools. Please help your child choose a book suitable to his or her reading ability, and one that your child has not already read. We suggest that reading begin in June, so that reading is not put off until the end of the summer!

Grade 6 (in August, 2002): One award-winning or classic fiction book One non-fiction book (biography acceptable)

Grade 7 (in August, 2002): One award-winning or classic fiction book One science non-fiction book (animals, plants, human systems, the solar system

Grade 8 (in August, 2002): One award-winning or classic fiction book One historical fiction book (American history)

We thank you in advance for encouraging your child to complete this worthwhile school program.

Sincerely,
Dr. Marsha Baumeister, Principal
Mrs. Susan Donkar, Librarian