Second Grade Update – Week of 3/27
Dear Second Grade Families,
This week, second graders enjoyed an onsite visit from author, Kentrell Martin. It was amazing to watch him share American Sign Language through a reading of his book, “Shelly Goes to the Zoo”. Students had a blast learning about 30 signs! This visit was a wonderful learning experience! Thank you to Mrs. Thomas for inviting Mr. Martin to share his talents, knowledge, and enthusiasm with us!
Next week is our visit to the Alameda Food Bank. As a class, we have been discussing the issue of food insecurity in communities, making connections to read-alouds like “The Lunch Thief”, and reflecting on the importance of almsgiving, not just during Lent, but the whole year round. Thank you to the drivers and chaperones who will be joining us! Please remember to send in your child’s booster if you indicated they needed one!
Below is our second grade learning update.
Focus Areas for Our Learning Next Week:
- Reading –
- In reading groups, students will start their new Book Club. We will revisit the types of genres and identify the genre of the current text. Students will identify the main character(s) and setting and make connections to the text. As always, there is a focus on reading fluency and speaking and listening skills as we work together in a small group.
- At night, students should read aloud to practice fluent reading skills. Please encourage your child to observe punctuation, read at a good pace, and read the words as they appear in the text (no deletions or substitutions).
- Grammar/Spelling – In Superkids, students will practice with irregular plural nouns (ex., woman to women, child to children, mouse to mice). We will also work with tricky “w” words (ex. where, were, etc). They should practice their spelling words for homework so they are prepared for the quiz on Friday.
- Writing – We will delve into the world of poetry and the types of descriptive language poets use. Students will use alliteration to write a piece about an imaginary land they’d love to visit.
- Math – The class will continue studying area. Students will also use their knowledge of shape attributes to create an art piece. They will write about their piece using math language, incorporating important shape vocabulary and concepts.
- Religion – Students continue to learn about the Mass with a focus on the Liturgy of the Eucharist, celebrating the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us. In Family Life, we will continue our unit about God’s gift of self, focusing on how we change and grow over time and how we can grow in virtue.
- Social Studies –We will discuss why we form governments. Students will learn about local, state, and national governments over the next month. This week, our focus will be on rules and laws and we will connect to our history – why certain laws from the past needed to be changed and how citizens have worked together for positive change over time.
- Science – As our radish seeds continue to grow, we will make observations over the next couple weeks. This week, we will explore plant adaptations that help them survive and thrive in certain environments.
Other Updates for this Week:
- AR Reading – Just a reminder – I am encouraging all students to use their AR book for their homework reading time (15 minutes each afternoon/evening).
- Dates to Remember:
- Friday, Mar. 31 – Noon Dismissal
- Thursday, Apr. 6 – Noon Dismissal
- Friday, Apr. 7 – No School, Good Friday
- Tuesday, Apr. 25 – Free Dress for April B-days
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to seeing our students on Monday!
All the best,
Catherine
Preschool Weekly Update – Week of 11/21
Giving Thanks
For the expanding grandeur of creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations:
We give thanks this day.
For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons:
We give thanks this day.
For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements:
We give thanks this day.
For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression:
We give thanks this day.
For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared:
We give thanks this day.
For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom:
We give thanks this day.
For human liberty and sacred rites; for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose:
We give thanks this day.
We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.
We give thanks this day.
– O. Eugene Pickett
Happy Thanksgiving, Ms. Grace and Ms. Hanen
Reminders
School hours 8:00am – 6:00pm
Health, Safety and Well Being
Calendar
- Nov. 21st – 25th – Thanksgiving Break
Preschool Weekly Update
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning.Play is really the work of childhood,” Fred Rogers, AKA Mr. Rogers
Our preschoolers have been working hard for an entire month! Wow! Ms. Whitney and I have seen so much growth, individually, as well as the whole class. With growth comes challenges for all of our preschoolers. This long weekend would be a great time to practice their potty skills as well as their lunchtime table manners.
This upcoming week we will be reviewing our letters, H, F and T. We will also be practice our mindfulness. Next week we will be concluding our monthly theme of “Friends and Feelings”.
Have a great weekend!
Blessings, Ms. Grace and Ms. Whitney
Reminders
School hours 8:00am – 6:00pm
All children must be fully potty trained.
Health, Safety and Well Being
2021-22 Covid Safety Plan (CSP)
Calendar
- Sept. 25th Fun Fair!!
- Sept. 29th Noon Dismissal- Teacher PD-Regular preschool hours
- Oct. 4th Blessing of the animals-Bring a picture of your pet to be blessed or stuffed animal
- Oct. 5th-8th Noon dismissal-Parent-Teacher Conference-preschool regular hours
- Oct. 11th NO SCHOOL-Indigenous Peoples Day
8th Grade Week of 11/30
Fifth Grade Week of January 7, 2020
Welcome back everyone!
I am happy to see the 5th graders. This week, information on the Oratorical Fest was sent home in the Family Folders. An email was also sent about donating to our Crab Feed. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Best,
Crystal Hewitt
What we are working on this week:
Math (Bridges)-
Unit 3 Module 3; Unit 3 Module 4
As our students are transitioning into “back to school” mode, we will review what we worked on before winter break. By midweek, we will transition into Module 4 of Unit 3
In Unit 3 Module 3: Students explore conversions within a given system of measurement and make metric conversions. Additionally, students continue their work adding and subtracting decimals in a vertical format and solving story problems that involve decimal amounts.
In Unit 3 Module 4: Students continue to investigate the area model for division (where they left off at the end of Unit 1). They will begin by using base ten area pieces to model and solve division problems, then move to using labeled sketches. At the end of this module, students will take the Unit 3 Post-Assessment
Homework:
Monday- Decimal Practice Review
Tuesday- Student Book page 97
Wednesday- Student Book page 104
Thursday- Student Book page 105
ELA (Journeys)-
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Everglades Forever
We are reading the novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe together as a class
Everglades Forever is lesson 8 of our Journey’s Unit. We will:
- Think through the text, determine the author’s purpose, explain scientific ideas, and practice domain specific vocabulary. Additionally, we will work on informative writing with a cause and effect essay.
Science (Mystery Science)-
Mystery: When you turn on a faucet, where does the water come from (Water As a Natural Resource)?
Religion-
Chapter 4: Great is the Lord
Goal: To explore the attributes of God that reveal to us who God is
Social Studies-
- American Indians and Their Land
Description: In a Visual Discovery activity, students work in pairs, using maps and photographs to trace migration routes of the first Americans and to summarize how these groups adapted to different environments.
Essential Question: How did American Indians adapt to different environments in North America?
Important Dates:
● January 13: Free dress Jan birthdays
● January 13: School Board 6:30-8:30
● January 17: Elementary Staff Day – School closed
● January 20: Holiday – Martin Luther King day
● January 21: Oratorical Auditions complete
● January 26: Mass + Open House * 9-12
● January 26-31: Catholic Schools Week
● January 31: Noon Dismissal; Faculty brunch 10:30-11:30