Summer Assignments

All-School Read

For this summer, our All School Read committee has selected Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown as our Summer 2025 Community Read.

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown tells the inspiring true story of nine young men from the University of Washington who overcame tremendous personal and collective hardships to win the gold medal in rowing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At the heart of the story is Joe Rantz, a determined and resilient young man abandoned by his family and forced to fend for himself during the Great Depression. Through the sport of rowing, Joe finds purpose, camaraderie, and belonging as he and his teammates—many from humble, working-class backgrounds—form a crew defined by unity, trust, and grit. Set against the backdrop of a nation struggling through economic hardship and the rise of Nazi Germany, the book is both a compelling historical narrative and a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and the human spirit.

Additional Summer Assignments: Additional summer assignments based on your son’s grade and course enrollment can be found here.

Become a Man of Action at Catholic Memorial

CM prepares students for the rigors of college and beyond. While here, boys embark on service-learning opportunities, leadership development, and character formation programs inspiring them to become confident, courageous young men motivated to do good in the world.

Catholic Memorial, the Christian Brothers School of Boston, prepares boys for college, manhood and a world full of unknown challenges, ambiguity and complex problems and the importance of relationships.