We are Back!

…And so is school. Growing up in New York, I always believed that school should start after Labor Day—in September. I remember how seeing the back-to-school commercials or back-to-school sales in department stores in August filled me with anxiety. In many states, school now begins in August, when the weather is still warm, and kids (like the one I used to be) are still playing outdoors, chasing fireflies.

Unfortunately, August is now the new September in many states due to the following reasons:

  • An earlier start date gives teachers more instructional time before statewide assessment tests in the spring.
  • Beginning in August allows students to complete the first semester before the December holiday break
  • Starting early allows for a fall break in September or October, a winter break around February, and breaks around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Teachers are happier, and kids behave better when they have more breaks throughout the year.
  • Ending school earlier ensures students aren’t tuning out after state standardized tests in May. 
  • Decreasing the length of summer vacation helps prevent the “summer slide,” a phenomenon that research has shown causes students to lose an average of two months of reading skills and nearly three months of math skills during summer break.
  • Many graduating students and staff members take summer courses at colleges and universities. Ending school around Memorial Day creates fewer conflicts for them.

Although many of these reasons make sense… I’m still nostalgic for the old days.

NVWN Upcoming Meetings (tentative and subject to change)
August 8: Open Read
September 12: Jason Palmatier (local winner of national short story prize)
October 10: Michele Mekel (local poet/PSU staff/ faculty)
November 14: Terry Lee Watson (PSU staff)
December 12: Open Read
January 9: OFF
February 13: Connie Cousins (local children’s book author)
March 12: Open Read
April 9: TBD
May 14: TBD
June 11: Open Read

NVWN Meeting: Open Read

Attendees at all writing levels can bring a short writing sample to share or come to listen and meet other writers. 
When: August 8th (2nd Tuesday of the month)
Where: Schlow Library, Community Room,
Time: from 6:30 -7:30

NVWN Public Announcement: Shoe Drive

Consider recycling your unwanted, wearable shoes by donating them to the Nittany Greyhounds Shoe Drive in August to fund Greyhound adoptions. You’re welcome to bring the shoes to the NVWN August meeting.
You can also drop them off at a collection bin at these State College locations — YMCA, Wiscoy for Animals, Tractor Supply, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and East Coast Health and Fitness. Nittany Greyhounds will receive a donation from Funds2Orgs for each pound of shoes collected, and the shoes will go to developing countries.
Thanks for considering this!

What Local Book Clubs are Reading:

¡ADELANTE! Book Club
How to Not Drown in a Glass of Water: A Novel, by Angie Cruz.
When: Every other month, 4th Thursday of the month, August 24th, @ 2:30
Where: Virtual
To participate with the group, contact info@aauwstatecollege.org. New members welcome.

Inspirational Book Club
The House in the Cerulean Seaby TJ Klune
When: 2nd Monday of the month, August 14th @ 10:00 – 11:00 am. (Note: meetings have been changed to monthly.)
Where: Barnes and NobleNew members welcome!

Well-Read Book Club
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
When: 4th Thursday of the month, Jun 22nd, @6:30 – 7:30 pm. (Note: date and time change.)
Where: Virtual
Register at Schlow Library

For more information on any of these Book clubs, or if you want your book club listed, contact crevey@msn.com.

The Nittany Valley Writers’ Network is a sharing, supportive community linking local writers of all genres and levels of experience. For more information, contact Dave at dmarvin14@msn.com.