Back to School (1)

Summer vacation is coming to an end

Despite warm days and laughter from the poolside, summer vacation is ending. And everyone knows it. The review packet for summer - still not opened -suddenly appears. Sale signs at the malls, supermarkets and bookstores remind students and parents. Notebooks, folders, pencils and something special called binders are piled up in stores. In American schools, students must keep their book bags in their lockers.

So, most carry binders between classrooms. A 3-hole binder holds handouts, homework and a pencil pouch.

Students also must complete the student-service learning (SSL) requirement in summer. Most schools in Maryland require students to complete at least 75 hours of community volunteer work. They must do this before graduating from high school. Students devote their time to libraries, school clubs, summer camps and community organizations. My daughter Irene has been working at a library to earn her SSL hours.

She helps check out books, make posters and clean up the environment. This experience is helping her not only contribute to society but also enhance her communication skills.


Info Cloud
Hello, friends, have you ever wondered what it's like to attend an American high school? How is it different from attending a high school in Asia?

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is that in the US students go from classroom to classroom instead staying in one classroom throughout the day.

So, you must be wondering then, "Where do I leave my stuff?" Well, the answer is in your locker. That's where you keep all your books and personal affects.

You might also be wondering, "Isn't there a classroom where I belong?" And, the answer is homeroom, which is a very short period. This is a time when teachers take attendance and make announcements.

In some schools, students are permitted to socialize, to do group activities, or watch television news during homeroom. I have some fond memories of homeroom.

So do I. And, there is one final difference. In the US, there tends to be longer, but fewer periods, in a day. And school ends earlier here than it does in Asia.

But, that doesn't mean everyone just goes home at three o'clock. There are lots of after-school activities involving music, sports, drama, student government, and other various clubs.

Grammar Gym
Students devote their time to libraries, school clubs, summer camps and community organizations.
to devote [one's] time to...
to use most of one's own time to do something
- Dennis really cares a lot about animals and devotes his time at the animal shelter.
- Paula dreams of becoming a skater and devotes her time to training at the ice rink.

Language Lab
packet n.
a container made of paper, plastic, or cardboard that something is sold in
- Vivian ate a whole packet of cookies during lunch break.
- Every student will receive a training packet when they register.

binder n.
/ˈbaɪndɚ/
a cover for holding together sheets of paper
bind v.
to tie or wrap (something) with rope, string, etc.
3-hold binder = 3-ring binder
binder n.
to combine with (something) by chemical forces
- The accessories are attached to the fabric with a special binder.

volunteer adj.
of, relating to, or done by volunteers
- William is a volunteer firefighter.
volunteer n.
someone who does something without being forced to do it: such as a : a person who chooses to join the military
- All the food was distributed by the volunteers.
volunteer v.
to offer to do something without expecting any reward, often something that other people do not want to do
- Josh volunteered to take out the trash.

enhance v.
to increase or improve (something)
- A warm and happy environment can enhance children's learning.
- The company's reputation was enhanced by this charity campaign.


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