One Book, One School unites students in Lenape District

The school year may have just ended, but the Lenape Regional High School District is already looking forward to 2014–15.

The district is bringing back its “One Book, One School” program for the sixth time next year. Each school has been assigned a book to read over summer break.

Director of Curriculum Heather Xenakis said the program has proven to be successful in promoting school spirit and unity. She said the students are much more eager to read the books than they would be with a grade level-specific book.

“In the past, each of the different levels read different books,” Xenakis said. “Now, the entire faculty and students are asked to read one book. It has been embraced by the school communities.”

This summer, Lenape High School will be reading “Monument 14” by Emmy Laybourne. The book is a novel about high school, middle school and younger kids who are trapped inside a chain superstore while the world outside goes through a series of natural disasters.

Xenakis said the chosen books have themes the teachers use in their lessons throughout the school year. These themes don’t just apply to literature classes. Math and science classes are able to apply the themes to classes as well.

The biggest impact “One Book, One School” has had on the Lenape district community has been the excitement generated among students. Xenakis said the students have organized contests and events related to the book.

“Some of the schools have academic pep rallies,” Xenakis said. “Some of them have contests.”

This type of excitement was unable to be achieved prior to the program’s launch. In addition to each grade reading a different book, there were multiple books assigned depending on the student’s level of English class.

Now each school chooses a book all levels of readers from freshmen to seniors are able to comprehend.

More information on the program or the books for the other Lenape district high schools can be found on www.lrhsd.org.