Dear Parents,
As we wrap up the first month of school, I am reminded of our KEY “Knowledge feeds GROWTH.” This was a time when we adjusted to different environments (such as different classrooms), got to know teachers and classmates, and learned how to collaborate with others. Think about how your child has grown so far (academically, socially, spiritually) since the first day of school. The knowledge they have gained will help to feed their mind and spirit, but they should not stop there. We’ve only just begun! Together, let us guide them to use that knowledge to take action to better themselves, to positively guide others, and to improve their communities. And when they take action, they can understand that “Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage”—another one of our KEYS! Together, let’s keep our growth mindset going strong as this first month of school draws to a close.
Also, congratulations to the September Students of the Month! They are inspiring examples of living out the St. Peter’s KEYS!
--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez
FAMILY INCOME SURVEY
We are still collecting Family Income Surveys (on PINK paper). If you’ve received a 2nd notice to turn it in, please do so as soon as possible, as these surveys help our school receive extra services. Thank you for your cooperation!
ST. PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS
We are currently taking orders and payments for the gray AZTECS sweats. This is the only time of the year that these sweats will be sold, and the last day to submit your order form and payment is October 2. Don’t miss out!
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
The movie Aladdin will be shown on the St. Peter’s schoolyard on the evening of Friday, October 4. Ticket and dinner pre-order forms for this movie night have been sent home, along with volunteer and donation forms. Make sure you place your pre-order so you and your family can join in on the fun!
BAPTISM
If your child has not received the sacrament of Baptism and you would like him/her to be baptized, please contact the school office.
APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS
If you’d like to meet with your child’s teacher, please make an appointment. The time before the first bell rings is time that each teacher needs to prepare the lessons for the day. Please message your child’s teacher via Class Dojo, email, or a message in the office if you’d like to schedule a meeting so that he/she may plan accordingly.
SEPTEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Homeroom teachers identify Students of the Month at the end of each month. We celebrate these students because they have exemplified living the St. Peter’s KEYS:
Knowledge feeds GROWTH.
Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.
You are LOVE.
SERVICE UNITES.
KINDER - Rene “RJ” Rangel is always ready to learn and happily sets a positive example for others! RJ went above and beyond to complete the Summer Learning Challenge just proving that all accomplishments need courage. He is truly embracing Kindergarten with an open heart and open mind!
1A - Xitlali Cortes is a student who is always trying her best and is eager to learn and grow. She is kind and shows love to all those around her and is always quick to help a friend in need. For these reasons Xitlali is our first student of the month!
2A - Emily Gonzalez-Cabrera is second grade's student of the month for September. From day one, she's been working to grow her brain and learn new things. Emily works hard and always tries her best! We're off to a great start with Emily leading the way!
3A – Milena Arevalo Zelayandia is a very focused student. Although school has just begun, Milena has come to school each day ready to listen, ask questions, and work hard. Her behavior is a positive model for all of us. She doesn't participate in chatter at her table when she’s working and concentrating. She helps her other table members when needed and completes her assignments neatly. You are a great third grader--keep it up!
4A – Julissa Cabrera has started off the school year strong. She challenges herself to have an open mind by using her critical thinking skills and comprehension skills. She is a bucket filler, focusing on using kind words when speaking to classmates and uniting our class in different activities. She uses her knowledge to make our classroom a better place! Congratulations, Julissa!
5A - Izabella Valdovinos has started off the school year by embracing new experiences and taking on challenges with an open heart and an open mind. Her hard work, compassion, and enthusiasm for learning makes our classroom a better place every day. Bella, keep up the good work!
6A - Nicholas Aragon has started his 6th grade year by showing that he has the KEYS to accomplish and love! Nicholas has been a very enthusiastic student and has asked questions in class to show his passion for learning more! Nicholas also lived out the LOVE Student Learning Expectation (SLE) in his first coding elective where he was a great support to classmates that needed help with the Google CS First Program. Great start to 6th grade, Nicholas!
7A - Aavey Carreto is a wonderful example of Growth Mindset. She continues to focus on learning more and doing better than before. She faces new challenges with positivity and sees them as opportunities to grow. She lives out love daily through her service to friends, family, and our St. Peter's community. Her patience, caring, and empathy unites our class and we're grateful for her!
8A – Achella Ramirez has continued to GROW by embracing new experiences with an open mind and open heart, especially now as an 8th grader. She has exhibited what it means to be a leader in the classroom, as our Student Council Vice President and our overall St. Peter's community. She also demonstrates LOVE by her positive demeanor and the choices she makes for others, but more importantly for herself. Achella generously offers assistance whenever necessary and willingly gets out of her comfort zone. She is a great, first example of someone who is living out the KEYS!
IN THE CLASSROOM
Kinder – I love seeing all the smiling faces in the morning! And I hope the Kindergarteners can keep up their smiles all day long! I know it is a difficult adjustment. Each passing day should get easier as they build their stamina. A good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast can help a lot! Thank you so much!
1A – This week, we are beginning with our First Grade English Language Arts (ELA) program. Please help your child practice writing their spelling words and reading their sight words on the front of their homework packet. In religion, we are practicing mass responses. In social studies, we are continuing to discuss the qualities that make up a good citizen. In math, we are continuing to focus on making number bonds to help us with our addition.
2A – We're reading “Lola and Tiva” this week (a non-fiction story), and we’ll continue working on subtracting within 100. We'll attend mass, work on mass responses, and receive a blessing.
3A – This week, 3A continues to focus on traditional prayers such as The Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Grace Before Meals. Written assessments will be during the next two weeks. In Language Arts class, we are working on our review of initial, medial and final consonant sounds. We are beginning a program called Second Step. There are several important steps that we will learn to better prepare us to be mindful of the way we treat all people. A few of these steps are: 1. Use respectful words; 2. Face the person you're talking to; 3. Focus on the speaker; 4. Wait your turn to speak. There are many other tips that the students will learn as we move forward and practice strategies in class.
4A – This week, we will focus on the Corporal Works of Mercy as well as continue to review the Mass Parts. Our corporal works of Mercy will help us become closer to Christ. In Reading, we will identify story elements through the great novel Because of Winn-Dixie. In Math, we will review our Place Value Unit as we have our first Math test on Thursday. For our next unit, we will begin to use Eureka Math--our new Math curriculum! In Social Studies, we will begin to use our California Native Peoples and Missions online program. We will focus on the different geographical regions of California. In Science, we will begin our exploration of rocks. Thank you for all your support!
5A –This week, 5th grade will kick off this year's 30 Book Challenge! We're going to set ambitious goals that will help us grow as readers this year. We're focusing on decimal place values and exponential form in math. As always, check Class Dojo for photos and daily updates.
6A Religion – Students will continue in the Spirit of Mercy Day by journaling about Works of Mercy that they have lived out or witnessed in their lives. 6th Grade will also have their second Building Bridges session with Paula Pardini. Language Arts – Students will continue their exploration of short story elements by looking at ways authors use direct and indirect characterization. This is a great way for students to practice their inference skills while reading and also their writing skills, by creating original, well-rounded characters. We'll be reading the short story "Miss Awful" while annotating the text in search of characterization strategies. Math – Hello families! 6th grade students will be discovering what makes a ratio equivalent. If you enjoy cooking, please cook with your child and double or triple a recipe together to reinforce the idea creating equivalent ratios. Social Studies – Students are practicing their primary source analysis by looking at objects made by their peers, making observations, and asking questions. Science – This week we will learn the difference between weather and climate, we will record the weather every day we meet, and we will find patterns by comparing the weather we have recorded. We will begin preparing for working in the lab as scientists.
7A Religion - Students will be visited by Paula Pardini for their first session of Building Bridges this year. 7th grade is also continuing with our new Social Emotional Learning Program: Second Step. Language Arts - Students are finalizing their Short Story Narrative this week! They have also begun the introduction of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. In doing so, students will gain a better understanding of the novel's overall content. Math – Hello families! 7th grade students will be determining if tables and graphs are proportional or non-proportional. Social Studies – Students will begin to compare and contrast Christianity to Islam after learning about beliefs and traditions of the Islamic Religion. Science - Students are breaking down the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. They are paying special attention to reactants and products in the processes and highlighting the complementary relationship between the processes.
8A 8th Grade Reminder: Please do not forget about our Mandatory 8th Grade Parent Meeting, this Thursday, September 26 at either 7:15 am OR 6:00 pm. We will be discussing the High School Application Process, Retreat, Confirmation and Graduation.
Religion – Students will continue to detail the root of the word “Catholic” and note what Pope Francis wants for the future church. They will also be able to identify and explain disagreements that arose in the early Church and how these have affected Catholic’s beliefs today. Language Arts - As students wrapped up their writing on their personal narrative, they are introduced to a series of pre-reading activities based on Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine this week. They will comprehend the themes and make use of characterization through their Character Study Notebook. Math – Hello families! 8th grade will be learning more about exponents and what it means to have an exponent that is zero. Social Studies – Students are continuing their Family Interview Project and practicing their interview skills. After their interviews, they will reflect on their family values and compare their family values to the five core values of St. Peter's School. Science - Students are making note of the discoveries made in atomic theory and are now focusing on the structure of the atom.
REMINDERS:
Sept. 25 First Communion Parent Meeting, 5:45 PM in Church
Sept. 26 8th grade Parent Meeting, 7:15 AM or 6:00 PM in the Faculty Meeting Room
Sept. 26 Community Builders Parent Meeting, 5:45 PM in the Elementary Science Lab
Sept. 30 NO SCHOOL; WCEA Accreditation Teacher In-Service
Oct. 2 Payments and Orders due for gray AZTEC sweats
Oct. 2 6th Grade Caritas Creek Parent Preview Meeting, 6:00 PM in the Faculty Meeting Room
Oct. 3 LifeTouch School Picture Day
Oct. 4 Aladdin Family Movie Night, 6:00 PM on the Schoolyard
Oct. 8 4A Field Trip to Garden for the Environment
