Dear Parents:

As you know, in 2007-2008, the Bishop McDevitt community has been celebrating during this Golden Jubilee Year - “50 Years of Excellence”. Additionally, between January 27 and February 3, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be honoring all Catholic schools within “Catholic Schools Week”.

The English faculty of Bishop McDevitt High School will celebrate this moment in Catholic education by instituting a new and enriching program involving all students within their English classes.

The English faculty approved the following books with a spiritual message:

Assigned Books

9^th grade Mr. Blue

by Myles Connolly

10^th grade The Five People You Meet in Heaven

by Mitch Albom

11^th grade a) The Path to Rome

by Hillaire Belloc

b) Tuesdays with Morrie

by Mitch Albom

12^th grade a) Letters to a Young Catholic

by George Weigel

b) G. K. Chesterton:_The Apostle of Common Sense

by Dale Ahlquist

c) The Alchemist

by Paul Coelho

During the period from January 24 to February 22, all students will read one of the assigned books listed above and that will be followed by a one-page reflection paper for which they will receive a third quarter mark. This paper must be submitted to their teacher by Monday, March 3. Each book will cost $10 and these books will be delivered from Barnes and Noble to the school. This procedure will lower the cost of the book and will ease the anxiety of finding the book. Please realize that a student may also choose to use a copy from the public library.

We know that you will support the English faculty in instituting this new and special program. This approach will be unique among the Archdiocesan schools and we applaud the English Department in creating this spiritual and literary reading experience for all of our students.

Sincerely,

Rosemary Naab (Mrs.)

Principal

David T. Horn

English Chair