Annual and Ongoing Activities:

Sustained Silent Reading (SSR)
Every Friday morning, throughout the school year, from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. you will find Lower School students, faculty and staff practicing the art of sustained silent reading.

Drop Everything and Read (DEAR)
Every Wednesday morning, throughout the school year, Middle School students spend the first part of their fourth period class, from 10:09 to 10:39 a.m., reading for pleasure.

Young Readers’ Choice Award (YRCA) Challenge
Every October through March, fourth and fifth grade students are challenged to read all of the books nominated for the Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Readers’ Choice Award. Those students who meet the challenge typically celebrate with a pizza party in the Lower School library.

Sixth Grade Readers Challenge
Each spring, the challenge goes out to sixth-grade students to read more books! This year the Middle School library is providing a select list of 22 books from which students are challenged to read eight. Students who meet the challenge are invited to a festive party in the library in April, with books to sign and give to the library in their honor, and lots of good food to eat.

Summer Reading Book Fair
In order to get books into the hands of students for summer reading, FOESL sponsors the Summer Reading Book Fair. Scheduled each year in May, it happens in the Lower School library, with books for all ages. Watch for more information on this page or in the division newsletters in the early spring.

Summer Reading Challenge
Before school lets out in early June, Lower and Middle School students are challenged to keep up their reading during the upcoming summer vacation. Typically, the challenge includes reading at least 10 books over the three summer months. Reading lists are provided for those who need a little bit of direction in choosing some good books to fill those long summer days.

Summer Reading Celebrations
After a summer of reading, students who meet the reading challenge are rewarded for their efforts with a celebration when they return to school in the fall. In the Lower School, the celebration includes an ice cream party in the Lower School library. In the Middle School, students are invited to an English tea party in the Middle School library, with finger sandwiches and other tasty treats on the menu.

The Great OES Book Swap (GOBS)
If you are a “bookaholic,” GOBS is the place for you. Every other spring, FOESL sponsors this two-day exchange of books, allowing you to trade your books for those of another avid reader. It’s a chance to clear your child’s bookshelf of easy readers and replace them with some chapter books. Or maybe you want to trade your complete Jane Austen collection for some Tom Clancy titles. Prices are kept low and bargains abound. Start saving up your books now for this trading extravaganza.

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