When most people think of summer, traveling with family, spending days at the beach with friends, and having extra time to relax is what comes to mind. However, Staples students also have the stress of summer assignments lingering in their minds.

“I had three summer assignments [for] AP Physics, AP Government and AP Calculus… all of my teachers take it seriously. It’s the first thing in the grade book for the year,” said Ross Poulley ’15.

Monique Medina ’15 also had numerous summer assignments. For AP Literature she had to read “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” a total of 685 pages, and to write 10 to 12 journal entries about it. In addition, for AP Studio Art she was required to create two self portraits, a landscape and draw three sketches.

“It was hard to find the time to finish the assignments,” admitted Medina, but she still “[wished] that there were assignments for classes like math because [she felt that] it would help to review” before school started.

“If I didn’t do any work over the summer, then I would probably struggle a lot more in the fall,” agreed Ayrton Ellis ’15.

In contrast, some felt that summer assignments aren’t the most beneficial.

“I think it is just extra work, but is just like any other assignment,” said Victoria Orlin ’17.

English teacher Elizabeth Olbrych summed up the mixed students’ opinions. “[Students] know it’s important and good for them [to do their summer assignments] but struggle with the balance of enjoying summer,” pointed out Olbrych.