QUE PASA 12/13/17--ENGLISH

Dear Parents,

       I share this prayer (written by Christine Sine) with you all:

The coming of our Lord is near,
And we wait in joyful expectation.
Draw close, Lord Jesus Christ,
Shed your light on all that is filled with darkness.
The coming of our Lord is near,
And we wait with hope filled hearts.
Draw close, God’s beloved son,
Teach us the wonder of your all-embracing love.   AMEN.

       During this Advent, I keep the entire St. Peter’s School family in my prayers--I am grateful to be a part of this loving community.  I pray that everyone has a safe and relaxing winter break.  Have a joyous Christmas and a happy new year!  See you in 2018!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

7th GRADE CARITAS CAMP

Next Spring, our 7th graders will be attending Caritas Creek Environmental Education Program and retreat at CYO camp.  To help these students raise funds for their trip, visit their GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/send-mission-kids-to-env-camp) and make a donation, or submit a cash or check donation at the school office.  Any amount would help, and please share the GoFundMe page with your family and friends!

HOLIDAY CHEER GEAR

Student Council wants you to spread Christmas cheer with your best holiday gear!  On Thursday, December 14, get in the spirit and come dressed in: Red and/or Green, Santa Hats, or Christmas sweaters!  (If you choose not to participate, come to school in your uniform.)

BVCC AND COMPUTER LAB ON DEC. 15

Friday, December 15 is a 12:30 dismissal day.  BVCC After School Program will be open from 12:30 – 6:00 PM.  However, the Computer lab will NOT be open on that day.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

We depend on parent volunteer support throughout the school year! Some upcoming events include our FAMILY DANCE and CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK FAMILY MASS RECEPTION.  If you would like to help plan future events and fundraisers, or would like to join one of our parent groups, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave your name and number at the office.

DECEMBER 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 - Our student of the month is Aaron Mendoza. Aaron is kind, patient and is always ready to learn. He strives to do his best in all areas and takes feedback positively. He is respectful to others and is committed to follow St. Peter's key values. For all these reasons, It's a pleasure to announce Aaron as our student of the month for December.

1A - Antonio Robelo Hernandez is a very kind student who is always looking out for his peers and is always offering to share whatever he has with those around him. He is an extremely hard worker and never shies away from a challenge. Because he always tries his best, he has learnt and grown so much so far this year. For these reasons, I am happy to announce that Antonio is first grade's student of the month!

2A - Annarelly Contreras is the 2nd grade Student of the Month. Annarelly is always listening, watching, and paying attention. She works diligently and tries her best in every subject.

3A – Jaykob Offril is the December Student of the Month. Jaykob is a very focused 3rd grader who is neat, efficient and timely.  He is the first to volunteer as a teacher helper and does any chore or job completely.  He is a good friend to his classmates and shows LOVE to all of us.  He is a unifying force so UNITY is very important to Jaykob.  

4A - The 4A Student of the Month is Jayden Grajeda.  Jayden has been a shining of example of a student who lives out our KEYS.  He is excelling in class and is always kind and respectful.

5A – Guadalupe Gonzalez-Cabrera puts in a full effort on everything she does. She lives out the St. Peter's KEYS constantly, asking questions and working hard to grow and accomplish new skills. Guadalupe is also always compassionate to her classmates and eager to serve others.  

6A - Carlos Hernandez is our student of the month.  This is Carlos' first year at St Peter's but he has been ready to meet the expectations of Middle School since the first day of the year.  He is always prepared for the school day, ready to participate, and offering to support his peers.  Carlos has brought much kindness and joy into the 6A classroom and we are happy to have him as a member of our classroom community!

7A - Rony Umana has accomplished a lot recently, and has really been a model of good leadership and responsibility.  He has shown care, kindness and has also demonstrated some great academic growth in the classroom. Keep up the great work Rony!

7B - Priscilla Guerrero shows love in so many ways, from her kindness to teachers and staff, to her generosity of spirit with friends, to her compassion for the younger students who look up to her. Priscilla is one of the reasons why St. Peter's is more than just a school; it's a family. Her positivity, warmth, and thoughtfulness truly shows that St. Peter's students "Are Love!"

8A - Christian Ramirez shows knowledge feeds growth as he transitions from 8th grade to high school. He enthusiastically applies himself to the task at hand, asks questions and constantly seeks advice to better his future. He also shows love for his community as a classmate and as a tour guide to highlight the awesomeness that is St. Peter's!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Parents, I want to wish you all a very Happy Christmas! May you have a wonderful Christmas this year filled with love and joy. This week, your child will be reading "Roadwork" and talk about people that help improve their communities. We will make a plan for ways we can help our community such as picking up trash, recycling, help sick animals, or help plant crops and flowers. We will also have a discussion about Christmas--that we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas and that it's not only about receiving presents but giving and helping those in needs. In Math, students will make a holiday calendar to countdown to Christmas and the New Year.

1A - This week in first grade we will be taking a trip around the world to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in different countries. In religion we are continuing our Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar in preparation for the birth of Jesus. In math we will be reviewing our units on subtraction and data and graphing. We are also preparing and practicing for our singing of ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ with the 8th grade at Friday’s prayer service at 9:00am. Please come join us if you can. :)

2A - Second grade will be reading stories about the many ways that deaf people enjoy music.  We will subtract two digit numbers; prepare for Jesus' birth during the season of Advent; learn the Act of Contrition; label the map of North America; and separate particles using screens.

3A – As 3A prepares for Christmas, we are completing our paper mache Santa ornaments and making our classroom ready for our Christmas party. We will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday at 8:30 since it was cancelled last week. In Reading class we'll be completing our 1st chapter book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. In Science, we continue to watch as our bean plants grow. Finally, in Math class we've completed our unit on money.  We wish a blessed Christmas and a happy new year to all our parents.

4A - This week 4A students will learn how Jesus taught us to pray, recognize and compound predicates in sentences, and multiply 3-digit numbers by 1-digit multipliers with and without regrouping. 

5A - 5th graders will be discussing the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe using Tomie DePaola's book. We will diagram the plot of this story and write our own summaries of it. We will also wrap up the second unit of our math textbook with an assessment.

6A  Religion – 6th grade will be visited by Paula Pardini to continue with their Building Bridges Program.  6th Grade Homeroom is practicing their song for Friday's performance! Come watch us sing “Mele Kalikimaka” - we wish you all a warm, safe, and very Merry Christmas break!  Language Arts – 6th Grade ELA is nearing the conclusion of our first novel Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry, and we are excited to find out what will be the consequences of TJ's reckless actions. Will the Logans be able to find justice in the Jim Crow South? Will they be able to keep the land that means so much to them? As we discover these answers, we'll continue to find evidence to support the themes we've brainstormed.  Math - We have started our investigation on Rational numbers - how is a number bigger than or smaller than 1 represented and what stories can they tell us. Science - This week, students will be exploring the effect of temperature on density of water in an investigation on convection.

7A/7B   Religion - We are wrapping up our morality unit by  making Morality posters to represent how we can make the right decisions to help those around us, be good role models and atone for the times when we choose the wrong path.  Language Arts - Students have wrapped up their reading on A Christmas Carol. They will participate in a Change of Heart Activity, focusing on Scrooge’ s BEFORE and AFTER character transformation. Through this, they will be able to identify how and why he leads to a "change of heart". Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Math - Ratios and proportions have led us into a greater, more in-depth investigation of rational numbers, and comparisons.  They are putting together their new proportional knowledge with equation skills.  Last week, they got their careers, now they will start to do their 2 city financial analysis.  This is the beginning of their Math in our Lives 2-year journey.    Social Studies – This is an exciting week as we wrap up 2017.  7th Grade Social Studies will be finishing their Japan Unit.  Science - Students have now wrapped up their studies into how cells reproduce and now it is time to begin our investigations as to how our bodies use our organs to maintain homeostasis.

8A   Religion –8th grade homeroom will be visited by Paula Pardini to continue with their Building Bridges Program. Language Arts - Students have finalized their reading on Night. They will create a culminating Tear Art Visual to represent their feelings and reactions to an event in the novel. In doing so, they will be able to illustrate how mood and symbolism can convey a message to the reader. More importantly, students will be able to highlight the devastation in which the main character and other Jewish prisoners endured, while capturing the human emotion that is so vivid in the novel. Have a very Merry Christmas! See you in 2018, class of 2018!  Math - To accent Equations and Inequalities, as well as review Ratios and proportions and prepare for the HSPT's, they are now getting underway with their small business ownership project, where they will open a business, and determine if it will be profitable or not, based on location and cost vs. expenses.  After Christmas they will be presenting to a board of business owners in our local community.   Social Studies – 8th grade will be playing Branches of Government Board Games that they have created as study tools.  Science - Students continue to research chemical reactions as we prepare to introduce our first big project of the year.

REMINDERS

Dec. 14             Holiday Cheer Themed Dress-up Day

Dec. 15             9:00 AM Christmas Prayer Service and Program

Dec. 15             12:30 Dismissal

Dec. 18-Jan. 1   Christmas Vacation

Jan. 2                 Classes resume

QUE PASA 12/6/2017--ENGLISH

Dear Parents,

      In the next few days, we will celebrate two feasts of Mary: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12.  It’s very appropriate that we celebrate Mary during the season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, because without Mary, and without her faith, strength, and love, we wouldn’t have Jesus.  After all, Jesus is the reason for the season.

      Pope Francis wrote an Advent reflection a few years ago that reminds us of how Mary is a role model for us today.  Mary also reminds me of our Sisters of Mercy, past and present--like Sr. Marian Rose, Sr. Lucy, Sr. Paulina, and Sr. Toni Lynn--who answered the call of Mercy at St. Peter’s.  As Pope Francis describes, Mary is a loving mother who inspires us all to put God first in our lives.  Here’s a part of what Pope Francis wrote:

“We bet on hope, on the hope of peace, and it will be possible! The journey is never finished. Just as in each of our own lives, there is always a need to restart and to rise again. Mary is a model of this spiritual attitude, to this way of being and of journeying in life. Although she was just a simple girl, she carried in her heart the hope of God.  In her womb, the hope of God took flesh, became man, and made history: Jesus Christ.  Let us be guided by her, she who is mother, she is a ‘mama’ and knows how to lead us. Let us be guided by her in this time of waiting.”

      So let’s remember Mary, during Advent and every day, and how she is a role model for us to have courage, to put God first in our lives, and to have open hearts and open minds.  And when we do that, GREAT things can happen!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

NO SWEATS THIS FRIDAY

Since we will be attending school Mass this Friday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, all children must be in complete uniform, and not in the gray school sweats.

7th GRADE CARITAS CAMP

Next Spring, our 7th graders will be attending Caritas Creek Environmental Education Program and retreat at CYO camp.  To help these students raise funds for their trip, visit their GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/send-mission-kids-to-env-camp) and make a donation, or submit a cash or check donation at the school office.  Any amount would help, and please share the GoFundMe page with your family and friends!

PROGRESS REPORTS AND SPORTS PROBATION FOR STUDENT ATHLETES

Today, Progress Reports are being sent home for students who are receiving a C- or below or an “N” in a subject, or a 2- or below in Behavior or Learning Skills.  If your child currently plays on a boys’ basketball or girls’ soccer team for St. Peter’s, you may receive a Sports Probation notice if your child has below a C- average or a 3 or 4 in Behavior or Learning Skills.  This means that your child may not fully participate with their team sport until they are cleared by their teacher.  The teachers want to help students grow and accomplish here at school, so please check in with your child to see if he/she received either of these notices today. Signed progress reports are due by this Friday, December 8.

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

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 by calling the office a day in advance.  We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

BVCC AND COMPUTER LAB ON DEC. 15

Friday, December 15 is a 12:30 dismissal day.  BVCC After School Program will be open from 12:30 – 6:00 PM.  However, the Computer lab will NOT be open on that day.

BVCC WINTER CAMP

If you would like your child to participate in the BVCC Winter Camp (December 18-29; Closed on December 25), you can fill out and return a registration form which is available in the school office and in the Parish Hall with the BVCC After School Program.  

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week we will have a discussion about people or places in our neighborhood. We will use our senses to help us describe our neighborhood with words. We will also talk about our favorite restaurant in our neighborhood and describe our favorite food. Then students will make a menu. They will work in pairs to make a menu that names their favorite food or drink. Also, we will be reading "Cultural Festival" and share any festivals or holidays that we celebrate with our family.

1A - This week in first grade we are reading and discussing the ways that we get around. In religion we are learning about Advent and preparing for the arrival of Jesus. In math we are continuing our unit on data and graphing. In science we are continuing to be meteorologists and observing and recording the weather. In social studies we are learning about the natural resources that we use.

2A - Second grade will be reading stories about weather.  Students will continue adding two digit numbers; prepare for Jesus’ birth during the season of Advent; learn the Act of Contrition; construct timelines of their lives (birthdays and important events); and separate a soup mix.

3A – This week, as we begin Advent, the 3rd graders will be very active in Religion class. The class is responsible for the Immaculate Conception Mass for the school on December 8th. Please join us if you can. We will also receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week. At home, with the help of our families, we will be making an Advent banner. We will decorate our classroom Advent wreath with our handprints, and list the ways we can prepare for Jesus' birth and welcoming Him into our hearts. In Science class, we are watching our bean plants grow, as we make sure that they have everything they need-- soil, water, and sunlight. In Social Studies, we are studying the Maidu tribe of California Native Americans.

4A - This week 4A students will continue to understand story characters' behavior and relationships. They will also multiply 2-digit numbers by 1-digit multipliers with regrouping and identify California's first inhabitants.

5A - 5th graders will be practicing their reading comprehension skills to analyze Christmas stories from around the world during the next two weeks. We will also be making Advent wreaths, preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation, and discussing good scientific practices this week.

6A  Religion – 6th Grade will be preparing for Reconciliation (December 6th) and practicing to lead the December 12th Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Come see the reenactment of Our Lady's revealing to St. Juan Diego!   Language Arts – The tension in our novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is building, as we continue to follow our protagonist, Cassie, as she discovers the injustices facing African Americans in the South. We will also be delving into informational text to supplement our knowledge of Black History and the Civil Rights Movement.  Math – Students have been working on integers and Mean, Median and Mode. This week will find them starting their adventure with those rational numbers we like to call fractions.  Social Studies – 6th Grade will be finalizing their Egypt Unit with a Test on Vocabulary and Egypt Essay Questions.  Science - 6th grade scientists are working hard to master the equations for calculating mass, volume, and density. They'll have the opportunity to show what they've learned so far on a quiz this Thursday.

7A/7B   Religion - Doing the right thing can be tough, especially when you are uncertain what the right thing is. We have been learning about our conscience and making good decisions.  Now we take it a step further, just as Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, we find ourselves facing temptation every day. Jesus resisted so he could carry out his mission as our savior, and we must follow that same path this advent season. As we look outward to support those in need, we must also learn how to resist the selfishness and materialism that is always knocking at the door.  Language Arts - Students are continuing to read A Christmas Carol focusing on characterization and point-of-view. They are rapidly realizing Scrooge's transformation from a selfish, greedy businessman to a generous, kind-hearted human being.  Math - 7th graders have wrapped up their equation unit, and are now applying those new skills with ratios, Unit Rates and proportions, with a bit of inequalities for added adventure. Coming soon – The 7th Grade Career Project.  Social Studies – 7th Grade is learning about the development of Japan's Medieval military society as well as the social classes of Japan.  Science - Students are showing what they know about the process of meiosis as we prepare to delve into genetics!

8A   Religion – 8th Grade will have Reconciliation on Tuesday December 5th and will be learning about the Church season of Advent.  Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Night. They have focused on answering what it means to be a bystander or an upstander. How many are willing to stand up to cruelty, during the Holocaust and even in modern times?   Math - Exciting times as we start the business ownership project that will accent, acknowledge, and assess our unit on Equations, as well as lead us into inequalities, graphs and functions.  Social Studies – Students will be researching an Executive Branch Department and a Supreme Court Case as they move through their Constitution Unit.   Science - Students now know why certain atoms combine, but why would two compounds ever react? We look at chemical reactions next!

REMINDERS

Dec. 7               8:30 AM Advent Reconciliation,

                              Grades 3-4

Dec. 8               9:30 AM School Mass – Feast of the

                               Immaculate Conception

Dec. 12             9:30 AM School Mass – Feast of Our

                               Lady of Guadalupe

Dec. 15             9:00 AM Christmas Prayer Service and

                               Program

Dec. 15             12:30 Dismissal

Dec. 18-Jan. 1   Christmas Vacation

Jan. 2                 Classes resume

QUE PASA 11/29/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

      December is almost here--the last month of 2017!  Even though we’re near the end of the year, this Sunday marks the beginning of a church season—ADVENT.  Advent is a time of preparation for Jesus’ birth.  

      The teachers and I will be teaching the students about Advent, and how our preparations could include special acts—such as saying extra prayers, reading the bible, attending an additional Mass, giving to the school’s weekly Missions collection, or doing extra good deeds—because doing those special acts will make more room in our hearts for Jesus.  Some classes are following an Advent calendar or constructing Advent wreaths, yet some classes might also be planning special service projects to help those in need.  Whatever your child and your family do during Advent, remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.   The children have heard this at school, but continue this lesson at home.  Let’s all be examples of open hearts and open minds, and know that we wouldn’t be celebrating if it wasn’t for our savior, Jesus Christ.    

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

7th GRADE CARITAS CAMP

Next Spring, our 7th graders will be attending Caritas Creek Environmental Education Program and retreat at CYO camp.  To help these students raise funds for their trip, visit their GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/send-mission-kids-to-env-camp) and make a donation, or submit a cash or check donation at the school office.  Any amount would help, and please share the GoFundMe page with your family and friends!

UNIFORM CHECK-IN

As the weather gets colder and you bundle up your child, please ensure that he/she follows uniform policy as posted by the school office and stated in the school handbook.  All undershirts, including long-sleeve undershirts, should be white.  If your daughter wears tights, they should be solid black or white and extend to the ankle.  Socks must be black or white.  Boots may not be worn.

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

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 by calling the office a day in advance.  We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

BVCC WINTER CAMP

If you would like your child to participate in the BVCC Winter Camp (December 18-29; Closed on December 25), you can fill out and return a registration form which is available in the school office and in the Parish Hall with the BVCC After School Program. 

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving filled with love. This week in KA, we will be exploring and brainstorming the different jobs that people do. We will be reading "Whose Shoes?" by Stephen R. Swinburne and have a discussion on what tools people use on their job. Then students will work in pairs to make a poster about a job and the tools needed for that job. It will be a fun week learning about the jobs people do in schools, stores, hospitals, library, etc. We will have visitors coming in to talk about their jobs and answer questions from students.

1A - This week in first grade we are reading and discussing how people help out in the community. In religion we are discussing how God wants us to love him and others. In math we are beginning our unit on data and graphing. In science we are observing weather and record findings using weather calendars. In social studies we are learning how to identify the different physical features of our state. We are reading a biography of John Muir and discussing the features of Yosemite.

2A - Second grade will read stories and learn about the author's purpose for writing a story; add and subtract 2-digit numbers; constructing timelines of their lives, and sorting bits and pieces in science.  Advent season begins as we prepare for Jesus' birth.

3A – This week in 3A we will be reading about Thomas Alva Edison, the American inventor who was issued over 1,000 patents and invented many items that changed our world.  In math class we continue to practice with money and how to make change.  In science, we will be going to the science lab to plant beans and study how they grow and most especially what they need to grow.  Thank you to all of the parents who helped their son/daughter with their very informative Saint posters. Great effort was shown and helped the students ACCOMPLISH their goals for Religion Class in November. 

5A - This week, 5th graders are beginning to work on their book talks they will present to the class. We'll also be discussing how to compare and contrast characters in both social studies and English language arts. In math, 5th graders will be learning about multiplication patterns that can make it easier to find the products of decimals and large numbers.

6A  Religion – Students will continue building their faith communities this week with a visit from Paula Pardini.  Language Arts – After a short break, 6th Grade ELA is excited to continue our novel, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. This week we will be exploring the development of the book's themes as well as practicing how to support claims using evidence from the text.  Math - 6th grade will be applying their new knowledge of integers to learning about mean, median and mode.  Social Studies – Students will continue to explore the life of Ancient Egyptians, and they will present their pharaoh research.  Science - 6th graders will practice finding the density of different liquids and applying this knowledge towards better understanding how weather patterns form.     

7A/7B   Religion - This week, we will be discussing the temptations of Jesus and how he was able to resist them, and how this relates to our lives now.  Language Arts - Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and filling Thanksgiving! Students are beginning to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. They are participating in small and whole group Reader's Theater to incorporate the element of drama. They are also taking a deeper look into the play's content with a variety of lesson extensions, starting with "Marley's Ghost."  Math - We are starting our unit on ratios, proportions, and percents.  We’ll begin with unit rates.  Social Studies – Students will begin studying Medieval Japan, starting with Japan's physical geography.   Science - Now that we are done with our conversation about how cells divide, now it's time to begin our conversation about meiosis!

8A   Religion – Students will continue building their faith communities this week with a visit from Paula Pardini. Language Arts - Welcome back! I hope everyone had a fun-filled Thanksgiving! Students are beginning to read Night by Elie Wiesel. They are also preparing Cornell Style Notes to record the novel's content and personal interpretations. They are continuing their HSPT preparation with a presentation of strategies, general hints, tips and advice to ensure success in January.   Math - 8th grade is working on equations with variables on both sides, and inequalities. This will include the first term project, “small business ownership.”   Social Studies – Students will look closely at the details of the remaining two branches of US government: Executive and Judicial.   Science - Students have finished their look into compounds and now it is time to begin to explore chemical reactions!

REMINDERS

Nov. 29     6:00 PM First Communion Parent Meeting in Church

Dec. 5       8:30 AM Advent Reconciliation, Grades 7-8

Dec. 6       Free Dress for No Tardies in November

Dec. 6       8:30 AM Advent Reconciliation, Grades 5-6

Dec. 7       8:30 AM Advent Reconciliation, Grades 3-4

Dec. 8       9:30 AM School Mass – Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Dec. 12      9:30 AM School Mass – Feast of Our Lady ofGuadalupe

QUE PASA 11/21/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

       As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I want to say Thank You for being part of the St. Peter’s School family!  I am proud to be part of our community as we continue to work together to teach our children to live our core values to grow, accomplish, love, serve, and unite.  I am grateful for your support towards this goal.

       While we are thankful for all our blessings—our families, friends, homes, and health, to name a few—let us also remember to pray for those who are in need.  Together, let us offer this prayer (written by “Anonymous”):

O Heavenly Father:
We thank You for food and remember the hungry.
We thank You for health and remember the sick.
We thank You for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank You for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service,
That Your gifts to us may be used for others.  AMEN.

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

UNIFORM CHECK-IN

As the weather gets colder and you bundle up your child, please ensure that he/she follows uniform policy as posted by the school office and stated in the school handbook.  All undershirts, including long-sleeve undershirts, should be white.  If your daughter wears tights, they should be solid black or white and extend to the ankle.  Socks must be black or white.  Boots may not be worn.

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

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 by calling the office a day in advance.  We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

We depend on parent volunteer support throughout the school year! Some upcoming events include our Christmas prayer service and reception and the school family dance.  If you would like to help plan future events and fundraisers, or would like to join one of our parent groups, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave your name and number at the office.

BVCC WINTER CAMP

If you would like your child to participate in the BVCC Winter Camp (December 18-29; Closed on December 25), you can fill out and return the registration form which was sent home last week.  Forms are also available in the school office and in the Parish Hall with the BVCC After School Program. 

NOVEMBER 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 - Rio Rangel comes to school every day with a smile on her face and ready to learn. She gives 100% effort on any given learning opportunity and is always willing to be helpful. Rio has demonstrated to be a leader in the class and is always striving to do her best in all subject areas. For these reasons, I am pleased to name Rio Rangel as November's student of the month.

1A - Veronica Juarez is a caring, thoughtful, and hardworking student. She takes pride in all her work and always loves a challenge. While she is always good about staying focused, she always makes time to help any friend in need. She is a great leader and for these reasons she is our first-grade student of the month.

2A - Our student of the Month is Isela Diaz. Isela is always working hard to learn new things, she readily helps others, and is a great leader.

3A – Ernesto Soto is a very focused student.  He works diligently on any and all assignments that he is given.  He is willing to help others both in the classroom and in the schoolyard.  Ernesto is very tidy and neat from his uniform to the cleanliness of his desk.  Being organized seems to always be a goal for him.   You show us how to ACCOMPLISH which is one of our "key" goals at St. Peter's.  WAY TO GO ERNESTO!

4A - Adan Navarro has been a shining example of a student who lives out our KEYS. He received 2nd Honors for the first quarter and is working on earning First Honors for the second quarter. He is off to a good start with a 90% on his last spelling test.

5A – Isaiah Dantzler has a genuine enthusiasm for learning that he has been sharing with the 5th grade class all year long. He truly exemplifies the St. Peter's Key of growth because he is always striving to increase his knowledge and accomplish more. Isaiah is also funny and has a generous heart!

6A - Achella Ramirez has been a total joy to have in the classroom this year. She is always very enthusiastic about learning and that excitement motivates her peers around her. She has been welcoming to all of her classmates and is helpful to teachers and students alike. Achella is a great example of a student with the KEYS to success!

7A - Delisa Aguilar has been working extremely hard in all of her academics, putting great care and determination in her work.  She has gone above and beyond to help those around her and constantly stays positive and brings a smile to our faces by having a great sense of humor.  Delisa had had an exceptional month and keeps getting better!

7B - Eduardo Olivera-Diaz. Aside from being a great friend to others, respectful, polite, and always positive, Eduardo continues to try and find new challenges. He's willing to get out of his comfort zone and take risks. He is consistently hard-working and focused on bettering himself academically.

8A - Anderson Ortiz has demonstrated what it means to love his community and live out service. He constantly helps whenever necessary as a student council rep, altar server and fellow classmate. He always does it with smile on his face and without hesitation!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Kindergarten will be reviewing initial and final sounds in single-syllables words. Also, we will learn how to write a descriptive sentence. In Math we will review addition and subtraction.

1A - This week in first grade we will be working on a reading unit focusing on the Thanksgiving story Turkey Trouble. In math we are continuing our work with word problems. In religion we are preparing for Thanksgiving by discussing the many things that we are grateful for. Thank you for all your help with homework thus far. I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

2A - Second grade will be reading stories and learning about the author's purpose for writing a story; telling time to the nearest five minutes (please keep practicing on an analog clock!); learning how to pray for the needs of others; constructing timelines of their lives (birthdays and important events); and sorting bits and pieces in science. See you all at the next First Communion meeting Wednesday, 11/29 at 6:00 p.m.

3A – In Social Studies and Religion, 3A is learning about the 1st Thanksgiving and how the early settlers and Native Americans worked together to help each other and ACCOMPLISH a friendly relationship in sharing our new country. In Math class, we continue to practice addition with regrouping in the 10's place. It is only a 2-day week due to our Thanksgiving break so there will be NO spelling test this week. We will continue with lesson 13 when we return to school on November 27th. We wish all of our St. Peter's families a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

4A - I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all 4A families.  We have much to be thankful for, and I pray that your time with your family is a blessed one.  This week 4A will recognize that our relationship with God is based on the first three Commandments, add and subtract whole numbers and money amounts to 5 digits, and recognize and use verbs in complete predicates. 

5A - 5th grade will be reviewing key grammar and math concepts this week, as well as discussing America's first European settlements and their connection to the first Thanksgiving in social studies.

6A  Religion – 6th Grade will be sharing why we are thankful for each one of our classmates.   Language Arts – We are continuing our reading of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, as we analyze the different character archetypes that are developing. We are also constructing our "books" and sharing the final drafts of the short stories the students have worked so hard on this quarter.  Math - 6th graders are learning the beauty of adding and subtracting negative and positive integers, then after the break will be moving on to Mean, Median, and Mode.  Social Studies – 6th Graders are completing their Pharaoh research projects.    

7A/7B   Religion - We continue our investigation of moral decision-making and our conscience as we prepare for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Language Arts - Students are wrapping up the introductory activities based on the play A Christmas Carol. They will begin reading when we return from break. Happy Thanksgiving to all!     Math - 7th graders are finishing up their unit on one-step and two-step Equations and will be starting Unit Rates and their Black Friday Project.  Social Studies – 7th Graders will be continuing with the government style in Medieval China and learning about the First Thanksgiving.   Science - Students are reviewing and showing just how much they know about mitosis!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders will be performing a puppet show for the 1st grade class about Thanksgiving.  Language Arts - Students have begun the preparation and research of the historical content on the novel, Night, World War II, The Holocaust. Through this, students will have a better understanding as they read. I hope all have a Happy Thanksgiving!   Math - 8th graders are finishing up their unit on equations. Following close behind is inequalities.  They will be using both of those skills to work on their upcoming project: Small Business Ownership.   Social Studies – We will be exploring the role of the legislative branch.  Science - Students are reviewing and showing just how much they know about elements, compounds and mixtures!

REMINDERS

Nov. 21         8:15 AM School Mass

Nov. 22-24    No School—Thanksgiving break

Nov. 28         8:15 AM School Mass

Nov. 29         6:00 PM First Communion Parent Meeting

                        in Church

QUE PASA 11/15/2017 (English)

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, especially as the holiday season approaches!  But this reflection below (by Barbara Johnson from God Always Has a Plan B), could serve as a reminder to us appreciate the present and all it’s 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.” 

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

 CORE VALUES IN NOVEMBER

Throughout November, we continue to learn about saints and pray for loved ones who have passed away.  Ask your child about the saints we have learned about!  We also continue to pray for our veterans and all those who currently serve in our Armed Forces as they work to protect our freedom.  Last week, all children in the school made cards for veterans, and our 6A homeroom teacher Ms. Land delivered them to veterans at the Veterans’ Hospital.  The veterans were appreciative of all the cards and kind words from the students.  I’m so proud of how our children and teachers lived out our core values to love, serve, and unite through this act of kindness!

UNIFORM CHECK-IN

As the weather gets colder and you bundle up your child, please ensure that he/she follows uniform policy as posted by the school office and stated in the school handbook.  All undershirts, including long-sleeve undershirts, should be white.  If your daughter wears tights, they should be solid black or white and extend to the ankle.  Socks must be black or white.  Boots may not be worn.

LIFETOUCH PICTURE RE-TAKES AND MAKE-UPS

This Friday, November 17, your child can retake his/her school photo or take a photo if he/she was absent on the original picture day.  If your child is taking school pictures this Friday, please ensure that he/she is in complete uniform and not in the gray school sweats.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

We depend on parent volunteer support throughout the school year! Some upcoming events include our Christmas prayer service and reception and the school family dance.  If you would like to help plan future events and fundraisers, or would like to join one of our parent groups, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave your name and number at the office.

SUNDAY FAMILY MASS

Please join us for Family Mass this Sunday, November 19 at 9:30 AM.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist together with fellow St. Peter’s families.  Students who attend mass will receive a free dress pass to use on Monday, November 20.

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

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 by calling the office a day in advance.  We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week we will be reading about places we go during the week such as the library. We will engage in discussions with a partner, in small groups and with the whole class. In math, we will begin to work on subtraction. We will use tools such as counters, playdoh, dice, and cubes to help us visualize and subtract.

1A - This week in first grade we are reading and discussing the different places that animals live together. In math we are working on fact families and the relationship between addition and subtraction. In science we are beginning our unit on weather, which will be more fun now that we’re getting some rain. In religion we are continuing our discussion of Baptism and our practicing of The Hail Mary.

2A - We will be reading and learning about the nighttime sky, the sequence of events in stories, telling time to the nearest five minutes (please practice on an analog clock); learning how to pray for the needs of others; and sorting bits and pieces in science. Mark your calendars! First Communion meeting Wednesday, 11/29 at 6 p.m.

3A – We begin reading Molly's Pilgrim this week. It's a Thanksgiving story about modern day immigrants. It also explores prejudice and intolerance. In Religion, we'll continue to learn and read about the saints as we collect facts for our saint projects due at the end of November. The saints, as well as the characters in Molly's Pilgrim, teach us valuable lessons about courage, love and faithfulness.

4A - This week 4A students will recognize that our relationship with God is based on the first three Commandments, understand story characters' behavior and relationships, and subtract whole numbers and money amounts with zeros in the minuend.

5A - 5th grade is celebrating the completion of our first novel study with a The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe themed party this Friday. We're continuing to discuss homophones in grammar and word problems in math.

6A  Religion – 6th Graders will be focusing on their Mercy Promises that they made during their 6th grade retreat and they will be visited by Paula Pardini for Building Bridges.   Language Arts – 6th Graders have had very engaging discussions regarding the history of racism and tolerance in America as we prepared for our first novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. We will begin reading the first few chapters this week, analyzing character development, setting, and conflict.  Social Studies – 6th Graders are completing a Pharaoh Research Project for their Ancient Egypt writing assignment.   Science – 6th grade scientists will continue studying the connection between air pressure and weather by making their own air pressure maps.

7A/7B   Language Arts - Students had a wonderful experience on their Field Trip to Riordan, watching Harvey! They are now finalizing the introduction to their Drama Unit.  They will also participate in opening activities of A Christmas Carol to prepare the reading of the play after Thanksgiving break.   Social Studies –7th Graders are continuing through the achievements of Medieval Chinese Dynasties.   Science - Students are finishing up their mitosis dance presentation as they prepare to test their knowledge at the end of the week.

8A   Religion – 8th Graders are learning the Nicene Creed and will be visited by Paula Pardini for Building Bridges.   Language Arts - Students are beginning the introduction to their next novel, Night, by Elie Wiesel. The opening activities will aid in comprehension of the historical content referenced in the text. Their Woodworking Project is due this Friday, November 17. Students will have an opportunity to share their creations to the class.   Social Studies – 8th graders are memorizing the Preamble and deciding what those words of the Constitution personally mean to them.   Science - Students review their knowledge of naming ionic and covalent compounds as they prepare to test at the end of the week.

REMINDERS

Nov. 16          3rd grade field trip to Marian Oaks

Nov. 17          LifeTouch Pictures Re-takes and Make-ups

Nov. 19          9:30 AM Sunday Family Mass

Nov. 21          8:15 AM School Mass

Nov. 22-24    No School—Thanksgiving break

Nov. 29         6:00 PM First Communion Parent Meeting in Church

QUE PASA 11/8/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

       This past Sunday, thanks to the planning and organizing by Sister Marian Rose and Ms. Janice Vela (our Interim Development Director), we celebrated the St. Peter’s Alumni Memorial Mass, where we celebrated all the wonderful work the alumni have done.  Many have returned to St. Peter’s to volunteer their time or their finances.  In particular, we recognized the generous contributions of the Lagger family, the Pineda Family, and Mary O’Rourke—all of whom have deep connections with St. Peter’s and continue to help and pray for the students of St. Peter’s.  They are examples for us and for our students of living out the mission of Mercy and our KEYS and core values to grow, accomplish, love, serve, and unite.   

       This week, we also honor our veterans.  They have given their lives and their lifetimes to serving our country at home and abroad, so that people may enjoy their freedom.  Here at school, we recognize our very own Mr. Frank Gonzalez, an army veteran, and all of your loved ones who are veterans as well.  Although our country and the world have a long way to go so that all are treated with equal respect and freedoms, we wouldn’t be where we are today without the struggle and commitment of our veterans!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

Thank you, parents, for taking the time to meet with your child’s teacher during Parent-Teacher Conferences.  Besides Parent-Teacher Conferences, feel free to make additional 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 by calling the office a day in advance.  We appreciate your cooperation on this matter.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who helped the past few weeks with Halloween and Alumni Mass and Reception preparations.  Your time and donations are valuable!  We especially thank alumni parents Karina King, Rosana Nava Robinson, and Diana Gallardo in the planning and preparation of Alumni Mass and Reception this past weekend.

We depend on parent volunteer support throughout the school year! If you would like to help plan future events and fundraisers, or would like to join one of our parent groups, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave your name and number at the office.

SWEATS ON THURSDAY

Since there is no school on Friday, and there is no special mass celebration this Thursday, students may wear the gray athletic sweats for this Thursday, November 9.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Parents, it was a pleasure meeting with you last week and sharing your child's hard work in class. I really appreciate it. Thank you! Our faith focus this week is that God tells us about his love for us in the Bible. We will demonstrate ways to learn to live as children of God. Also, we are continuing to work on identifying and pronouncing the beginning, middle, and ending sound in words. In math, we are still working on addition.  

1A - In first grade we are reading and talking about buildings and what they are made of.  In math we are beginning to work with fact families. In religion we are continuing to discuss Baptism and how we are welcomed into our parish. In science we are experimenting with how air moves objects by constructing rockets. In social studies we are continuing to learn about the continents and oceans.

2A - We will be learning about forces of gravity; counting backwards with 1, 10 and 100; telling time; defining what service to others is and how to show this; learning about saints Martin de Porres and Sister Cabrini; investigating puddles in science (weather permitting).

3A – This week in English class, we are writing letters to wounded and ill soldiers at the Veteran's hospital. In Religion class, we are continuing to practice our church responses. Finally, in Math. class, we will begin our unit on addition with regrouping using 1's, 10's, 100's, and 1000's place numbers. All of these lessons and units will encourage accomplishment which is one of our school-wide KEYS.

4A - I want to thank 4A parents for meeting with me last week for Parent-Teacher conferences.  This week 4A will learn about the Ten Commandments, subtract 3-digit whole numbers and money amounts while regrouping twice, and understand story characters' behavior and relationships.

5A - This week, 5th grade will finish reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and analyze the plot structure of the story. We're reviewing problem solving strategies and all of Math Unit 1 in preparation for this week's big test as well.

6A  Religion – Students will be reflecting on their class retreat and continuing to talk about the Mercy Promise that they made on November 3rd.  Language Arts – 6th Graders are now working on the revising and editing stage of their short stories. We will also begin reading our first novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and begin with research into the historical context of life in the depression-era South for African Americans.    Math – 6th graders are being introduced to the wonderful world of absolute values, negative integers, exponents and order of operations.  Social Studies – 6th graders are continuing their Ancient Egypt Unit.   Science – Students will be learning about isobars and continuing to discuss air pressure's impact on weather formation this week.

7A/7B   Language Arts - Students will wrap up their novel study on Walk Two Moons with their Unit Test this week. They will participate in a review game, Jeopardy, to complete the test successfully. Students will continue their introduction to Drama with review of specific terms, dramatic opposites, and the element of acting with improv games!   Math – 7th graders are learning that equations are just equivalent expressions, and will be working on simplifying one and two step equations and finding the story of the variables.  Social Studies – 7th graders watch the movie Unbroken to reflect on the sacrifices made by Veterans as we prepare for Veterans Day.   Science - Students are continuing their exploration as to how cells replicate: mitosis!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders are learning about major events in the history of the Catholic Church that impacted the Church as we know it today.   Language Arts - Students have successfully completed their Mockingbird Debate! They will continue to work, individually, on their Woodworking Project, due on Friday, November 17. Students are also continuing to prepare for their High School Entrance exams with lessons centered on vocabulary and grammar.  Math - 8th graders are jumping into equations, and the story behind them.  Social Studies – 8th graders will watch the movie Unbroken to reflect on the sacrifices made by Veterans as we prepare for Veterans Day.   Science - Students are continuing their exploration about compounds and prepare to move into a study of how compounds react with each other.

REMINDERS

Nov. 6-17       STAR Testing Window

Nov. 10          No School—Veterans Day holiday 

                         Observed

Nov. 14          8:15 AM School Mass

Nov. 14          7th Grade field trip to Riordan to watch

                         play, Harvey

Nov. 16          3rd grade field trip to Marian Oaks

Nov. 17          LifeTouch Pictures Re-takes and Make-ups

Nov. 19          9:30 AM Sunday Family Mass

QUE PASA 11/1/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

       Today and tomorrow are special days in the Church: All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. On the Feast of All Saints, a holy day of obligation, we honor those who have lived lives faithful to God.  On the Feast of All Souls, we remember and pray for our loved ones who have passed away, and honor them through prayer, or even by making special altars in their memory. 

       As we honor the Saints, let us remember how they lived out the Beatitudes—Jesus’ teachings on how to live as a Christian and to find true happiness.  During this time of Parent-Teacher Conferences, the Beatitudes can also help us to reflect on how to be role models for our children.  We can lead our children by example and live out our faith!

      The Beatitudes  (Matthew 5:3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, November 3 are Parent-Teacher Conference days.  Your child is encouraged to attend the conference with you.  Please ensure that you keep this appointment, as it will be key to strengthen the home-school connection, and will help to nurture your child’s intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional development.

APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

Besides Parent-Teacher Conferences, feel free to make additional 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 by calling the office a day in advance.  Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the parents and volunteers who contributed to the Halloween celebration!  I would especially like to thank Vanessa Espinoza and Myra Santos of the Community Builders parent group for their support in planning the event.

Special Thanks also to the following parent volunteers who have given countless hours to helping our school:  Olga Vasquez, who has been helping to keep the front of our school building clean; to Angel Carvajal for regularly helping the cafeteria; to Julio Estrada and Alfredo Leon Orea of the Campus Care parent group for assisting with school building maintenance; and to Monica Leonor and Isabel Diaz for leading our Madrinas parent group, in marketing our school and welcoming new families.  

We depend on parent volunteer support throughout the school year! If you would like to help plan future events and fundraisers, or would like to join one of our parent groups, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave your name and number at the office.

ALUMNI MEMORIAL MASS AND RECEPTION

Sunday, November 5 at 2:30 PM is our annual Alumni Memorial Mass.  If you are able to help with set-up, directing parking, or clean-up, please contact the office or fill out a volunteer form.  You are also very welcome to connect with others and celebrate mass with St. Peter’s Alumni on this special day!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in KA, we will make a book! We will work in partners to make a page for a school rule book. We will have a discussion about why rules are necessary in the classroom, the hallways, the schoolyard, and on the bus. Students will work in partners and choose a school rule. Students will draw pictures of the rules and write words to describe the rules. Lastly, we will add the book to our classroom library and take turns reading it.

1A - This week in reading we are learning what jobs need to be done in a community. In religion we are discussing the importance of the Holy Sacrament of Baptism. We are also learning about the meaning of All Saints Day and reading stories about Dia de los Muertos.

2A - We will be reading poems about animals, counting forwards/backwards by 1,10 and 100, telling time, looking at number patterns; continue using our mapping skills; celebrating All Souls Day, working on mass responses; and exploring (hopefully) puddles.

3A – This week is a very full and busy week. We will celebrate 3 days beginning with Halloween on Tuesday, All Saints Day on Wednesday (Mass is at 8:15), and All Souls Day on Thursday. Please be on time for your Parent-Teacher Conference either on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.  Your son/daughter was given your appointment date and time last week. Academically, In Religion class, we are beginning to learn about the saints of our church. A saint will be assigned to your son/daughter with instructions for the report, poster and due date. This project will help us to grow in our Catholic faith by learning about saints who followed God courageously.

4A - This week we will be having Parent-Teacher Conferences; I look forward to meeting with you and your student to discuss their progress in class. Additionally, I would like to thank you for your donations and your time recently while we collected items for the people of Puerto Rico and our Halloween festival on Tuesday. Students in 4A will continue to live out our "KEYS" by finding sums of three or more addends with regrouping, understanding story characters' behavior and relationships, and defining region and describing California's major geographic regions.

6A  Religion – 6th Graders will be preparing for their class retreat that will take place on Friday, November 3rd.   Language Arts – 6th grade is continuing the drafting stages of their fictional narratives. Students will continue focusing on building suspense in the rising action of their stories, while practicing the writing technique of Show Not Tell to create rich, descriptive sentences.   Math – 6th grade will be wrapping up greatest common factors, exponents and Multiples, before we take a slight detour into mean, median, and mode. Then onto FRACTIONS!  Social Studies – 6th Graders will continue to learn about life in Ancient Egypt.

7A/7B    Religion - In Religion this week, we will be wrapping up Baptism and onto Jesus in the temple, and a discussion of conscience, Morals, and free will.   Language Arts - Students will present their Walk Two Moons Enrichment Projects this week. They will also begin the preparation for their unit test, which will conclude their novel study. Next up, Drama! Students will begin the introduction to drama, the specific characteristics and elements.   Math – 7th grade will be continuing their adventures into Equations this week focusing on distributive Property and combining Like Terms.  Social Studies – Students had a great 1st quarter learning about Arabia and Africa. They will spin the globe over to Asia for the majority of 2nd quarter.  Science - Students have wrapped up talking about cells and are now moving onto bigger organizational units: tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders will enjoy a visit from Paula Pardini and they will make cards for Veterans at the Veteran's Hospital.   Language Arts - Students have ended their unit on Mockingbird with a Debate, should Caitlin attend a mainstream school or should she attend a school with students of similar conditions, syndromes like herself, Asperger Syndrome? They are also working on their woodworking project-chest due in 2 weeks.   Math - The 8th grade is learning about square Roots and Perfect Squares, then we get to have some fun with the Pythagorean Theorem!    Social Studies - 8th Graders will finish the American Revolution and begin asking questions about the U.S. Constitution.  Science - Students will move deeper into studies of chemical reactions and soon begin preparations for their first physical science project.

REMINDERS

Nov. 1-3        12:30 PM dismissal for Parent-Teacher

                        Conferences

Nov. 1            8:15 AM All Saints’ Day School Mass

Nov. 2            Free Dress for No Tardies in October

Nov. 3            6th Grade Retreat

Nov. 5            2:30 PM Alumni Memorial Mass and

                        Reception

Nov. 7            8:15 AM School Mass honoring Veterans

Nov. 10          No School—Veterans Day holiday 

                        observed

QUE PASA 10/25/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

       Blessings to our 8th graders as they embark on their 3-day retreat in Occidental this week.  I hope that they all grow closer to God and to each other as they pray together and strengthen their faith and community.

       The 8th grade retreat includes physically traveling to a place outside of school, but all of us within St. Peter’s are on a journey, too.  We are all on a journey to learn different ways that we can grow—intellectually, spiritually, and socially.  As we journey together, we learn new facts, try new activities, learn from mistakes, consider different perspectives, and help others around us.  We strive to open our hearts and open our minds, and live out our faith.  That is an adventure that challenges and excites me.  I am proud to be a partner in guiding your children on this journey of growth!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

By now, you should have requested a conference time to meet with your child’s teacher.  Your child is encouraged to attend the conference with you. Your child’s teacher will send home a confirmation of your conference appointment. Please ensure that you keep this appointment, as it will be key to strengthen the home-school connection, and will help to nurture your child’s intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional development.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

St. Peter’s Halloween Costume Parade and Celebration will take place on Tuesday, October 31 from 1:00-3:30.  Parent volunteers are needed to make this event and fundraiser a successful one, so if you are able to help, please notify Mrs. Cea or Mrs. Jimenez.  We especially need help in supervising and hosting game booths.

Children may come to school in costume on Halloween.  However, all costume parts that symbolize weapons must not be brought to school!

Also—consider walking or taking public transportation to school if you will be joining the Halloween celebration.  Parking is extremely limited, and two years ago, cars were ticketed on Halloween for parking on the sidewalk by the parking lot.  Be cautious!

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE CHANGES

Thank you to all the parents who completed the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org this past September. The certificate is good for 3 years from date of course completion, and parents with this certification are clear to volunteer for school events such as field trips and coaching sports teams.

Recently, schools were notified that the Archdiocese will no longer be using Shield the Vulnerable as a training course.  Beginning in November, we are now switching to VIRTUS as a new online training course for school staff and volunteers.  More information will be provided once the Archdiocese sends further instructions to the schools.

ALUMNI MEMORIAL MASS AND RECEPTION

Sunday, November 5 at 2:30 PM is our annual Alumni Memorial Mass.  If you are able to help with set-up, directing parking, or clean-up, please contact the office or fill out a volunteer form.  You are also very welcome to connect with others and celebrate mass with St. Peter’s Alumni on this special day!

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 - Genesis Garcia is a hard-working student. She is always giving her best effort in class. She works cooperatively with her peers on group assignments and projects. She is kind and treats others with respect. Genesis is a great role model for others.

1A - Kalabe Mehari is a kind and thoughtful student who gets along with everyone around him. He is constantly displaying a desire to grow and learn and is always working hard to achieve this. Kalabe never gets discouraged when he makes a mistake, but rather takes it as an opportunity to improve. For these reasons I am so proud to award Kalabe as first grade’s student of the month.

2A - Danna Sanchez-Arias is always helping others (service), working hard (accomplish) and trying her best (grow).

3A - Zinara Fuentes is a very helpful student who completes her classwork and homework successfully each week.  She helps her partner in class and contributes to our 3rd grade discussions frequently.

4A - Aleska Salas Donis is 4A's Student of the Month for October.  She is shining example of our key: "Knowledge feeds growth."  She has excelled academically this first quarter and continues to live out our KEYS.

5A – Gabriela Clemente is our student of the month for October. We're so grateful for her joyful presence in our classroom! Gabriela is constantly working extremely hard in academics, and she is exceptionally kind to her fellow classmates. Congratulations Gabriela!

6A - Mateo Perez is a wonderful example of a student with the KEYS.  He is quick to notice when a peer or teacher needs extra support, he is always serving others, and he participates and exercises his brain in the classroom each day.  

7A - Joshue Ruiz has shown what the key to 7th grade success is: honesty, helpfulness, being a hard worker in the classroom, as line leader, even working hard to be a good friend and classmate to EVERYBODY that surrounds him.  Joshue made some great choices this month, even when it was difficult.  His cheerfulness spreads easily.  Congratulations Joshue!

7B - Victoria Colvin is involved in so much at St. Peter’s, from student council, volleyball, and the choir, yet she still manages to excel academically in all her classes. To take on so much requires courage, and Victoria has shown that she's not afraid to go after the things she wants.

8A - Crystal Hernandez has demonstrated what it means to have courage, as a leader, student council officer, ambassador, classmate and friend. She is always willing to get out of her comfort zone to help others, not because she has to, but because she genuinely wants to. With all that she brings to St. Peter's, she still manages to excel in the classroom, proving that with courage she can balance it all!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in KA, we are learning all about Bugs! Students will do a research project with a partner to show different bugs in their environment. First, they will choose a bug for their "Bug bulletin Board." The bug bulletin board will give information about bugs. Each drawing will have a label with the name of the bug.

1A - This week in first grade in reading we are reviewing the material learned in Unit 1. In religion we are discussing God's Creation of Adam and Eve. In math we are continuing our work with subtraction. In social studies we are discussing the different places that we live. In science we are continuing to experiment with air and water.

2A - We will be reading expository texts to learn about animal babies and parents; comparing numbers using >, <, and = signs; using our mapping skills; learning the importance of storytelling, scripture, St. Hilary, and the Liturgy of the Word; and continuing to learn about the properties of liquids.

3A - This week in the third grade Religion class we continue to practice our church responses.  In Language, Math, and Phonics classes we are nearing completion of our second-grade curriculum review. We continue to accomplish our class and home studies with courage and confidence!

5A – 5th graders will be practicing subtraction with zeros in the minuends and numbers in the hundred thousands. We will continue our novel study by examining the figurative language we've noticed so far in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

6A  Religion – Students are wrapping up Unit 1 lessons and activities this week to finish Quarter one.  Language Arts – 6th Graders will be wrapping up their Short Story unit, culminating in a Writer's Workshop of their own fictional short stories. Students will begin brainstorming, planning, and drafting their stories, as they learn about essential writing skills like "show not tell," figurative language, and dialogue.   Math - 6th graders will be learning about prime factorization exponents and mean median and mode.  Social Studies – Students are continuing the Physical Geography of Egypt and beginning to learn about the many gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt.  Science - Students will be learning about barometers, atmospheric pressure, and weather balloons.

7A/7B    Religion - 7th graders will be continuing to study about the baptism of Jesus, then we will be learning all of the symbols and parts of the baptism ceremony by having a 7th welcome ceremony.     Language Arts - Students have concluded the reading of their first novel Walk Two Moons. They are completing lessons based on the story elements, plot, conflict, theme and character analysis to better comprehend the overall story. Additionally, students will finalize the unit with an Enrichment Project and Test.  Math – 7th graders are starting the journey into all things equal, and will be learning about equations.    Social Studies – 7th Grade Social Studies participated in an art lesson to make African masks. They will continue the book A Long Walk to Water and will finish their Africa Unit next week.   Science - Students will dive deeper into the cell and show us how much they know about organelles.

8A   Religion – 8th Graders are away at their Confirmation retreat!  Language Arts - Students are wrapping up their first novel Mockingbird. They are finalizing this unit with a couple culminating assignments, a debate and a woodworking project-chest, which will take place after they return from retreat.  Math - 8th graders are finishing up exponents and monomials, and then Pythagorean theorem and square roots.  Social Studies - 8th Graders will be ending the American Revolution so that they can begin the Constitution upon their return from their retreat!   Science - It is a short week for the 8th graders as they prepare to leave for their retreat. Either way, we will explore ionic and covalent bonding on Monday and Tuesday.

REMINDERS

Oct. 25-27      8th Grade retreat to CYO Camp at

                         Occidental

Oct. 31           1:00-3:30 Halloween Celebration

Nov. 1-3        12:30 dismissal for Parent-Teacher

                        Conferences

Nov. 1            8:15 AM All Saints’ Day School Mass

Nov. 2            Free Dress for No Tardies in October

Nov. 3            6th Grade Retreat

QUE PASA 10/18/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

Thank you to everyone for your patience last week as we dealt with the poor air quality conditions in our area.  Students were very cooperative as we had to remain indoors all day, even during the morning before the first bell and during all their recesses.

Let us all continue to pray for those who have been affected by all the recent tragic events—the North Bay fires, the destructive earthquakes in Mexico, the Las Vegas shooting, and the hurricanes in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico.  In September we took up a collection for victims of the earlier hurricanes; presently we are accepting donations of supplies for the people in Puerto Rico; and an upcoming project will be to take up a collection for the fire victims.  As we pray and help those in dire need, take time to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings that we have, such as our families, our friends, our health, and our safety.  Coming together through prayer and service will open our hearts and minds, and strengthen our St. Peter’s community!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

EMERGENCY READINESS

With all the emergencies that have occurred lately, we want to be proactive in our own readiness.  At school, we have regular fire drills and earthquake drills.  If your child requires asthma medication, please ensure that the medication is current and not expired.  If your child has not yet brought in an emergency kit of water and crackers/granola bar, please send that to school right away.  And throughout the year if there are any changes in phone numbers or addresses on your child’s emergency card, please notify the office right away so we can update that information immediately.

IMPORTANT INCOME SURVEY

It’s still not too late to turn in the very important Family Income Survey!  This information is necessary for our school to receive funding for math and reading programs.  If you have NOT completed a survey yet, then your child was sent home with another one today.  Once it is returned, your child will receive a KEY for service.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

See the enclosed information about the St. Peter’s Halloween celebration on Tuesday, October 31 from 1:00-3:30.  Parent volunteers and donations are needed to make this event and fundraiser a successful one, so if you are able to help, complete and return the forms to your child’s teacher.  We especially need help in supervising and hosting game booths.

Children may come to school in costume on Halloween.  However, all costume parts that symbolize weapons must not be brought to school!

Also—consider walking or taking public transportation to school if you will be joining the Halloween celebration.  Parking is extremely limited, and two years ago, cars were ticketed on Halloween for parking on the sidewalk by the parking lot.  Be cautious!

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE CHANGES

Thank you to all the parents who completed the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org this past September. The certificate is good for 3 years from date of course completion, and parents with this certification are clear to volunteer for school events such as field trips and coaching sports teams.

However, schools were just notified this week that the Archdiocese will no longer be using Shield the Vulnerable as a training course.  Beginning in November, we are now switching to VIRTUS as a new online training course for school staff and volunteers.  More information will be provided once the Archdiocese sends further instructions to the schools.

HURRICANE IRMA RELIEF

Donations of supplies for victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico will be collected through October 25.  Most needed items include: canned foods, ready-to-drink liquid baby formula, baby food (no glass jars), diapers, and feminine hygiene products.

FAMILY MASS AND RECEPTION

Sunday, October 22 will be a 9:30 AM Family Mass followed by a reception in the Parish Hall hosted by classes 1A, 4A, and 6A.  Please join us on this day.  Also—children who attend mass in their school uniform will receive a free dress pass to use on the following Monday.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in KA, we will do a research project to explore the different shapes around us and make a class chart of shapes. The class will be divided into four groups- circles, rectangles, squares, and triangles. Members of each group will work together to identify classroom objects that include their shapes. Lastly, each group will create pages for their shape. Each page will have a drawing of the object and a sentence that tells what shape it is. These pages will be put together on a bulletin board to create a four-column chart.  

1A - This week in first grade we are reading, writing, and discussing exercise and how our bodies move. In religion we are practicing the Hail Mary. In math we are finishing up single digit addition and beginning our introduction to subtraction. In science we are investigating how water can be used to show that air takes up space. In social studies we are continuing to discuss community and immigration.

3A - In Language class we are identifying and writing simple and complete subjects. In Math class we'll review rounding numbers to the 10's and 100's place.  This can be confusing so please practice this skill with your child. We have successfully completed two projects in Social Studies.  We've made relief maps from clay and pioneer log cabins from milk cartons and pretzels. GREAT JOB THIRD GRADE!

4A - This week 4A students will identify nouns in the subjects of sentences, add 4-digit whole numbers and money amounts with regrouping, describe the land of California.

5A – 5th grade will be practicing the skill of "close reading" in language arts this week as we continue our first novel study. We're discussing rounding and adding problems with more than 3 addends in math.

6AReligion – 6th Graders are Comparing the story of Joseph from the Bible and the Film.  Language Arts – 6th grade ELA is focusing on identifying THEME in short stories. We will be reading several classic short stories, analyzing the theme, and then citing textual evidence that supports our analysis.  Math - 6th grade will be concluding their unit on decimal operations and then splitting up into fractions.  Social Studies - 6th Graders are starting to explore the physical geography of Egypt.  Science - 6th graders will be turning in projects about the 5 layers of the atmosphere and starting an investigation into how air pressure affects weather this week.

7A/7B    Religion - 7th graders are now studying about the Baptism of Jesus and our catholic identity.  Language Arts - Students are wrapping up their first novel, Walk Two Moons. They are discovering many plot twists as they reach the end! To close the novel, students will participate in a variety of lesson extensions that center on the plot, conflicts and themes.   Math – Students are wrapping up their unit on all operations with negative integers.  They will be writing their Integer essay stories this week.  I can’t wait to see what they write about!   Social Studies – 7th Graders are continuing their West African Empire Research.   Science - Students are now wrapping up their study about microscopes after having drawn magnifications at 40x, 100x, and 400x! Now it's time to take a look at what is inside of cells!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders are focusing on the third Mark of the Church: Catholic.  Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Mockingbird and completing assignments related to their reading. They will also begin the introduction to the English HSPT, starting off with analogies.   Math - Students will be expanding into the world of exponents and scientific notation.   Social Studies - 8th Graders are continuing the book: Guns for General Washington while they continue studying the details of the American Revolution.  Science - Students will take a further dive into studying exactly why certain elements react with each other and will even create some of their own reactions!

REMINDERS

October 18      6:00 PM 6th Grade Mandatory Parent

                         Preview Meeting in the Faculty Meeting

                         Room for Caritas Creek Camp

October 22      9:30 AM Family Mass and Reception

October 23     12:30 PM dismissal

October 24     8:15 AM school mass

October 24     3A pumpkin patch field trip

Oct. 25-27      8th Grade retreat to CYO Camp at

                         Occidental

QUE PASA 10/11/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

The destruction caused by the hurricanes and earthquakes, the fear and death caused by the Las Vegas shooting, and the loss experienced due to the wildfires in the North Bay counties, all within the past few weeks, are tragic and heartbreaking events.  As parents and educators, we must be present for our children, and be sources of comfort and safety through these scary, sad, and confusing times.

Then I see how our children react to these events.  They open their hearts and minds; they show a sense of empowerment.  The Student Council led the school in donating proceeds from Dimes from Heaven to hurricane victims, and the students actively took part in that fundraiser!  The students and teachers continue to pray for hurricane, earthquake, shooting, and fire victims, showing that our faith can give us strength during challenging circumstances.  And a few days ago, a parent initiated a collection for the hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.  I’m so inspired by them and by you as the mission of Mercy continues to live on at St. Peter’s.  I know we can continue to nurture our students and each other in our school community.  I hope we can all see the hope, love, and courage in each other!

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

IMPORTANT INCOME SURVEY

In last week’s Que Pasa, an important Income Verification Survey went home.  The information gathered from this survey is CONFIDENTIAL, and is necessary for our school to receive funding for reading and math programs that help our children.  If we don’t collect surveys from each family, we could lose this funding!  THANK YOU to those who have turned it in on time.  If not, please complete and return the survey before the end of this week!  And, students will receive a KEY for Service for turning it in!

INDOOR RECESS

Because of the reports of poor air quality due to the extensive fires in several North Bay counties, students remained inside for recess yesterday.  If your child requires asthma medication, please make sure that his/her medication is not expired!

EMERGENCY KIT

Please don’t forget to provide your child with an “emergency kit”—a bottled water, package of crackers OR granola bar, and an optional small toy or game—all in a Zip-loc bag with his/her name on it.  These will be stored in a closed bin in the classrooms in case of an emergency. 

LIFETOUCH CLASS PICTURES

Tuesday, October 17 is school picture day.  Your child must be in complete uniform.  If you wish to order photos, the order form is enclosed.

HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION

See the enclosed information about the St. Peter’s Halloween celebration on Tuesday, October 31 from 1:00-3:30.  Parent volunteers and donations are needed to make this event and fundraiser a successful one, so if you are able to help, complete and return the forms to your child’s teacher. 

Children may come to school in costume on Halloween.  However, all costume parts that symbolize weapons must not be brought to school!

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Thank you to all the parents who completed the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org this past September.  They were rewarded with 6 Parent Hours (double hours) for completing the course early!  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  The certificate of completion is good for 3 years.

Throughout the school year, if you wish to chaperone children on a school trip, chaperones who have not completed “Shield the Vulnerable” must complete the course.  Parents will now receive 3 hours for course completion.

HURRICANE IRMA RELIEF

Please see the enclosed flyer to collect canned foods and supplies for Hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.  Your donation and prayers will help a struggling family during this difficult time.

SAINT PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS

If you placed an order for St. Peter’s sweats, they are scheduled to be distributed by early November.  Thank you for your purchase!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in KA we will use our five senses to explore, examine and taste red apples. Then we will record our observation on a word web graphic organizer. We will respond to questions and write our results. What does the apples look like? What does it feel like? What does it smell like? What does it taste like? And what does it sound like?

1A - This week in first grade we are reading, writing, and discussing the idea of friendship and what it means to be a good friend. In religion we are discussing God's creations. In math we are continuing to work on addition, using tens frames, number lines, and counting on strategies. In science we are continuing to experiment with air and compression. In social studies we are learning about immigration and the beauty in diverse communities. 

2A - Second grade will be reading and learning about what animals in stories can teach us; place value; continue memorizing our prayers and review Unit 1; learning about different cultures; and building bridges in science.

3A - This week in Math class we will be having a test on standard and expanded notation through 10,000.  In Reading class We will begin a new story called, "How the World Got Wisdom. This is a West African folktale.  In Religion class we are GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE by identifying the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation).

4A - This week 4A students will identify and write simple and complete subjects, check addition and subtraction, and describe the land of California.

5A – This week, 5th graders are continuing our study of European explorers with a discussion on the pros and cons of celebrating Columbus Day. We're also learning new vocabulary words for our study of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. In math, we're striving to master both place value to the billions and rounding decimals.

6AReligion – 6th Graders will be visited by Paula Pardini for Building Bridges to continue strengthening their faith community. Language Arts – 6th Grade is continuing their work on plot. After finishing up the classic Rudyard Kipling tale of "Rikki Tikki Tavi" we will read "The Landlady" by Roald Dahl. We'll look at how both authors developed suspense in their stories to lead to an exciting climax.  Math - The 6th graders are discovering how decimals and whole numbers are working together to tell a complete story.  Social Studies - 6th Graders are continuing to review their Mesopotamia Unit and will complete a Quest this week.  Science - 6th graders are learning about the 5 layers of Earth's atmosphere and how those layers affect our weather this week.

7A/7B    Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Walk Two Moons. They are also finding the connections to their reading, text-text, text-self, text-world, which furthers their comprehension of the novel's content.  Math – The 7th graders will be investigating multiplying and dividing integers with positive and negative numbers.  This will add to their knowledge of adding and subtracting.  They will also be learning how to define a variable with those terms and write as an expression.  This leads into their very first math essay assignment, “The Integer Story!"  Social Studies – 7th Graders have started to read A Long Walk to Water and they are learning about the physical geography and empires of Western Africa.  Science - It is time to put our knowledge to work and take a look at cells under a real microscope! Look at these biologists!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders will be visited by Paula Pardini for Building Bridges to continue strengthening their faith community.    Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Mockingbird and completing assignments related to their reading.  Math -  8th graders are now putting their knowledge of algebraic expressions together, and will now add scientific notation and exponential powers to add some spice to their expressions!  Social Studies - 8th Grade Social Studies has started to read Guns for General Washington and they are continuing through their American Revolution Unit, beginning to look at a timeline of events of the battles of the war. Science - Students are defining types of atomic bonds and explaining why they happen!

REMINDERS

October 12      Riordan and ICA presentations for 8th

                          Graders

October 17      8:15 AM School Mass

October 17      Life Touch School Picture Day

October 18      6th Grade Mandatory Parent Preview

                           Meeting for Caritas Creek Camp

QUE PASA 10/4/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

October 7th is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the month of October is traditionally the month of the Rosary.

Here is a thoughtful reflection from Living the Rosary by Father John Phalen:

The Rosary starts with Mary’s human experience, and it encourages us to learn from our own.  The Rosary is:

·       Remembering Christ with Mary

·       Learning Christ with Mary

·       Being conformed to Christ with Mary

·       Praying to Christ with Mary

·       Proclaiming Christ with Mary

This also reminds me of how much our own children honor Mary as they pass the grotto at school each day.  They make the Sign of the Cross, or stop to say a prayer.  The grotto is definitely a sacred place for our entire school family.

As October begins, let us look to Mary as a role model of faith and courage, especially during this month of the Rosary and with our new KEYS focus for October of “Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.”

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

ST. PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS

The last day to order the gray athletic sweats is tomorrow—Thursday, October 5!  Don’t miss out, or you’ll have to wait until next year to place an order.  Order forms are still available in the school office.

IMPORTANT INCOME SURVEY

Going home today is an important Income Verification Survey.  The information gathered from this survey is CONFIDENTIAL, and is necessary for our school to receive funding for useful services such as reading and math programs that help our children.  If we don’t collect these surveys on time, we could lose this funding!  Please help the school and complete this survey by Tuesday, October 10.

EMERGENCY KIT

Last week’s Que Pasa included a letter about providing your child with an “emergency kit”—a bottled water, package of crackers OR granola bar, and an optional small toy or game—all in a Zip-loc bag with his/her name on it.  These will be stored in a closed bin in the classrooms in case of an emergency.  Please have your child bring these emergency kits to school by this Friday, October 6.

SPECIAL PROCESSION AND MASS

This Saturday, October 7, is a special march, called “The Procession for the Streets of our City.”  Father Moises would really appreciate our school’s participation!  The procession will begin at St. Peter’s Church at 7:00 AM, and we will join with people from the parishes of St. Anthony’s and St. Charles. If you’re unable to make it to the procession, you can join the group for 10:00 Mass with the Archbishop at St. Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate the Consecration of our Archdiocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  If you and your family come, wear your St. Peter’s green or gray sweatshirt to represent our school!

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Thank you to all the parents who completed the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org this past September.  They were rewarded with 6 Parent Hours (double hours) for completing the course early!  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  The certificate of completion is good for 3 years.

Throughout the school year, if you wish to chaperone children on a school trip, chaperones who have not completed “Shield the Vulnerable” must complete the course.  Parents will now receive 3 hours for course completion.

ST. PETER’S KEYS UPDATE

At school, teachers and staff have been distributing KEYS (vouchers) to help promote living the KEYS:

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

During September, teachers and staff awarded 740 KEYS to students! That’s AMAZING!  We can see students in every grade living our core values and the KEYS. Keep up the great work!

If a student receives KEYS with all 5 core values in one month--which is called KEYS Bingo—he/she will be put on the list for a popcorn and movie party!

Our KEYS store will open this month, where students can trade in KEYS for prizes.   Students can see their teacher to trade in KEYS for free dress passes and homework passes once they’ve earned enough KEYS!

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in KA, we will review what nouns are and work in groups to make a "nouns poster." Each student in a group will have a job to do in order to make a poster. The poster will have a title as: Person, Place and Thing. Students will be asked to draw at least 3 pictures in each category. Lastly, each group will take turns sharing their poster together in front of the class. Parents, please have your child refer back to their individual poster that they made last week. This will help them review what nouns are and feel more comfortable participating in a group activity that involves nouns.

1A - This week in first grade we are reading and talking about pets and what makes them special. In religion we are continuing to work on the Our Father and learning new songs to sing our prayers. In science we are continuing to experiment with air and its effect on objects. In social studies we are talking about communities and the different members of a community.

2A - Second grade will be reading and learning about how animals survive in nature; finishing up subtracting and beginning place value; learning different ways of praying and praying the first decade of the rosary; and building bridges in science.

3A - This week, we are continuing to learn about the Sacraments of Initiation during Religion class.  In Science we are beginning to learn the bones of the body.  Please help your son/daughter by going online for great resources, especially, YouTube. 

4A - This week 4A will learn the Scripture story of the Last Supper, review the four kinds of sentences by correcting errors in punctuation and capitalization, and use rounding to estimate sums and differences.

5A – This week, 5th graders will design experiments to separate mixtures in science and analyze the motivations of Marco Polo & other explorers in social studies. We're continuing to work on our persuasive writing and our novel study of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

6AReligion – 6th Graders are defining the word: Covenant, and looking at examples of Covenants in the Old Testament.   Language Arts – 6th Graders will begin looking at how characters' action drive the plot of the story. We'll be reading the Rudyard Kipling classic "Rikki-Tiki-Tavi" and practicing writing our own stories with a special focus on developing suspense during the rising action.   Math - The 6th graders will continue their journey through the introduction to rational numbers and decimals, exploring how decimals are used in our world.  Social Studies - 6th Graders are reviewing their Mesopotamia Unit and taking a Mesopotamia Test on October 5th.   Science - 6th graders will begin studying the Earth's atmosphere & how it affects weather this week in science.

7A/7B   Religion - 7th graders are studying the Infancy Narratives, and the two different stories from Matthew and Luke about the birth of Jesus.  Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Walk Two Moons. They are in anticipation of what will happen next to the Winterbottoms' Family!  Math – 7th graders are exploring how variables are used to represent mathematical ideas.   Social Studies – 7th Graders are spinning the globe over to the physical geography of Africa and looking at the early civilizations in Western Africa. They will also begin reading “A Long Walk to Water.”   Science - Students will discover how to effectively use a microscope to take a look at microscopic things called cells!

8A   Religion – 8th Graders will be finishing their Apostolic Chapter and breaking about the Apostle's Creed.   Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Mockingbird and completing assignments related to their reading.  Math -  The 8th graders are seeing how expressions can be put together to tell a story of a situation, then exploring squares and roots.  Social Studies - 8th graders will begin to look at the deeper details of the Causes of the American Revolution.

 Science - Students will discover what it is that allows for elements to bond with other elements in the creation of molecules.

REMINDERS

October 4          Free Dress for students with No Tardies

                              in September

October 5          Last day to purchase St. Peter’s Athletic

                               Sweats

October 6          Field trip to the Exploratorium for

                             Summer Learning Challenge Winners

October 7         “Procession for the Streets of

                             our City” (See attached flyer)

October 9         No School—Columbus Day holiday

October 10       Income Survey Due

October 10       8:15 AM School Mass

QUE PASA 9/27/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

Our focus of the KEY “Knowledge feeds GROWTH” for September was so appropriate as we began our school year together.  This is a time when we adjust to different environments, get to know teachers and classmates, and learn how to collaborate with others.  Think about how your child has grown (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.  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”--which will be our October focus of the 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

PROGRESS REPORTS

Grades 3-8: If your child is receiving a C- grade or below, or a 3 or 4 in Behavior, he/she will bring home a progress report today.

Grades K-2:  If your child is receiving an “N” in an area, or a 3 or 4 in Behavior, he/she will bring home a progress report today. 

*These progress reports must be signed by a parent and returned to the teacher.  Final grades for the First Quarter will be available at the beginning of November.

NO TARDIES FOR SEPTEMBER

If your child was on time to school for every school day in September, then he/she may wear Free Dress on Wednesday, Oct.4.  If students qualify for this prize, they will be notified by their teacher.

ST. PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS

Please see the attached order form to place an order for the gray St. Peter’s Sweats and T-shirt.  Order forms are also available in the office.  These sweats are on sale for a limited time only, so don’t miss out!

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Complete the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org.  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  Directions for accessing the course are available on our school website—www.stpeterssf.org—under the August 30 Que Pasa section.  Or pick up a paper copy of the directions from the school office.  Your certificate of completion is good for 3 years.  Submit your certificate of online course completion by this Friday Sept. 29 and receive 6 hours of parent participation.

HELP SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT ST. PETER’S

See the attached flyer for “Mornings in Kindergarten” and “Shadow Days” at St. Peter’s.  These are opportunities for prospective students and families to get to know St. Peter’s so that the students can attend our school.  Feel free to share this information with others outside of St. Peter’s.

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH!

Homeroom teachers identify Students of the Month at the end of each month, and will be recognized at the last morning assembly of each month.  Students who are chosen have exemplified living the St. Peter’s KEYS:

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

KINDER - Dominic Leonor is kind and always willing to be helpful. His positive attitude towards learning has helped him build his knowledge and explore new ideas. He is willing to take the risk of asking questions to check for understanding. He works hard and is willing to go above and beyond in his efforts to progress.  

1A – Milena Arevalo Zelayandia is a student who is always trying her best and is eager to learn and grow. She is kind and loving to all those around her and is always quick to help a friend in need. For these reasons Milena is our first student of the month!

2A – Andrea Perez is always helping others (service), working hard and trying her best (accomplish), and working with others to resolve problems (unite).

3A – Isaac Leonor is a hard worker who asks intelligent questions in order to grow in knowledge.  He is a willing helper to fellow students, as well as his teacher.  Also, his study habits are outstanding.

4A – Daniela Perez has demonstrated that every accomplishment needs courage.  She overcame feeling frustrated with homework and studying by persevering and doing extremely well on her spelling tests averaging over 96%.  Good job Daniela!  

5A – Veronica Montes is kind to her classmates, constantly offers to help, and shows courage in asking questions when she doesn't understand something. We know her courage and dedication will help her grow and accomplish many great things this year!

6A – Javier Montano is a great example of a student with the KEYS. He has started the year in great spirits and has been excited to share his knowledge with his classmates. He has quickly learned the expectations in 6th grade and has been very helpful to his peers.

7A – Bianca Langlois has shown that she is ready for anything that 7th grade will throw at her.  She has been a helper to those classmates who need it, she has taken great care to ensure her understanding of all things in math by asking great questions, and has an eye for perfection.  The way Bianca went about roaming the room and helping her classmates when they were stuck was what growth and success are all about.  

7B – Daniel Mejia has shown that service unites. His leadership and dedication to the safety patrol and the student council has made our school community a safer place.

8A – Yesenia Herrera has exhibited a willingness to share her knowledge in the classroom, both academically and personally, by constantly asking questions to better herself.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week in Kindergarten, we will explore and read to find out ways that baby animals move. Students will write an opinion about an animal using an idea from a list given. Then students will work in pairs to do a peer edit and check for the following: Did I write about an animal? Did I share my feelings about the animal? Does my sentence tell about the picture I drew? Lastly, we will create animal puppets. It's going to be a fun week!

1A - This week in English Language Arts the topic is “Where We Live.” We are discussing our own neighborhoods and communities, as well as those of others. In religion we are discussing the different ways we can praise God. In math we are continuing to work on sequencing and ordinal numbers. In science we are continuing to experiment with air and its effect on different objects.

2A - 2nd grade will be writing their own prayers of praise and thanksgiving; continuing to prepare for First Communion/Reconciliation (parent meeting Wednesday, 9/27 at 6 p.m.); learning to count up to subtract, identifying and writing fact families; reading about how families work together; understanding the roles of consumers and producers; and building towers and bridges.

4A - This week 4A students will learn the Scripture story of the Last Supper, understand the four meanings of subtraction, identify the sequence of events in a text and use the sequence of events to summarize a text.

5A – 5th grade is beginning to discuss mixtures in science and early exploration in social studies this week. We'll also continue reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in English Language Arts and will review the properties of addition and subtraction in math.

6AReligion – 6th Grade Religion will continue with the story of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis and they will have their second session of Building Bridges with Paula Pardini.  Language Arts –  6th graders are continuing their study of short stories by identifying different types of point of view. We will be reading "The Sniper" to look at the importance of choosing the right point of view to build suspense in a story.  Social Studies - 6th Grade Social Studies will choose which Sumerian Achievement was most significant to changing history!   Science - 6th graders will expand on their investigation of air by brainstorming their own experiments to test whether air has mass.

7A/7B   Language Arts - Students will continue to read Walk Two Moons, while also responding to comprehension questions, text connections and vocabulary. The material thus far has provided very thoughtful and lively discussions. What is in store for Salamanca Tree Hiddle?  Social Studies – 7th Graders have studied the beliefs and practices of Islam, will write their names in the Arabic language, and will see the ways in which Islam was spread throughout the world.  Science - Students will review cellular process as we prepare to take a look inside the cells that do those processes.

8A   Religion – 8th Graders are moving through the 'Apostolic' Chapter of their text as they learn what it as one of our Church's four marks.  Language Arts - Students have begun reading Mockingbird. In addition to their reading, students have created a Character Study Notebook to record their responses to character transformation. This will serve as the main focus of the novel, while also participating in mini lesson activities to aid in further comprehension.    Social Studies - 8th graders will start to learn about the beginnings of unrest in the American Colonies and learn what sparked the American Revolution!   Science - Students will put their knowledge of subatomic particles to use as they create models of ions, isotopes, and neutral atoms.

REMINDERS

September 27       First Communion Meeting at

                             6:00 PM in Church

October 3             8:15 AM School Mass

October 4             Free Dress for students with

                               No Tardies in September

October 4             Morning in Kindergarten for

                               prospective students and   

                              families

October 5            Last day to purchase St.

                              Peter’s Athletic Sweats

October 7           “Procession for the Streets of

                             our City” (See attached flyer)

QUE PASA 9/20/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

Later this week, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, or as we lovingly call it, Mercy Day!  At St. Peter’s, we remember and celebrate the Sisters of Mercy who founded our school and continue to care for and support our students to this day.

The sisters of Mercy our living examples to us for living out the mission of Mercy.  

MERCY means to show love and compassion towards others; to forgive others and to be grateful to be forgiven by others; to show charity and generosity, especially to those in need; to have the courage to stand up for what’s right, especially for others who are afraid to stand up for themselves; to have faith in God.  MERCY means having an open heart and open mind.

Let’s remember to be thankful for all the good works of the Sisters of Mercy, and try our best to live out the mission of Mercy ourselves, not only at St. Peter’s School, but everywhere! 

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

ST. PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS

Please see the attached order form to place an order for the gray St. Peter’s Sweats and T-shirt.  Order forms are also available in the office or on the schoolyard before the 7:55 AM bell.  These sweats are on sale for a limited time only, so don’t miss out!

DACA RENEWAL SERVICE
ATTENTION: For any DACA recipients who live in the Bay Area and qualify to renew their DACA.  San Francisco's office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs will be holding a workshop on September 23 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at Mission High School in San Francisco.  Attorneys will help you do your renewals for FREE.  If you are in financial need, they will pay the $495 fee to the Department of Homeland Security.  Please share if you know anyone in need of this service.

JOIN A PARENT GROUP!

A fun way to get involved with St. Peter’s School is through one of our caring Parent Groups!

- Madrinas/Padrinos help in marketing our school and in welcoming new students and families to our school family.

- The Community Builders help plan school events to strengthen our community and raise funds for the school.

- Campus Care helps to maintain the physical well-being and safety of the school.

All these groups can use your help, energy, and expertise!  To join, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave a message in the office.

SUNDAY FAMILY MASS

This Sunday, September 24, will be our first Sunday Family Mass of the school year.  Please join us at 9:30 AM at St. Peter’s Church as we celebrate of the Eucharist.  Students who attend this Mass in school uniform will receive a Free Dress Pass for Monday, September 25.  (There will be no reception after this mass.  Our first Family Mass reception will be in October.)

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Complete the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org.  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  Directions for accessing the course are available on our school website—www.stpeterssf.org—under the August 30 Que Pasa section.  Or pick up a paper copy of the directions from the school office.  Your certificate of completion is good for 3 years.  Submit your certificate of online course completion by Sept. 29 and receive 6 hours of parent participation.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week, our faith focus is that God gives us our five senses. We will identify that our five senses are gifts from God and that our senses help us learn about the world. Also, we will participate in shared research and writing projects.

1A - This week in we are beginning with our First Grade ELA program. Please help your child practice their spelling and sight words on the front of their homework packet. We are also starting our first investigation in the science lab, looking at the different things air can do. In religion we are talking about the importance of The Bible. In social studies we are talking about classroom rules and being a leader. In math we are continuing to focus on number sense.

2A - We will be reading and talking about how animals need our care; finding the differences of 12 or less using "count back" strategy; grouping objects; comparing and contrasting our lives now with those of past; identifying everyday heroes. Reminder: First Communion Meeting is next Wednesday 9/27 at 6:00 p.m.

3A - This week we are investigating apples in Science class. We will use our senses to explore what an apple looks like, feels like, tastes like and smells like.  We will write our findings in our Science journals and share them with our partners.

4A - I want to first thank 4A students and their families for giving so much last week and supporting St. Peter School's Student Council and those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  This week 4A will continue to identify the sequence of events in a text, understand the properties of addition, and understand that at Mass we give thanks and praise to God, especially for the gift of Jesus.

5A – We're starting our first novel study this week! 5th grade will be reading and analyzing The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. In math, students will continue practicing writing numbers through billions and into decimals in both standard and expanded form. We will also practice giving and receiving feedback on our writing.

6AReligion - 6th Grade Religion is beginning the study of the Old Testament with the story of Abraham and Sarah and learning about Abraham's total faith in God.  Language Arts –  Students will be looking at how authors develop characters in their short stories, both directly and indirectly. We'll be practicing how to make inferences about characters' traits using clues from the text.  Social Studies - 6th Grade Social Studies is answering the question: Which Sumerian achievement was most significant to changing the way they lived?   Science - 6th graders will be investigating the properties of air in the science lab this week.  Math - 6th graders are honing their skills with decimal operations.

7A/7B  Language Arts - Students have focused on the types of conflict and how it is the driving force to any story. They will now put their knowledge to the test with a quiz and essay assessment. Additionally, students will be introduced to their first novel, Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech. A series of pre-reading activities will take place to further aid comprehension as students read.  Social Studies – 7th Grade is comparing and contrasting the three major world religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism as they are learning about the final major world religion, Islam.  Math - 7th graders have been working incredibly hard on adding and subtracting negative integers, we will take a short integer break to look at order of operations and expressions this week.  Science - Students complete their cellular processes stop-motion animations and begin their review of what they have learned so far.

8A  Religion – 8th Grade Religion groups are presenting significant words and definitions that will appear on the ACRE test so that their peers can better understand the importance and meanings of the terms.   Language Arts - Students completed their Personal Narrative Essay with a strong finish! They will now begin the pre-reading activities for their first novel, Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erskine this week. This will serve as contextual background of the different topics and themes that will be introduced as they read.   Social Studies - 8th Grade is finishing their comparisons of the 13 Original Colonies.  They will begin to notice conflict that begins to spark between England and the Colonies and between the Colonies and the Native Americans.   Math - 8th grade is working on expressions and equations and will be learning how to make equations from a table.  Science - Students are defining ions, isotopes, and drawing electron orbitals.

REMINDERS

September 20        7th Grade Parent Preview

                              Meeting at 6:00 PM for

                              Caritas Creek Camp, in  

                              Faculty Meeting Room

September 22        Mercy Day Mass, 8:30 AM   

                               (Students in complete

                                uniform; no sweats)

September 24        Sunday Family Mass,

                              9:30 AM 

September 25       12:30 Dismissal

September 27       First Communion Meeting at

                             6:00 PM in Church

QUE PASA 9/13/2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

This week marked the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, when thousands of people were killed or injured as a result of hate and ignorance.  Many felt fear and anxiety.  Yet in response, people showed compassion, unity, courage, and service as they helped those in need.

In a way, the attacks of 9/11 remind me of our current political climate, and how people may feel fear and anxiety because of the decisions made by our nation’s leaders.  This makes our work at St. Peter’s even more meaningful and important, as we guide children to act in unity with love and knowledge.  We want St. Peter’s School to be a safe place for students to grow and learn, where they can accomplish their goals with open hearts and open minds. 

Together, then, let us pray for peace and pray for our country’s leaders.  We continue to strive to live out St. Peter’s KEYS.

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

ST. PETER’S ATHLETIC SWEATS

Please see the attached order form (or obtain a form in the office) to place an order for the gray St. Peter’s Sweats and T-shirt.

DIMES FROM HEAVEN

The “Dimes from Heaven” collection will help to benefit Student Council events for this year.  Also, part of the proceeds will be donated to help victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.  The classes in grades K-4 and 5-8 that raise the most money will win an ice cream party!

AFTER-SCHOOL PROCEDURE

All students not registered for any after school programs must leave the schoolyard by 3:15 PM on regular dismissal days and 2:30 PM on early dismissal days. Students may not leave the schoolyard and return to the campus after dismissal. At no time will a student be allowed to be on campus unsupervised.  Parents must also leave the campus at this time, unless they have an appointment with a teacher or administration.

All students who participate in any after school activity should register for the BVCC St. Peter’s After School Program.  Financial Assistance is available.  Please see BVCC Directors Sheri Schlicker or Rochelle Celedon if you have any questions about registration.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

If you would like your child to receive Baptism, Reconciliation, or First Eucharist, please fill out a form in the office by September 15.

PARKING NOTIFICATIONS

If a parking spot in the school/church parking lot is marked with a YELLOW number or blocked with an orange cone, please do not park in that space.  Those spaces are rented by the church and must be kept open for the parking tenants.

Please do not park in the white zone in front of the Alabama Street gate--this is only a drop-off area—and avoid parking on the sidewalk.  Also, do not block the rectory driveways, since this will prevent our priests from attending to their many important commitments.

TUITION NOTICE

The Tuitions Office will send out Tuition statements in both paper form and via email.  Through email, the statement will be an attachment, so please make sure you open the attachment to access the information!  If you have questions, contact the tuitions office at tuition-office@sanpedro.org

JOIN A PARENT GROUP!

A fun way to get involved with St. Peter’s School is through one of our caring Parent Groups!

- Madrinas/Padrinos help in marketing our school and in welcoming new students and families to our school family.

- The Community Builders help plan school events to strengthen our community and raise funds for the school.

- Campus Care helps to maintain the physical well-being and safety of the school.

All these groups can use your help, energy, and expertise!  To join, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave a message in the office.

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Complete the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org.  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  Directions for accessing the course are available on our school website—www.stpeterssf.org—under the August 30 Que Pasa section.  Or pick up a paper copy of the directions from the school office.  Your certificate of completion is good for 3 years.  Submit your certificate of online course completion by Sept. 29 and receive 6 hours of parent participation.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - This week, we will explore what makes a good citizen. Students will demonstrate that being a good citizen involves taking turns, sharing, taking responsibility, practicing honesty, self-control, and being nice to others. Please discuss with your child the importance of becoming a responsible citizen. Thank you for all your support.

1A - This week in First Grade we will be finishing our review of Kindergarten reading skills. Please help your child prepare for their Smart Start sight word test on Friday. We will be continuing to express how we're feeling using "I Messages" and talking about the importance of respecting the rights and opinions of others.

2A - 2nd Grade will be reading for character, setting and events; continue adding and start subtracting within 20; sharing family photos and histories; talking about heroes; grouping solid objects; practicing our prayers; and we will receive a blessing at mass! Read to your child nightly, sign your child's reading log on Thursday night, and turn it in on Friday. Read to your child, let them read to you, go to the library!

3A - This week 3A is doing STAR Testing for Math.  In Religion we are practicing how to CORRECTLY make the sign of the cross. Parents please practice with your son or daughter as several students are using the wrong hand or not crossing over for the Holy Spirit.  That test will be given individually.

4A - This week 4A will identify and use imperative and exclamatory sentences, write numbers in expanded form from standard form, and identify and use synonyms. 

5A – The 5th grade class is using the story “Mama's Nightingale” this week to continue using context clues to find the meaning of vocabulary words and discuss immigration. We're continuing to review fractions, place value, and units of measurement in math.

6A  Religion - 6th Grade Religion class will be spent preparing for the Building Bridges program with Paula Pardini as she visits our class for the first time on September 14th to work with the class on building a Faith Community.  Language Arts – 6A ELA will continue to work on short story elements by analyzing different types of conflict, such as internal and external. We'll also start developing ideas to write our own short stories that include multiple layers of conflict.  Social Studies - 6th Grade will be studying Mesopotamia as the first well known civilization and they will learn what components are required in order for a group of people to be labeled a civilization.  Science - 6th grade scientists are completing data for our class weather chart and beginning their investigation of the science behind severe weather.

7A/7B  Language Arts - Students are continuing to identify and analyze the types of conflict in a short story. They are transitioning to applying the types on conflict, internal or external, in their very own short story!

Social Studies – 7th Grade Social Studies will continue their study of the region of Arabia, they will act our stories from Arabian Nights, and they will begin to learn about the origins of the Islamic Religion.  Science - Students will be finalizing their models of photosynthesis and cellular respiration and begin their test study.

8A  Religion – 8th Grade is preparing for Paula Pardini to visit and begin her second year with them in the Building Bridges program.  Language Arts - Students are wrapping up their STAR Testing this week. They are in the beginning stages of composing their Personal Narratives based on a challenge they overcame or currently overcoming.  Social Studies - 8th Grade is researching the American colonies in depth and will be sharing their expertise through a brochure project.  Science - Students will continue to learn more about atoms and how the periodic table describes different versions of them for us.

REMINDERS

September 5-15     STAR Testing Window

September 11-15   “Dimes from Heaven”  

                               Collection

September 13        8th grade Parent Meeting, 7:30

                              AM or 6:00 PM in the Faculty   

                              Meeting Room

September 20        7th Grade Parent Preview

                              Meeting at 6:00 PM for

                              Caritas Creek Camp

September 22        Mercy Day Mass, 8:30 AM

QUE PASA September 6, 2017

Dear Parents,

Last week, we completed our first FULL week of school!  Great job, everyone!

Thank you to all the parents and guardians who attended Back-to-School Night last Wednesday.  We want to continue to work as partners to support your child’s overall growth.

If you were unable to attend, please make sure you have received any handouts and important information from your child’s teacher(s).  If you were unable to attend or you forgot to pick up your Parent-Student handbook at Back-to-School Night, your child should have brought home a handbook.  Please go over this handbook with your child, and sign and return the form inside.

As we move forward in partnership, let’s stay united as we encourage each other to live out St. Peter’s KEYS!

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

If your child has not yet returned all the required forms--Emergency Card, Medical Packet, Permission to walk/talk public transportation after school, Photo Release form, Technology Acceptable Use Policy, Email address verification—please make sure those are submitted right away.  The information provided on these forms is very important for the safety of your child.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROCEDURE

All students not registered for any after school programs must leave the schoolyard by 3:15 PM on regular dismissal days and 2:30 PM on early dismissal days. Students may not leave the schoolyard and return to the campus after dismissal. At no time will a student be allowed to be on campus unsupervised.  Parents must also leave the campus at this time, unless they have an appointment with a teacher or administration.

All students who participate in any after school activity should register for the BVCC St. Peter’s After School Program.  Financial Assistance is available.  Please see BVCC Directors Sheri Schlicker or Rochelle Celedon if you have any questions about registration.

STAR TESTING

September 5-15 is our first STAR Testing window.  During this time, students will take the computer adaptive STAR test in both Language and Math.  The results of these tests will be available to the teachers in order to help meet students’ needs.  Throughout the year, students will participate in progress monitoring and universal screenings using the STAR test to provide input on academic growth.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

If you would like your child to receive Baptism, Reconciliation, or First Eucharist, please fill out a form in the office by September 15.

PARKING NOTIFICATIONS

If a parking spot in the school/church parking lot is marked with a YELLOW number or blocked with an orange cone, please do not park in that space.  Those spaces are rented by the church and must be kept open for the parking tenants.

Please do not park in the white zone in front of the Alabama Street gate--this is only a drop-off area—and avoid parking on the sidewalk.  Also, do not block the rectory driveways, since this will prevent our priests from attending to their many important commitments.

TUITION NOTICE

This month, our Tuitions Office will be sending out Tuition statements in both paper form and via email.  Through email, the statement will be an attachment, so please make sure you open the attachment to access the information!  If you have questions, contact the tuitions office at tuition-office@sanpedro.org

JOIN A PARENT GROUP!

A fun way to get involved with St. Peter’s School is through one of our caring Parent Groups!

- Madrinas/Padrinos help in marketing our school and in welcoming new students and families to our school family.

- The Community Builders help plan school events to strengthen our community and raise funds for the school.

- Campus Care helps to maintain the physical well-being and safety of the school.

All these groups can use your help, energy, and expertise!  To join, please contact Mrs. Jimenez at sjimenez@sanpedro.org or leave a message in the office.

SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

Complete the online course on www.shieldthevulnerable.org.  This course is necessary for adults to volunteer with children, including volunteering as a field trip chaperone.  Directions for accessing the course are available on our school website—www.stpeterssf.org—under the August 30 Que Pasa section.  Or pick up a paper copy of the directions from the school office.  Your certificate of completion is good for 3 years.  Submit your certificate of online course completion by Sept. 29 and receive 6 hours of parent participation.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Our faith focus this week is that God loves us. Students will discover that taking care of someone or something is a sign that a person or thing is special to us. Also, we will thank God for his love for us and celebrate that "we are children of God."

1A - This week we are continuing to work on our classroom procedures and talking about community. We are working on solving our disagreements and problems using the “I Message.” Please ask your child to demonstrate it for you. Thanks so much for all of your help.

2A - 2nd Grade will be reading “Big Red Lollipop” and How Families Celebrate; continuing with strategies to add sums within 20; sharing family photos and histories, talking about signs of baptism and getting blessings at mass.

3A - We are hard at work practicing our basic addition and subtraction facts, reviewing our prayers and reading orally

4A - This week 4A will describe who we respect and care for God's creation, identify the sequence of events in a passage, and understand place value through the hundred millions.

5A – The 5th graders will be reviewing quotients and fraction properties in math. We'll begin working on fictional narrative writing in ELA review how to define new vocabulary words using context clues. We'll be studying looking at the connection of neurons & growth mindset in science and introducing our new unit on early Americans in social studies.

6A  Religion - 6th Grade Religion will be illustrating what the St Peter's KEYS mean to them to create a classroom poster of each key.  Language Arts – We are continuing our analysis of setting and social context in short stories. We will finish reading the Sherlock Holmes mystery "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" and have our first vocabulary and grammar test on Friday.   Social Studies - 6th Grade Social Studies will begin to explore the question: "Why is it important to study the past?"  Science - Students will be continuing their observations of the weather in their lab notebooks and learning about the key features of a weather forecast.

7A/7B  Language Arts - Students are identifying the types of conflict.  Social Studies – 7th Grade has watched the Roman Empire Fall and they will begin to shift their focus to the physical geography and life in Arabia.  Science - Students will begin creating a model of photosynthesis and cellular respiration...some of the most important processes in the world!

8A  Language Arts - Students are currently focusing on Personal Narratives, what it means, how it applies to everyday and literature based examples.  Social Studies - 8th is answering the question: "What consequences occur when two different cultures meet?" And they will use the answer to that question as a guide in their understanding of the beginning of our US Colonization Unit.   Science - Students are beginning their work on the creation of models of atoms and molecules.

REMINDERS

September 5-15     STAR Testing Window

September 7          St. Ignatius High School  

                              presentation to 8th graders at St.  

                              Peter’s School

September 11-15   “Dimes from Heaven” Collection

September 12        School Mass, 8:15 AM

September 13        8th grade Parent Meeting, 7:30 AM  

                              or 6:00 PM in the Faculty Meeting

                              Room

QUE PASA AUGUST 30, 2017 (English)

Dear Parents,

Our school year is off to a strong start!  This would not be possible without all the support from KEY people—teachers, parents, support staff, and volunteers.  Such positive things can happen when we all work together.

Remember that parents and guardians are encouraged to join the School Morning Meetings at the beginning and ending of each school week.  In case you’re not sure, a sign saying “ASSEMBLY TODAY” will be up in the schoolyard to signify that we will be having a Morning meeting that day.

Please make sure that you are registered to receive notifications for SchoolSpeak, our online communications system.  If you have not been receiving notices, contact the office and provide your email so that your contact information can be updated on the system.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School Night is scheduled for TONIGHT-- Wednesday, August 30. Please see the schedule below for the schedule for Back-to-School Night.  Child care by BVCC will be available.

6:00 – 6:25  Parents visit Grades K – 5 classrooms

6:00 – 6:40  Visit booths on the schoolyard

·      Pick up the Parent-Student Handbook at designated tables.

·      Learn about the Madrinas, Community Builders, and Campus Care parent groups, and sign up as a volunteer.

·      Register for the Buena Vista Child Care After-school Program.

·      Sign up for upcoming CYO Athletic teams.

6:50 – 7:10  Parent Meeting in the Church

7:15 – 7:45  Parent meeting in Church for grades 6-8

Please make sure you pick up your Parent-Student Handbook at Back-to-School Night. This is a very important document for you and your child to review. 

CULTURAL VISION

The implementation of our cultural vision—KEYS—is already having a positive impact on our school community.  The children are encouraged to live out our school’s values of Grow, Accomplish, Love, Serve, and Unite:

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs

     courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

Please continue to join us in helping students to live their values in all they say and do.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please make sure to read and complete all the forms that were sent home with your child last week--

Emergency Card, Medical Packet, Permission to walk/talk public transportation after school, Photo Release form, Technology Acceptable Use Policy, Email address verification.  The information provided on these forms is very important and due back to the office by Friday, September 1st.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROCEDURE

All students not registered for any after school programs must leave the schoolyard by 3:15 PM on regular dismissal days and 2:30 PM on early dismissal days. Students may not leave the schoolyard and return to the campus after dismissal. At no time will a student be allowed to be on campus unsupervised.  Parents must also leave the campus at this time, unless they have an appointment with a teacher or administration.

All students who participate in any after school activity should register for the BVCC St. Peter’s After School Program.  Financial Assistance is available.  Please see BVCC Directors Sheri Schlicker or Rochelle Celedon if you have any questions about registration.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

If you would like your child to receive Baptism, Reconciliation, or First Eucharist, please fill out a form in the office by September 15.

PARKING LOT

If a parking spot in the school/church parking lot is blocked with an orange cone, please do not park in that space.  Those spaces are rented by the church and must be kept open for the parking tenants.

Please do not park in the white zone in front of the Alabama Street gate; this is only for a drop-off area. Also please avoid parking on the sidewalk. 

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

In the Que Pasa today is information concerning the Student Accident Insurance provided by the Archdiocese. The insurance will cover your child for injury at school.

TDAP VACCINATIONS

California Law, (California State Law A354) requires that all students entering 7th-12th grades show proof of a Tdap (Whooping Cough) Pertussis booster shot. If you have not already done so, please submit documentation to the school no later than August 28th. The San Francisco Department of Health informs us we cannot offer a grace period for those who do not have a booster. Please contact your child’s health care provider and arrange for the Tdap booster.

IN THE CLASSROOM

KINDER - Last week, we read the book Chrysanthemum. It's about a little mouse that was given a very large name but when she goes to school, her friends teased her. This week, we will discuss how teasing hurts others and ways we can deal with being teased. Then we will talk about our names and make a class graph with the amount of letters in our names, following words from left to right and top to bottom.

1A - In First Grade this week we are continuing to review reading and math learned in Kindergarten. We are talking about the responsibilities of a first grader and learning about families and communities. Please check your child's homework packet every night. Thank you for a wonderful start to the year. I'm looking forward to seeing you at Back-to-School Night on 8/30/2017.

2A - 2nd Grade will be reading “Help! A Story of Friendship,” diving right into adding and subtracting within 20, sharing family photos and histories, and celebrating God's light and baptism photos

4A - This week 4A will learn the Scripture story of Creation, identify the sequence of events in a passage, and understand place value through the hundred thousands. 

5A - 5th grade students began the school year by reflecting on what kind of classroom community we want to create with the help of the mentor text What If Everybody Did That? We will be starting academic content this week with a review of sentence structure in grammar, analyzing story structure using humorous reading passages from Wayside School is Falling Down, and exploring place value to the billions in math. 5th graders will also be completing job applications for our classroom economy this week!

6A  Religion - We’re working on an "About Me" poster to share what makes them unique.  Language Arts – We’ll begin an introduction to the short story. We will learn about the different elements that make up fiction writing and also work on rules of capitalization.   Social Studies - We will answer the question: Why study History?  Science - Our 6th grade scientists are beginning the year by setting up their lab notebooks and learning about different kinds of severe weather.  

 7A/7B  Religion - 7th grade has been buzzing with joy and positivity in the first days back!  We will take that and integrate it into looking at different types of prayer and why we pray.  We will then make our own 7th grade prayer.  Math sees us learn how to use our resources and learn about the different strategies to solve mathematical problems that we will see through out the year using all mathematical practices.  Language Arts - Welcome back! This week we are focusing on getting to know one another, while also learning the importance of 7th Grade. Students will begin formal instruction mid-week.  Social Studies – We will walk through our textbook and identify what we already know and what we want to learn during the 7th grade units this school year.  Science - Students will begin to explore the processes necessary for plant life to thrive.

8A Religion – We will be participating in some 'growth experiences' to understand our current relationship with God. We’ll also take an 8th grade Religion pretest.  Language Arts - Welcome back to another exciting year at Saint Peter's! This week we are focusing on getting to know one another, while also looking into the High School Application process. Students will begin formal instruction mid-week.  Social Studies - We’ll be looking at concept maps we made at the end of 7th grade and start to place US History events in the order they took place.  Science - Students will begin to explore what makes all the matter in the world.

EARN PARENT HOURS!!!

Complete the Safe Environment Training on Shield the Vulnerable by Friday, September 29, 2017, and receive 6 parent hours towards your St. Peter’s Parent Participation time!  Your Certificate of Completion is then valid for 3 years!

Please follow these instructions to complete the Safe Environment Training:

• Go to www.shieldthevulnerable.org

• Click “First time signup”

• On drop-down menu, choose “Catholic Diocese”

• Select “San Francisco Archdiocese”

• For “Type of User,” choose ADULT.  Then click Continue.

• You will be directed to an information page.  Fill out the personal information requested.

• Click “Next.”  There will be a drop-down menu.  Type--choose “Elementary School.”

• Next “Location,”  choose “San Francisco”

• Select School, choose “St. Peter”

• For Primary position, choose “Parent”

• You will be directed to a summary page to verify your information.

• Next, you may begin the online course!

When you have completed the course, submit your certificate to the office by Friday, September 29, and receive your 6 hours of Parent Participation.

REMINDERS:

August 30             Back-to-School Night,

                                 6:00-8:00 PM

September 1           All school forms due

September 1           Opening School Year Mass, 

                                8:30 AM                 

September 4           No School – Labor Day   

                               Holiday

September 5-15      STAR Testing Window

QUE PASA AUGUST 23, 2017

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school! Mr. Suarez (Director of School Culture and Community Life), Mrs. Fresnoza (Director of Academics), all the teachers, and I hope that you had a restful summer break.

We warmly welcome all new students and families to our school community.  In addition, we have some new faculty and volunteers joining our school family.  Our new 5th grade teacher is Ms. Emily Storms.  Ms. Sandra Ruiz and Ms. Myranda Empric are our new Mercy Corps volunteers.  Finally, we welcome Mr. Jim Sanchez and Ms. Lissette Lopez as our new Athletic Co-Directors. 

The school doors open at 7:30 AM. You may drop off your child as early as 7:15 AM at the Alabama St. gate.  If you must drop off your child before 7:15 AM, please bring him/her into Church for the 7:00 AM Mass so that they will be supervised at all times.

The Pastor, Father Moises Agudo, has asked us to keep the parking lot on Alabama St. locked during the school day.  It will be open from 7:30-8:15 AM and 2:00-3:30 PM for parent use. 

The Que Pasa will be sent to you every Wednesday.  In addition, it will be posted on the school website, www.stpeterssf.org and sent to you via SchoolSpeak.  Please take the time to read through the newsletter each week since it does contain important information.

I look forward to a great school year with everyone in our St. Peter’s School family!

-- Mrs. Sandra Jimenez

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School Night is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30.  There will be childcare available if necessary.  Please see the attached flyer for the schedule for Back-to-School Night.  

CULTURAL VISION

This year, St. Peter’s is implementing a cultural vision with the acronym KEYS, which is based on our core values of Grow, Accomplish, Love, Serve, and Unite:

Knowledge feeds GROWTH.

Every ACCOMPLISHMENT needs courage.

You are LOVE.

SERVICE UNITES.

Throughout the year the teachers and students will be focusing on how to live out this vision.  Please join us in helping students to live their values in all they say and do.

CAFETERIA

Cafeteria service will begin on Thursday, August 24th. Please make sure your child brings payment for lunch if he/she will be purchasing their lunch.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please make sure to read and complete all the forms that were sent home with your child today. The information provided on these forms is very important and due back to the office by Friday, September 1st.

BVCC AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

The Buena Vista Child Care (BVCC) After School Program is available to students in grades K-8 beginning on Thursday, August 24th.  It begins after dismissal and closes at 6:00 PM.  All students must be registered and past-due payments must be paid for students to participate in the program.

STUDENT DISMISSAL

All students not registered for and participating in the after school programs must leave the schoolyard by 3:15 PM on regular dismissal days and 2:30 PM on early dismissal days. Students may not leave the schoolyard and return to the campus after dismissal. At no time will a student be allowed to be on campus unsupervised.  Parents must also leave the campus at this time, unless they have an appointment with a teacher or administration.

TDAP VACCINATIONS

California Law, (California State Law A354) requires that all students entering 7th-12th grades show proof of a Tdap (Whooping Cough) Pertussis booster shot. If you have not already done so, please submit documentation to the school no later than August 28th. The San Francisco Department of Health informs us we cannot offer a grace period for those who do not have a booster. Please contact your child’s health care provider and arrange for the Tdap booster.

 REMINDERS:

August 30               Back-to-School Night, 6:00-8:00 PM

September 1           All school forms due

September 1           Opening School Year Mass, 8:30 AM                 

September 4           No School – Labor Day Holiday

Que Pasa June 7, 2017

Dear Parents,

Congratulations to the 8th Graders who graduate on Friday, June 2nd and received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, June 3rd.

 All registration payments for 2017-2018 are now past due. The remaining balance was due April 14th. If you paid the deposit your space was only guaranteed up through April 14th. Please come to the office and make your final payment.

The last day of school is June 9th. School begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 10:30 AM. There is no extended care available. Please make arrangements for your child to be picked up at 10:30 AM.

 Ms. Hammen and I would like to thank everyone as we walk through these last days of our time at St. Peter’s. We offer this prayer for you: Dear God, As we say our final farewell to the faculty, students and families of St. Peter's School we entrust them into your care. We pray for happiness and joy to be ahead of them, for wisdom and guidance to be beside them, and for grace and truth to be behind them, pushing them onwards into your goodness. We know that you will always love and protect them, wherever they go. Amen.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

The school office will be open in the Summer from

9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Monday –Thursday. The office will be closed on Friday’s.

YEARBOOK ORDERS

It is time to order your yearbook! This year our yearbook is full of pictures of the many events and celebrations we have during the year. Having a yearbook is a wonderful way to remember your teachers, classmates, and special friends. The cost is $25.

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR 2017-2018

The application for the 2017-2018 school year is available for new students.  Please encourage friends, family, and co-workers to stop by the school for a tour and to pick up an application.

BVCC SUMMER CAMP

We will be taking applications here at St. Peter’s for the BVCC Summer Camp. The Director will be picking up applications on a daily basis. If you need assistance with paying for the camp please call the number provided for you on the flyer. The camp includes breakfast, snack and lunch at no extra cost.

REMINDERS:

June 7th                  Minimum Day

June 8th                  Minimum Day

                                Awards Assembly

June 9th                  Last Day of School

                                Mass 9:15 AM

                                Dismissal 10:30 AM

Que Pasa May 31, 2017

Dear Parents,

Congratulations to the 8th Graders who will graduate on Friday, June 2nd and will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, June 3rd.

 All registration payments for 2017-2018 are now past due. The remaining balance was due April 14th. If you paid the deposit your space was only guaranteed up through April 14th. Please come to the office and make your final payment.

 Please continue to check that your child is in the correct uniform each day. As we come to the end of the school year please also remind your child that appropriate behavior is expected of every student at all times and in all places.

ROOT BELIEF: MAY

May:  Serve

I will live by the example of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy by caring and praying for those in need.  I will care for the environment and all of God’s creation. I will share my time, talents, and gifts to make the world a better place.

STUDENT LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

A St. Peter Student will develop awareness and appreciation of Catholic principles and practices.

YEARBOOK ORDERS

It is time to order your yearbook! This year our yearbook is full of pictures of the many events and celebrations we have during the year. Having a yearbook is a wonderful way to remember your teachers, classmates, and special friends. The cost is $25.

NO TARDIES

In our efforts to get all students to school on time, we will continue to give rewards for the children that are not late to school. If your child has no tardies during the month of May, he/she can have a free dress on June 6th.

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR 2017-2018

The application for the 2017-2018 school year is available for new students.  Please encourage friends, family, and co-workers to stop by the school for a tour and to pick up an application.

KINDERGARTEN END OF YEAR CELEBRATION

The Kindergarten end of year celebration will be held on June 7th at 9:30 AM. This is the last day of school for Kindergarten and their dismissal will be at 11:00 AM. Call the school office (415) 647-8662 for more information.

BVCC SUMMER CAMP

We will be taking applications here at St. Peter’s for the BVCC Summer Camp. The Director will be picking up applications on a daily basis. If you need assistance with paying for the camp please call the number provided for you on the flyer. The camp includes breakfast, snack and lunch at no extra cost.

REMINDERS:

June 1st                   Archbishop Cordileone Visit

                                8th Grade Confirmation Practice 6:00 PM

June 2nd                 8th Grade Graduation Mass 9:30 AM

                                8th Grade Reception after Mass

                                8th Grade Graduation 5:00 PM

June 3rd                 Confirmation 10:00 AM Church

June 6th                 No Tardies May – Free Dress

June 7th                  Minimum Day

                                Kindergarten Last Day

June 8th                  Minimum Day

                                Awards Assembly

June 9th                  Last Day of School

                                 Mass 9:15 AM

                              Dismissal 10:30 AM

Que Pasa May 24, 2017

Dear Parents,

Thank you to Mrs. Jimenez, Sr. Marian Rose, Ms. Avila, Mrs. Marissa Gonzalez, the altar server, readers, choir and all the many helpers for the wonderful Family Mass and reception on Saturday. Also thank you to Mr. Molina (Angely 4th) who did a wonderful job of cleaning up the front of the school on Florida Street. Thank you to Mrs. Jimenez, Ms. Martinez and the parent group for their hard work on the nacho sale.

 Archbishop Cordileone will visit St. Peter’s School on Thursday, June 1st. He will celebrate Mass and then visit with the students and faculty. Also please join us on Sunday, June 18th at 10:00 AM when Archbishop Cordileone will celebrate Mass at St. Peter for the parish.

 All registration payments for 2017-2018 are now past due. The remaining balance was due April 14th. If you paid the deposit your space was only guaranteed up through April 14th. Please come to the office and make your final payment.

ROOT BELIEF: MAY

May:  Serve

I will live by the example of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy by caring and praying for those in need.  I will care for the environment and all of God’s creation. I will share my time, talents, and gifts to make the world a better place.

STUDENT LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

A St. Peter Student will use prior knowledge to solve problems and continue scaffolding through the acquisition of knowledge.

YEARBOOK ORDERS

It is time to order your yearbook! This year our yearbook is full of pictures of the many events and celebrations we have during the year. Having a yearbook is a wonderful way to remember your teachers, classmates, and special friends. The cost is $25.

NO TARDIES

In our efforts to get all students to school on time, we will continue to give rewards for the children that are not late to school. If your child has no tardies during the month of May, he/she can have a free dress on June 6th.

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR 2017-2018

The application for the 2017-2018 school year is available for new students.  Please encourage friends, family, and co-workers to stop by the school for a tour and to pick up an application. Student Shadow Days:  Students in Grades 1-7 can spend a day at St. Peter’s to meet teachers and students.  Any day of the week is available, Monday-Friday. Call the office at (415) 647-8662 to arrange a shadow date. If you have a new Kindergartener or know someone who is interested, please call the office for information.

KINDERGARTEN END OF YEAR CELEBRATION

The Kindergarten end of year celebration will be held on June 7th at 9:30 AM. This is the last day of school for Kindergarten and their dismissal will be at 11:00 AM.

BVCC SUMMER CAMP

We will be taking applications here at St. Peter’s for the BVCC Summer Camp. The Director will be picking up applications on a daily basis. If you need assistance with paying for the camp please call the number provided for you on the flyer. The camp includes breakfast, snack and lunch at no extra cost.

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

Wyatt Baldago 3rd               Juan Galvez 6B

Ms. Avila 5º                        Luisana Morales Mondoy 8A

Luis Flores 6A                    Kassandra Navarrete 8B

IN THE CLASSROOM

In 2nd – Second grade will be measuring using standard and non-standard units, comparing and contrasting stories, creating collages of fair and unfair actions, and talking about how Jesus is fair with everyone.

In 3rd – Third grade is continuing their investigation on Owls. The owl pellets have been very exciting. We are also continuing to pray and sing to Mary every morning during the month of May. We sing Las Mañanitas every Tuesday and Thursday. Please feel free to join us any day of the week at about 8:30 AM.

In 5th – In Religion this week, we will continue to analyze the meaning of the Lord's Prayer.  In Science, we will be learning more about chemical reactions in our investigations, and describe what a precipitate and reactant are.

IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Science 6: Students are headed deeper into space and exploring the rest of the solar system! 7: Students are reviewing their knowledge of organ systems as they prepare to show what they know. 8: Students are reviewing what they know about waves as they prepare to test on these forms of energy transmission.

8th Grade Religion: Students are preparing for their Unit 5 final exam this week, which will assess their knowledge of the Works of Mercy and the pivotal changes made by Vatican Council II. Students are also working on their Confirmation Cross as they prepare for their final Sacrament of Initiation next week. 6B ELA: We have begun reading our final novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry. We are looking at the criteria that distinguish a utopian society versus a dystopian society and analyzing the social context of the novel's setting. 7th Grade ELA: We have begun our third and final novel, The Outsiders, by Lois Lowry. We are looking at the character traits of each of the groups and analyzing the main conflict between the greasers and the Socs.

8th Grade Language Arts: Students have finished Of Mice and Men. They will now participate in a Final Exam based on the novel's last chapter. Did George make the right decision when he killed Lennie? Was he helping a friend or getting rid of a burden? 8th Grade Event Reminder: Pinning Mass will take place on Friday, May 26 at 8:30 AM. Students must bring their gowns and wear formal attire according to the guidelines for graduation. Families are welcome to attend. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Martinez or Mrs. Fresnoza. 6th Grade Language Arts: Students have ended their reading on The Giver. They will complete a My Memory Book Project to capture the meaning of memories and the important role it plays in the novel. What memories, both positive and/or negative, shape who you are today?

Sixth Grade Social Studies is studying the four types of Government in Ancient Greece and learning about Democracy! 7th Grade students are working on timeline skills by comparing which events were taking place in Europe and in the Americas between the years 1400-1600. 8th Grade students are taking their final exams this week and will end the week watching the movie Lincoln to learn more about the United States' 16th President.

REMINDERS:

May 26th                Pinning Mass 8:30 AM

May 29th                No School – Memorial Day

May 31st                 8th Grade Awards 9:00 AM

                               8th Grade Confirmation Practice 6:00 PM

June 1st                  Archbishop Cordileone Visit

                               8th Grade Confirmation Practice 6:00 PM

June 2nd                8th Grade Graduation Mass 9:30 AM

                               8th Grade Reception after Mass

                              8th Grade Graduation 5:00 PM

June 3rd                  Confirmation 10:00 AM Church