Did you know that reading supports a student's success and outcomes? Research has shown that engaging in regular reading improves a student’s concentration, comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, communication skills, and self-confidence. An extra bonus is that students who read and experience diverse perspectives and scenarios in stories develop greater empathy and emotional intelligence! At Saint Mary School, we want to instill a love of reading in our students so they can develop these important skills that are part of our School Wide Learning Expectations. Reading helps students become academically prepared, globally aware, effective communicators, and life-long learners. This is why, in addition to daily reading practices and activities in the classroom, we use the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. AR is a computer-based system used in schools to help students practice reading independently, and allows teachers to monitor student progress. Students read books at their individual reading level, take a short computer-based quiz on the book's content, and earn points for successful completion. Teachers use these quizzes and reports to guide students to appropriate books, track their progress, and set individualized reading goals. Some teachers also utilize other online resources such as Epic, Reading Eggs, and Freckle to support learning in language arts.
We are extremely excited to continue supporting our students’ reading journey with our new school library, which opened in September 2025. Mr. Perez, in maintenance, moved and braced the shelves over the summer, while our amazing volunteers, Mrs. Delia Silva and Mrs. Sarah Cantila, have worked diligently since the summer to bring this vision to life. They have categorized, cataloged, and organized every single book, and the Accelerated Reader (AR) collection continues to grow larger every day. The school’s PTO has helped by purchasing a new rug and a great deal of new library accessories to help organize the stacks. The new library is located down the hall from the Conference Center, providing much-needed space for students. We are extremely grateful to our PTO, Mrs. Delia, and Mrs. Sarah for their work and support with this project. We know that all our students will benefit from these efforts. Some of our classes have already visited, and they are so excited to see their new space and all the new books!