June 2013 Dear Honors Humanities Students, Congratulations on completing your first year of high school!

I am sure it was an exciting and yet trying transition for you, but you made it. You are probably quite ready for a little rest and relaxation before heading into what will likely be a challenging sophomore year. Even though tenth grade holds new challenges for you, it also holds some fun and excitement as well. I am looking forward to our time in Honors Humanities 1-2 and hope you are, too. While it is true that we all need some rest and relaxation after a hectic school year, it is equally true that summer presents a challenge of its own to every serious student. Studies show that students can lose 4 to 12 weeks of learning over the summer break! In addition, it can take up to 3 weeks of instruction to gain back the lost learning. Wow, summer brain drain. Not good. Fortunately there are some things that you can do not only to prevent the dreaded depletion of learning but also to get ahead in your study of the humanities. Below are my suggestions for how you can spend your time away from school judiciously. Take a look and you will see that these are some easy and, dare I say, enjoyable ways to pass your time. Include your family. Include your friends. Students who have done these assignments in the past have acknowledged their benefits. And, by doing these assignments you will get a jump on your homework and ease yourself back into the swing of things! First read, read, read. Yes, and read some more. Did you know that if you read about 20 minutes a day you will read 2 million words in a year! Thats awesome. And thats what the state of California recommends students in grades 9 and 10 do read 2 million words annually. Not sure what to read? Take a look at 101 Great Books Recommended for College Bound Readers available in the Boost Your Skills section of the College Board website (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/23628.html). During the first week of Honors Humanities 1, you will be able to post a book review on our discussion board. This book review will earn you a valuable bonus! Second read ahead. You can read our first book Homers The Odyssey. We will begin Honors Humanities 1 with The Odyssey by Homer. I have allotted only 2 weeks to reading and studying this book. Thats not a lot of time. By reading the book over the summer you will free up some of your homework time in the fall, thus relieving some pressure. I recommend the prose translation by W.H.D. Rouse which is available in the DNHS library. Just ask the librarian for it. However, if you are up for reading poetry, you may enjoy the translation by Robert Fagles. We will have the book test at the end of the second week of the trimester. Third engage in a cultural experience. Humanities is the study of culture and the expression of meaning that mankind creates through art. Textbooks can teach us much but they cant teach us as well as experience, so go out and have an experience with art! Personal visits are best but a virtual tour is perfectly acceptable. Try one of the following: o An art museum or gallery (Any type of art is fine.) o A live performance like a play, opera or ballet (Professional companies only, please.) o A concert (Any type of music is fine just so long as its a live performance and a professional performance) o An architectural landmark (Be sure this is a man-made landmark such as a building, bridge, monument, etc.) o A classic or artistic film (While trips to trendy theaters like The Ken in Kensington are cool, DVDs and video are perfectly acceptable. In fact, your local library probably has many landmark films available for you to check out, and you can always view on-line, as well. Not sure what would classify as an important film? Check out the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress for films deemed culturally or historically significant -- http://www.loc.gov/index.html). Keep a journal or record of your experience. In your journal 1. Describe the place, performance or work. Be sure to include details that allow the reader to picture the place, performance or work perfectly.

2. Select one piece of art, one part of the performance, or one aspect of the work (e.g., the domed roof over the Nave in the Mission San Luis Rey) that really stood out for you and explain what you liked about it or what made it stand out. 3. Discuss your personal response to the place, event, or work. How did it make your feel? What intrigued you? What surprised you? What puzzled you? What did you like? What did you dislike? What connections did you make? Just record your personal thoughts and opinions. 4. Discuss what makes this thing art. We will have a writing assignment on this experience during the first week of the trimester. This is a required writing that all students will do so getting your experience done in the summer will be a great relief to your busy schedule. I sincerely hope you have fun doing these assignments. There are many galleries and museums in San Diego for you to enjoy. The Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla is one of my favorites and has free admission from 5 to 7 PM on the third Thursday of each month! In addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, many other museums offer free admission. For instance, the museums in Balboa Park offer free admission to various museums on a rotating basis. Check out the website for more information: http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/balboa/free.shtml Be safe and have fun! I am looking forward to working with you in the fall. Sincerely, Mrs. Philyaw (JPhilyaw@powayusd.com)