March 30

This week's story is "Carousel". Our new words are: aunt, million, pair. Our skills are the prefix "un" and the "Y" at the end of longer words. Our spelling words are: puppy, baby, lucky, happy, very, lady, funny, silly, many, only, cookie. Challenge words: furry, angry.

We hope to make pretzels on Wednesday. We make these to remind people to pray. The pretzels symbolize arms crossed in prayer. The kids will each get a recipe to take home. Be prepared for them to want to make some at home :-)!

We have begun our First Communion lessons. In addition to the lessons they take home, I also supplement with other activities and videos. Father,Mrs. Gierczic, and I are working on preparations for the big day! Remember it will take place on April 26th at the 11:00 Mass. We will be sending letters with more information such as seating, etc. We randomly pick names out of a hat for this so no one feels like others have been favored as to seating. Each family will have one row. Additional family members will need to sit elsewhere in the Church. Kelly will let me know about the meal afterwards. She will be doing a mailing about that soon.

I will be doing one-on-one oral testing of Math facts this week. Has your child been practicing these? They need to know their addition and subtraction facts through 18 by the end of this year.

Have a good day!

March 24 Baptism celebration and Jalapeno Bagels!

We celebrated with the students who were going to be baptized during our vacation!

Yummy bagels!!!! We loved them!

Two of my granddaughters helped me make Jalapeno Bagels which went with our story this week.

March 23 We're Back!

We've had a nice break and are back ready to learn! This week's story is "Jalapeno Bagels", and the new words are: early, hair, instead. The skills are contractions and -le endings.
In English, we'll do verbs that tell about now. The spelling words are contractions:
I'll, we've, I'm, you're, isn't, didn't, you'll, I've, it's, we'll, can't.The challenge words are: they're and wouldn't.

In Math we are starting to add tens.

Remind your child to finish his/her March story. We already have three published!

REMEMBER WEDNESDAY NIGHT! It's a VERY important night - First Reconciliation! One thing you might want to know ahead is that while your child is making his/her confession, parents will stand by the first pew. Mrs. Gierczic and I will be there in front to welcome you. We'll go in order from front to back. When your child has finished, you will meet your child and he/she will then light a candle. Then you will return to your seats to pray. Everyone will remain in church for the closing prayer and song.

Have a nice day!

St. Mary's March 5

With Fr.Frank

Main altar at St. Mary's

Statue of Kateri Tekakwitha

Beautiful beaded pieced hand-beaded by the women of St.Mary's Parish

Outside the Church

We had a WONDERFUL mass with Fr. Frank today! He made it a "teaching mass" in which he explained the what and the why of the Mass. It was very informative for the kids, and the adults even learned! We appreciate Fr. taking the time to say this special mass for the first and second grade students!!!

Next week, we will be doing our Reading-Writing Workshop. It's on personal narratives,but I am going to let kids write "made up" stories also. They are very excited about being able to write one they make up. We will still be using Mr. Bell's curriculum format with the "I feel" statement, storyboard, partner reading, rough draft, revising and editing, and publishing. This time we will publish as a "book".

Spelling words are found on page 235 in the Student Handbook. They are: who, a lot, were, many, our, friend, cannot, here, first, today, would, could and the Challenge Words are heard, again.

We will be reviewing money in Math and also all of the material in Unit 2. We will also have a Unit 2 Test. Then Chapter 11 will go into 2 digit addition. I will be doing one-on-one oral tests of math facts to 18 tomorrow. Keep practicing those facts with your children!

We extend our condolences to Robyn Lulich and her family in the loss of Julie. We continue to pray for them in their sadness.

Have a good weekend!

MARCH 2 - DRIVERS NEEDED!

We only have ONE driver for Thursday. Can anyone help? Are there grandparents, aunts, uncles, anyone who has been approved for helping? I need drivers for 6, and I believe the first grade still needs drivers, too. Please let me know ASAP. Thanks!

Our story this week is "Brothers and Sisters". New words are: middle, trouble, and ending.
Spelling words are: flower, water, under, over, better, sister, brother, mother, father, after, and the Challenge Words other and center. You can see by the spelling words that the phonics for the week is working with words that end with -er. We'll also review long o sounds of OA, OW from last week. English is working with VERBS. A verb can name an action run, swim, etc. or a verb can name an activity that can't be seen such as hear, think, and worry.

We are still working with TIME, and some kids are still struggling. I will send a sheet or two home for the kids to practice.

We did our 6th Penance lesson today. It' s about being welcomed home by God. The story was the Prodigal Son.
1st Reconciliation is at 5:30 on MARCH 26. It's coming up quickly!

Have a great day!