Dear Parents,
I often comment to myself that there are not enough hours in the day to get through my to-do list. I imagine this is a common feeling among fellow parents—with all our work responsibilities, children’s activities, and other personal and family obligations. Now, especially as the holiday season approaches and as the amount of daylight lessens during the winter season, our to-do list might be getting longer yet with a more limited time-frame! But this reflection below (by Barbara Johnson from God Always Has a Plan B), could serve as a reminder to us to appreciate the present and all its challenges and celebrations, and keep learning, growing, and moving forward!
“What about those of us who’d like to turn back the clock? Sure, we’d like to be younger and stronger again. More resilient. But remember Isaiah? He said to let the past lie. Look ahead. Someone has said, ‘Don’t look back. You’re not going that way.’ It is never too late to spend time on the important things. This minute is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.”
Let us all be thankful for all our blessings, especially those that are disguised as challenges. Those are opportunities for us to GROW!
--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez
APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping your Parent-Teacher Conference appointments last week! These conferences are very important so that you can learn more about your child’s progress and ways to work with teachers to support your child’s growth in different areas. Moving forward, feel free to make appointments with teachers when you have a question or concern. Please avoid last-minute morning meeting with teachers, as teachers use this morning time to prepare their materials for the day so that they can best meet your child’s needs. If you would like a morning meeting, notify the teacher ahead of time by email or ClassDojo, or by calling the office a day in advance. We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
The next Family Movie Night (Toy Story 4) is this Friday, November 15, in the gym. Snacks will also be on sale on movie night, and if students attend in pajamas, they can earn a UNITE Key! Tickets are LIMITED. Purchase your tickets early before they sell out!
SUNDAY 11:00 A.M. MASS
Do you attend the 11:00 Mass at St. Peter’s Church? After this mass, we need a few Spanish-speaking school representatives for a brief time (about 20 minutes) to help our school. If you are interested in helping or for more information, please contact the school office.
IN THE CLASSROOM
KINDER - The holidays are coming upon us fast! Our days will be very busy and please pay close attention to anything coming home. And hopefully our little Buzzing Elves will have some magic up their sleeves!
1A - This week in Language Arts, we are focusing on the main topic and key details of the stories that we are reading. In religion, we are learning the Gloria. In math, we are working on related subtraction facts. In social studies, we are continuing to learn about different occupations. In science, we are learning about where animals live together.
2A - We're finishing up our poetry unit and talking about gravity with the story “I Fall Down!” We are measuring everything we can find at home and at school with centimeters and meters. We will continue to pray for others.
3A – 3A students have completed their Family Turkey Project. They are all very bright, colorful, and quite creative. Stop by the classroom to view and enjoy them. In Math, we have completed our comprehensive review and are moving forward with the 3rd grade curriculum. The individualized basic fact tests that we take daily are providing needed practice to refresh and deepen our knowledge of these facts. Several third graders have mastered addition and subtraction basic facts and are well into the multiplication drills. The students that study REGULARLY and get practice and help at home are moving much faster. Keep it up parents, you're doing a fine job!
4A - As we continue our month of November, we thank God for all things He has blessed us with. In Religion, we will focus on a Thanksgiving project as well as continue to learn about the Saints. In Reading, we will focus on the comprehension skill cause-and-effect as well as the strategy of back-up and re-reading. We will use "How Tia Lola Came to Visit Stay" as our guiding story. In Math, we will continue to work on rounding using vertical number lines. In Social Studies, we will complete our four regions of California project in-class and in Science, we will begin to examine of weathering impacts our landforms.
5A - Thank you for taking the time to come in for conferences last week! It was wonderful to see you all in person. This week, 5th graders are focusing on multiplying decimals in math and differentiating between the main idea and details in reading. As always, check Class Dojo for photos and more updates.
6A Religion – This week, 6th graders led the Veterans Day mass and made cards to be delivered to the Veterans Hospital in San Francisco. Language Arts – We'll finish our study on theme by reading the science fiction classic "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury. We'll continue to identify evidence from the text to support the themes we come up with. Math – Students will be finding ratios associated with rates and working with rate problems. All students have an opportunity to correct graded tests if they received a C or lower on a test. These corrections are due Thursday, November 14th and students must explain with sentences of what their mistake was and how to fix it. Social Studies – Students are continuing to practice their outlining skills with lessons about Life in Ancient Egypt. Science –Scientists will receive their graded Air and Atmosphere test back on Tuesday. We will carry out an experiment this week.
7A Religion - 7th graders will be visited by Paula Pardini for their fourth Building Bridges session. Language Arts - Students will wrap up their Enrichment Projects this week. Students will also begin their introduction to Drama with review of specific terms, dramatic opposites, and the element of acting with improv games! Math – Students will be working with complex fractions and converting decimals to fractions. All students have an opportunity to correct graded tests if they received a C or lower on a test. These corrections are due Thursday, November 14th and students must explain with sentences of what their mistake was and how to fix it. Social Studies– Students are viewing a film: Unbroken, to learn about experiences of some soldiers during World War II. They will write an essay response about the character strengths that Louie Zamporini showed in the film. Science - Students begin to define what it means to be alive in order to take a deeper look at those living things.
8A Religion – Students will conclude their examination of the Pentecost. They will further their understanding of the Apostles' role in the early Church through research of a given Apostle. Language Arts - Students have successfully completed their MockingbirdDebate! They will continue to work, individually, on their Woodworking Project, due on Friday, November 22. Students are also continuing to prepare for their High School Entrance exams with lessons centered on vocabulary and grammar. Math – Students will be putting numbers into scientific notation form and using operations with scientific notation. All students have an opportunity to correct graded tests if they received a C or lower on a test. These corrections are due Thursday, November 14th and students must explain with sentences of what their mistake was and how to fix it. Social Studies – Students are answering the question: What does liberty mean to me? Science - Students begin their conversation about the law of conservation of mass as they begin to prepare for their first project: The rocket project!
REMINDERS
Nov. 13-15 STAR Testing continues
Nov. 13 LifeTouch Picture Retake Day
Nov. 15 6:30 PM, Family Movie Night
Nov. 19 8:10 AM School Mass
Nov. 21 5A Field Trip to Academy of Sciences
Nov. 22 End of Trimester 1
Nov. 25 12:30 Dismissal
Nov. 26 8:10 AM School Mass
Nov. 27-29 No School, Thanksgiving Break
