Action, Mystery, Drama ... St. Mary’s Accelerated Reader Program Has It All!

Grade 9 and 10 students enrolled in English classes at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School recently completed another successful, exciting semester of reading by participating in the Accelerated Reader Program.

The independent reading program is administered through the Learning Commons and allows students to select novels based on their interests and preferences and work towards a reading goal. Students read books and complete online quizzes to accumulate points and earn 5% of their English mark.

This semester’s top scorer in Grade 9 was Oma U., with a total of 42 books read and 472.2 accumulated points, well above the required 25 points for Grade 9 English. Oma is a regular volunteer in the Learning Commons and loves being around books. When asked how reading has helped her, Oma said, “Reading helps me with my vocabulary and memory. I remember details better because I’m used to reading long descriptions in books. It also helps me get my work done faster because I read and understand ideas and explanations quickly because I have so much practice.”

The top scorer in Grade 10 was Maria Barboza Cardoza who read a total of 68 novels and earned an amazing 847.12 points! When asked why she makes reading a priority, Maria responded by saying, “Reading helps me slow down and remember what really matters in life. There are a lot of deadlines and pressures that I have to meet, but when I read it reminds me that the world is a big place and there is a purpose beyond my everyday experiences.”

Surrounded by the constant noise and buzz of technology, St. Mary students continue to prove that there will always be a place for reading in their lives!