Welcome to the LIT Center — 2026–27

Same LIT Center. Smaller Space. Big Year Ahead.

The LIT Center is under renovation! Our entire wing of the building is being transformed, with construction scheduled for completion in September 2027.

In the meantime, you can find us in Room 116, the former Game Room, which has been transformed into our Mini LIT Center.

Yes, we are much smaller this year—but the heart of the LIT Center is still here.

Our collection is smaller but intentionally packed with engaging, high-interest books, and students continue to have access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks through Sora.

And, most importantly: Lizzo the Bearded Dragon and Lily the Ball Python are still with us, healthy and thriving!

📚 Our Big Goal: Keep Mack Reading

This year, we are launching Show Me Your Books! 2.0 and continuing our work to build a culture where reading is something we do because it matters—and because it can actually be enjoyable.

Last year, much of our work centered on helping students rediscover a love of reading. This year, we're expanding that vision to include our teachers, staff, and families.

We want students to see adults reading.

We want teachers modeling what it looks like to be a reader.

We want books going home and families talking about what they're reading.

Because reading isn't just an English-class skill.

Regular reading builds language, vocabulary, critical thinking, concentration, curiosity, and stamina. Those are foundational skills students carry into college, careers, relationships, decision-making, and everyday life.

The goal isn't simply to get through a book. It's to build a life in which reading, thinking, questioning, and learning become habits.

🔎 Research Is a Life Skill

Our second major focus this year is strengthening the research process.

Research means learning how to:

• Find reliable and relevant sources

• Evaluate information and determine what is credible

• Read complex information carefully

• Compare ideas and evidence

• Synthesize information from multiple sources

• Communicate what you've learned through writing

• Use evidence to generate and defend your own ideas

These skills aren't just for research papers.

The research process is part of literally any major or career you choose.

And for our Engineering Pathway students, these skills are especially important.

⚙️ Engineers Read. Engineers Write. Engineers Research.

Engineering isn't only designing, building, coding, or solving equations.

Engineers have to read technical information—design specifications, diagrams, data sheets, standards, safety requirements, research studies, testing results, documentation, and instructions.

They also have to write technically and precisely.

Engineers document their design process, explain why they made particular decisions, record test results, identify failures, communicate findings, write proposals and reports, and make recommendations based on evidence.

A brilliant design isn't enough if you can't understand the information behind it or clearly communicate your thinking to someone else.

That is why literacy and research belong in Engineering.

🚀 September

We're Starting With Our Students

We kick off the first week of Sept with 9th- and 10th-grade LIT Center Orientations.

Every student will visit the Mini LIT Center and select a book for independent reading.

Our teachers will then protect sacred reading time in their classrooms—regular time when students can put everything else aside and simply read.

After our 9th and 10th graders are launched, we'll move on to 11th- and 12th-grade students.

From there, the LIT Center will begin opening up for teacher collaborations, supporting classroom projects with research instruction, resources, source evaluation, information literacy, and other project needs.

♟️ Come See Us in Room 116!

Even during construction, the LIT Center remains a place to read, think, research, explore, and belong.

Open every school day during lunch

Chess Club — Wednesdays

Physical books + Sora ebooks and audiobooks

Research & project support

Lizzo + Lily 🦎🐍

The space may be temporary. The mission isn't.

Let's keep Mack reading.