West elizabeth jefferson hills school district

WEST Elizabeth

JEFFERSON Hills SCHOOL DISTRICT



THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL

310 OLD CLAIRTON ROAD

JEFFERSON HILLS, PA 15025


Pleasant HILLS


Mr. Timothy W. Haselhoff, Principal Phone [phone]

Mr. Paul Ware, Associate Principal Fax [phone]

Mr. Keith Hartbauer, Vice Principal www.wjhsd.net
Dear Parents and Guardians of the Class of 2018,
Reading is a task that is necessary in most of the curriculum of Thomas Jefferson High School. The English department at the high school is committed to fostering reading, not only as a tool to academic success, but as a source of enjoyment throughout our students’ lives. We are also dedicated to meeting the goals of reading that are a part of the ninth grade essential learnings and the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards and anchors as well as the upcoming Keystone Examinations.
In an effort to promote reading in our students, the English department, with the approval of The West Jefferson Hills Board of School Directors, has established a summer reading program for all students. The summer reading selection for this year’s eighth graders entering ninth grade in the fall is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. This young adult novel allows students to explore classical Greek myths, analyze elements of heroism, and examine relevant issues such as learning disabilities, family interactions, and universal themes such as loyalty and friendship. Students will be expected to read the novel over the summer and complete an assignment in preparation for the first day of school. The novel and directions for this assignment will be introduced and distributed on Move-up Day in June. It will also be posted on the WJHSD/TJ website under “Summer Reading” beginning July 1, 2013, or can be obtained by visiting the Guidance Office after that date. Copies of the book will also be available as of July 1 from Guidance but are the property of WJHSD, so they must be returned to TJ along with the required assignments on the first day of school in the fall. However, some students may choose to purchase their own copies of the novel. Please note that additional activities and evaluation based on this summer reading selection will be part of the instruction at the beginning of the year and will be included in the Midterm Examination.
We hope that as parents you will partner with us in helping to instill in our students an appreciation of reading and a desire to succeed academically at TJHS. Let them know how important reading is. Encourage your child to read this novel and make certain that his/her assignment is completed for the beginning of the year.
Sincerely,

Mrs. Barker, Miss Cokley, Mr. Fluhme, Mrs. Miller, and Mrs. Tipton

The Ninth Grade English Teachers of Thomas Jefferson High School

It is the policy of the West Jefferson Hills School District to not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, age, race, color, and national origin in its educational and vocational programs, activities, or employment as required by Title IX, Section 5904 and Title VI. For information regarding services, activities, programs, and facilities that are accessible to and usable by handicapped persons or about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Director of Human Resources at 412-655-8450.

Summer Reading Assignment Part I: The Lightning Thief

Visual Project
Welcome to Thomas Jefferson High School! Between now and the beginning of the school year in August, please read the novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. The Lightning Thief explores the classical heritage of Greece as it applies to modern civilization and allows you to analyze the elements of the hero’s quest in a modern story. You will be responsible for completing the assignment listed below. All components of the assignment are due on the first day of school.
Please complete the following:

1. 
   Before you begin to read the novel, read the directions and complete the first three columns on the Who’s Who on Mount Olympus worksheet.
   

2. 
   Read the novel.
   

3. 
   As you read the novel, complete the last column on the Who’s Who on Mount Olympus worksheet.
   

4. 
   At the completion of your reading, use 12” x 18’ construction paper (available on Move-up Day) or poster board to complete one of the following visual projects:
   

1. 
   Create a vase, plate, or other pottery item that depicts a scene from the novel.
   

• 
  Choose a scene from the novel involving one of the important characters (deity, half-blood, or monster) and depict it through images drawn or pasted on a vase, plate or other pottery item that you have created on the construction paper or poster board. Images can be drawn, printed from the internet or clipart, or cut from magazines or newspapers. Remember to include a border design. (You will have to create the shape of your vase yourself on a 8 ½ x 11 piece of construction paper. See the examples below or get on line and google vases/images for help.)
  
• 
  Write the name of your character in English and Greek using the Greek alphabet in the packet. (If a letter you need is not included on the sheet, skip it.)
  
• 
  Find a quote in The Lightning Thief that represents your scene. Avoid unnecessarily long quotes (length approximately one to two sentences). Copy the words exactly from the novel onto the pottery item drawn and place quotation marks around it. Follow it with citation that looks like this: “I am looking forward to next year” (Riordan 16). Riordan is the author’s last name, and 16 is the page number where the quote is found.
  
• 
  Add any extra touches that will make your project creative and original.
  

2. 
   Create a large trading card for a character from the novel.
   

• 
  Choose a character from the list below and write the name of your character in English and Greek using the Greek alphabet in the packet. (If a letter you need is not included on the sheet, skip it.)
  
• 
  Include a picture of your character. This picture can be drawn, printed from the internet or clipart, or cut from magazines or newspapers. Remember to include a border design.
  
• 
  Find a quote in The Lightning Thief that represents your character. Avoid unnecessarily long quotes (length approximately one to two sentences). Copy the words exactly from the novel onto the card labeled as “quote” and place quotation marks around it. Follow it with citation that looks like this: “I am looking forward to next year” (Riordan 16). Riordan is the author’s last name, and 16 is the page number where the quote is found.
  
• 
  You must also include your character’s type (god/goddess, half-blood, monster); special powers, symbols, description, role in the story, and the quote.
  

POSEIDON







Type: Greek god

Special Powers: Uses magic trident, makes earthquakes and sea storms

Symbols: Dolphin, sea horse, trident

Allies: Ares, Apollo, all sea creatures

Rivals: Titans, Athena, Hades, Zeus

Description: Poseidon, Zeus’s brother, is the powerful and moody god of the sea!

Quote: “’Poseidon,’ said Chiron. ‘Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of the Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God’” (Riordan 126).

Role in the Story: Father of Percy, who protects and watches over his mortal son, whom he abandoned; Percy must come to terms with him


LIST OF POSSIBLE CHARACTERS:

Percy Chiron Minotaur Clarisse Echidna Annabeth

Cerberus Furies Luke Medusa Grover Chimera

5. 
   Display the title of the novel and the author’s name on your project.
   

5. 
   This will be an evaluated assignment, so do your best, most creative, and neatest work.
   

Summer Reading Assignment Part II: The Lightning Thief

Writing Assignment

• 
  Choose one the following prompts:
  

1. 
   Have you ever been treated unfairly by a teacher or adult other than a parent? Describe the circumstances and why you considered the treatment unfair.
   
2. 
   What is your position on learning disabilities (such as ADHD or dyslexia) and classroom assignments and instruction? Do you feel that a person with a learning disability should receive special considerations not given to students without a learning disability? Explain your position.
   

• 
  Organize, draft, and revise ONE paragraph (a minimum of six sentences) that responds to your chosen prompt.
  

• 
  Include a topic sentence and a concluding sentence.
  
• 
  Give three clear points in support of your opinion or idea.
  

• 
  Proofread your paragraph for accurate spelling, capitalization, sentence structure, and punctuation.
  

• 
  Publish your final paragraph following the Manuscript Format sheet included with this assignment. If you have a computer at home, type this assignment. Please double-space and use 12 point font, Times New Roman. If you plan to hand-write your paragraph, please take composition paper from the room and write in blue or black ink observing one inch margins.
  

• 
  Title your paragraph and place your name, English 1, period, and date (the heading) on the back according to Manuscript Format (lower right hand corner on back of last page which consists of name, English 1, period. and date assignment is due).
  

• 
  This paragraph will be evaluated according to the following rubric of 15 points:
  

Content 6 points
Manuscript form 5 points

Paper

Margins

Spacing

Ink (if writing)

Heading

Title
Mechanics 4 points

Spelling

Capitalization

Punctuation

Sentence format

BRING THESE THREE ASSIGNMENTS (Who’s Who on Mount Olympus, Visual Project, Writing Assignment) AND YOUR NOVEL WITH YOU ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

This book must be returned to your ninth grade English teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School at the beginning of the school year. If lost, the replacement cost is $15.00.

Once you begin school in August, expect other assignments to follow including a reading quiz. Please be prepared for the first day of school. Start the school year in a positive way.

Academic English 1 Name ______________________________

Mrs. Barker, Ms.Cokley, Mr. Fluhme, Date ______________________ Period__

Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Tipton

Who's Who on Mount Olympus
An important aspect of the ancient Greek culture is their belief system. They were polytheistic, which

means they believed in many gods. Many of these major gods and goddesses (deities) are characters in the novel Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Before you begin to read the novel, go online to a reliable (Is it copyrighted?) Greek mythology site (such as http://www.mythweb.com; http://www.mythweb.com/gods/index.html; or http://www. pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/articles.html) and use the information provided to fill in the blocks for the first three columns (Greek Name, Realm/Sphere of Control, Symbol/Animal) on the chart below.
As you read the novel, complete the last column on the chart below.

Greek Name	Realm/Sphere of Control	Symbol/Animal	Role in Novel
1. Zeus
2. Hera
3. Aphrodite
4. Apollo
5. Hephaestus
6. Demeter
7. Hermes
8. Athena
9. Ares
10. Poseidon
11. Artemis
12. Dionysus
13. Hades
14. Hestia

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT: FORM FOR WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
These are the rules for the format of compositions. Please keep this in your English binder.

• 
  For ALL Compositions, do the following:
  

1. Order your pages correctly.

2. Place your evaluation page in the BACK of your essay.

3. Place the following heading on the BACK of your evaluation page in the bottom right-hand quadrant:

Name

English 1

Period

Date

4. Staple your pages in the upper left hand corner.

5. Every composition must have a title.

• 
  Do not punctuate your title in any way.
  
• 
  Do not make it larger than your normal handwriting.
  
• 
  Do not put quotes around it.
  
• 
  Do not underline it.
  

6. Number your pages beginning with page 2. Write the page number only (i.e., 2, 3, etc.).

• 
  Handwritten Essays:
  

1. Use blue or black ink.

2. Use composition paper.

3. Leave a one-inch margin on each side of the paper. (You do not have to measure.)

4. Write on one side of the paper only.

5. Write the title on the center of the top line.
Note: You may write in cursive or print. The only requirement is that it is neat and legible.

• 
  Word-Processed Papers:
  

1. Use the presets of your word processor. (Adjust for one inch margins, however.)

2. Use “Times New Roman;” font, size 12.

3. Double-space all compositions.

4. Type and print on one side of the paper only.

5. Type your title on the first line and then double-space and begin your essay.
Remember: If you have a printing emergency, you may email me with your composition saved as an attachment. You must use “Word” to attach a document in this extreme instance. Make certain that you see your English teacher in the morning during homeroom BEFORE CLASS to inform them of the email.
Mrs. Barker’s email address is [e-mail]

Ms. Cokley’s email address is [e-mail]

Mr. Fluhme’s email address is [e-mail]

Mrs. Tipton’s email address is [e-mail]

Mrs. Miller’s email address is [e-mail]

English 1 Name_________________________

Mrs. Barker Date ______________Period_____

Ms. Cokley

Mr. Fluhme

Mrs. Miller

Mrs. Tipton
The Lightning Thief

Paragraph Rubric

1. 
   Content /6
   

Topic sentence

Three points of discussion/support

Use of transitions between ideas

Concluding sentence

2. 
   Manuscript form /5
   

Paper

Margins

Spacing

Ink (if writing)

Heading

Title

3. 
   Mechanics /4
   

Spelling

Capitalization

Punctuation

Sentence format

TOTAL /15