Turning A Passion Into A Project

When Farmingdale High School’s Rachel Carlin (standing in back), then a junior, started thinking about her Girl Scout Gold Award Project she knew it had to be about her passion—reading. With some help from Howitt Middle School teacher Susanne Ferguson (second from left) and Principal Luis Pena (right), Rachel started Howitt Middle School’s first Book Club after school. This spring, the club explored the best seller Wonder, now considered an instant classic of middle school literature. The Book Club will resume in the fall and explore another book. Also pictured are Nicolas Ciaravino, sitting at left; Chris Pruchnick, on floor; Marely Rodriguez, with striped shirt, partially hiding her teacher, Terri Stapleton; and Sara Manandhar, second from right.