November 29

Advent has begun! We are already learning about the Advent wreath and its symbols. We will continue to learn about Advent and light our candles each day at prayer time. We'll put up a paper Jesse Tree and talk about the symbols on it. Next Monday, December 6, we will be having an Advent Retreat with the third grade class in the Pastoral Center. This will just be in the afternoon.

Looking ahead to the following week, we will be having our annual Baby Jesus party! I started this party many years ago, and it's a fun way to celebrate the birth of Jesus and helping other families who are not as fortunate as we are. This started out with just 1st and 4th grade and has since expanded to include grades 1 through 4. You will be receiving a letter about this soon. For those new to our school, the kids bring in unwrapped baby gifts to honor Baby Jesus. These gifts go to our local ABC Healthy Families program to be distributed to some families in need. At this party, the children will be making Christmas cards to distribute to local nursing homes. The kids love this, and the residents enjoy receiving their cards so this is another way of serving others - our elderly and sick.

I am considering setting up a time my kids could ring the bells for the Salvation Army. We have a small enough class to do this, and I think the kids would enjoy it, too. I'll let you know more and send permission slips if I can arrange this activity.

This Wednesday, we will be working with our fourth grade buddies to paint rocks. Mrs. Worrall is a wonderful rock painter, and she has graciously offered to help us with this project!

We will, of course, continue with our "regular" studies each day. This week we are working on double final consonants including "ck". We will be practicing exclamatory sentences for English. In Science, we're learning about stems, leaves, and roots. In Math, we are continuing to work with money. Today we found many different coins to make $1.00 which was fun - and a little confusing to some children, too.

WANTED: PERSONAL TAPE PLAYERS - like the Walkman players that used to be sold. I am finding these aren't sold around here. Most are CD players.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
DECEMBER 6 ADVENT RETREAT
DECEMBER 16 BABY JESUS PARTY
DECEMBER 17 KIDS SHOPPING DAY AT O.L.L.
DECEMBER 20 CHRISTMAS CONCERT 6:30

Thanks for all you do!