Horizon Elementary

Week 2 of the Summer Reading Challenge!

Each week Mr. Olson will give a challenge theme for inspiration and ideas for your students' reading. These are not a required reading list, just recommendations.
Our theme for week 2 is Welcome to Summer! Read a book set in the summertime!
Pictured Ideas:
The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson (picture book)
The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon (chapter book)
The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island by Gertrude Chandler Warner (early chapter book)
Sunrise Summer by Matthew Swanson (picture book)
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner (picture book)
Cannonball by Sacha Cotter (picture book)
Don't forget to track your reading on the KCLS summer reading journal!

Here are some books to add to your 4th and 5th grade students' summer reading lists!

Introducing the 26-27 Kent School District Battle of the Books selections. These books were selected by the KSD librarians and will be used for next year for the 4th and 5th grade Battle of the Books competition. Students will learn more about the competition in the fall, but they can get started with reading now!

1. Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate
2. At the Edge of Lost by Martha Brockenbrough
3. And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps
4. Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia
5. Popcorn by Rob Harrell
6. The Academy by T. Z. Layton
7. Song of the Yellow Dragon by Ying Ping Low
8. Space Chasers by Leland Melvin
9. It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell
10. Orca Rescue! by Donna Sandstrom

Horizon's Summer Reading Challenge starts now!
Each week Mr. Olson will give a challenge theme for inspiration and ideas for your students' reading. These are not a required reading list, just recommendations.

Our theme for week 1 is Juneteenth!
Read a book about Juneteenth to celebrate this special holiday!

Pictured Ideas:
Juneteenth by Van Barrett (Picture Book)
The Story of Juneteenth by Steven Otfinoski (You Choose chapter book)
The Juneteenth Story by Alliah Agostini (nonfiction picture book)
The Juneteenth Cookbook by Alliah Agostini (active nonfiction picture book)
What is Juneteenth? By Kirsti Jewel (nonfiction chapter book)
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper (picture book)

Don't forget to track your reading on the KCLS summer reading journals, pick one up at your local KCLS library, such as the Covington Library.

What is your family reading this week? Share what your students are reading this week in the comments!

Mr. Olson's Summer Reading Challenge is here!

We are challenging every student to complete a summer reading journal from the King County Library System!

KCLS reading logs can be picked up at any KCLS library, such as the Covington Library

Reading for 20-30 minutes on most days throughout the summer will help our students maintain and grow in their reading skills and knowledge. Take time to create a routine this summer for reading! You can make this reading routine more impactful by reading with your student or reading your own book at the same time. Turn off the TV and set devices to silent for a distraction-free reading time.

Q: What Kind of reading counts?

A: All types of reading: silent reading, reading out loud, listening to reading, reading together, reading alone. All types of books: Picture books, informational books, non-fiction books, chapter books, graphic novels, audiobooks, eBooks.

Need ideas of what to read?
Follow the Horizon page for weekly reading challenge themes and book recommendations from Mr. Olson, Horizon’s Librarian. Recommendations are for inspiration and ideas, not required reading.

Completing KCLS summer reading:
To complete the KCLS summer reading journal, students can fill in one circle for each 20 minutes of reading completed. After completing the reading journal, bring it to the KCLS for a prize.
Website for KCLS summer reading: https://kcls.org/summer/

Completing the Horizon challenge:
Before turning in your reading log to KCLS, take a picture of the completed reading log, and email the picture to Mr. Olson. Students who email their reading log picture will get to stop at the Book Vending Machine for a prize in the fall!

Grad walk is today!
Seniors graduating high school in 2026 who attended Horizon are welcome to attend!

All Horizon library books are due back to the library!

We have 142 books left checked out!

If your student still has library books at home or in class, they need to be returned ASAP!
We will start sending out email notices for any books that have not been returned.

There are no fines or fees for books returned safely to the Horizon library.

If a book is lost or has unrepairable damage, there are a few options to consider:
1)You can pay to replace the book online or at the Horizon office.
2)You can buy a replacement copy of the same book
3)Your student can do restorative work in the library cover the cost of replacement.

The Kent Schools Foundation is very generous to cover the replacement cost of books for students who complete restorative work.

Not sure if the book you have is a Horizon library book? Send us a message with a picture of the front and back cover, and we can let you know. Take a look in the comments for clues to determining a Horizon library book.

All Horizon library books are due back to the library!

If your student still has library books at home or in class, they need to be returned by Monday, June 8th.

We will start sending out email notices for any books that have not been returned after Monday.

There are no fines or fees for books returned safely to the Horizon library.

If a book is lost or has unrepairable damage, there are a few options to consider:

1)You can pay to replace the book online or at the Horizon office.

2)You can buy a replacement copy of the same book

3)Your student can do restorative work in the library cover the cost of replacement.

The Kent Schools Foundation is very generous to cover the replacement cost of books for students who complete restorative work.

Not sure if the book you have is a Horizon library book? Send us a message with a picture of the front and back cover, and we can let you know.

CHMS Spring Cheer Tryouts!