Summer Reading and Math
Lower School
At StG, we value summer as a time for students to relax, rejuvenate,and get ready for the academic year ahead. We encourage you to explore enrichment opportunities for your child, whether that is enrolling them in exciting summer camps or taking interesting family vacations. There is always so much for young children to learn by exploring the world around us!
Of course, your children have worked hard this year to reach mastery of grade-level math and reading standards. We want them to maintain this progress! For this reason, we encourage your child to complete the following:
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A reading log. Research shows that students who read consistently throughout the summer maintain their end-of-year reading level as they enter the next grade. We want this for all of your children!
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A summer math packet. During the last week of school, your child was given a math packet that is leveled to their math abilities. We encourage your child to work on this packet over the summer, especially during the 2-3 weeks before school starts.
The reading log and math packet are recommended but do not need to be submitted. Returning students were provided with these materials prior to the last week of school. Please note that rising 5th graders have required assignments provided by Middle School. New families will receive a welcome email that provides information about summer work, including a link to the leveled math packet that is recommended for your child.
If you have any questions about Lower School summer work, please email Kate Remillard, Director of Lower School, at kate.remillard@stgnola.org.
Middle School
To protect the academic investment you and your child(ren) have made this year, the English language arts and math teachers require all students entering 5th-8th grades to complete summer assignments. This work will be graded, and students are expected to complete the work no later than Monday, August 24th, 2026.
Please encourage your child to do their summer math and reading practice a little at a time throughout the summer. Completing all the practice at once at either the beginning or end of the summer is not nearly as beneficial to protecting the investment your child has made in learning new skills and building knowledge at school this year.
Just as shorter, more frequent workouts help to keep our bodies healthier than an occasional longer workout, frequent reading and math practice completed a little bit at a time every week will help position your child for academic success next year.
Math
All students rising into grades 5-8 are required to complete a summer math packet. Hard copies will be distributed by your child’s math teacher before the end of the school year; should you need to print a new copy at home, you may access them here: Summer Math Packets.
Students enrolled in advanced sections will receive a packet aligned to one grade level above their current grade. The packet is structured across eight weeks, with clearly organized sections for each week, and is designed to take approximately 30-60 minutes per week.
This assignment is designed to provide consistent, manageable practice that reinforces essential skills from prior grades. Each packet includes a variety of problem types including computation, word problems and critical thinking tasks, along with problem-solving questions that encourage deeper understanding. Students may complete the work at their own pace throughout each week.
This approach is intended to prevent summer learning loss by keeping students’ number sense and mathematical reasoning skills sharp without overwhelming them during the break. The weekly structure promotes consistency while remaining flexible for family schedules. By incorporating both review and extension opportunities, the packets support a wide range of learners, helping some strengthen foundational skills while allowing others to extend their thinking. Additionally, the format encourages independence and personal responsibility, while offering families a simple and accessible way to stay engaged in their child’s learning.
Completed packets will be collected by next year’s math teacher and graded for completion as a formative assessment; completing the work independently provides teachers with a more accurate understanding of each student’s skills. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Jaspreet Sethi, Department Chair, at jaspreet.sethi@stgnola.org.
English Language Arts
Students in each grade level must read their required summer novel, listed below. Families are responsible for purchasing the book or checking it out from the public library. Students must complete a series of accompanying questions as they read through the book.
Students will be given a hard copy of the questions to guide their reading, but in order to earn credit, you must input your answers into the corresponding Google Form. If your child loses their hard copy of the questions, you may print a new copy from the documents in this folder: Summer Reading Questions. Google forms for each question section can be found at the bottom of this webpage, placed under the "required reading" tabs for each grade level. If you have any questions about summer reading, please email Mrs. Tanya Musa, Department Chair, at tanya.musa@stgnola.org.
Required Reading Novels:
- Rising 5th Grade: Stella by Starlight, Sharon Draper
- Rising 6th Grade: Holes, Louis Saccar
- Rising 7th Grade: The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
- Rising 8th Grade: The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
While students are only required to read one assigned book, we strongly encourage them to read other books of their choice in order to maintain a consistent reading habit. You may print an optional reading log to record any other books they choose to read.
Required Middle School Reading
- 5th Grade Required Reading
- 6th Grade Required Reading
- 7th Grade Required Reading
- 8th Grade Required Reading
- 5th - 8th Grade Reading Log and General Information