First, I would like to THANK all of the moms, and one grandma, for attending Mass and our Mother’s Day celebration on Thursday morning. I know many of you had to adjust your schedules, or even take off work for the day, and I (and especially your children) truly appreciated it. I could tell it was a success by the many tears I saw!!

Also, I would like to THANK everyone for all of the teacher appreciation cards, flowers and gifts I received. I will be smelling roses, eating chocolate etc., and drinking coffee for weeks! Please know that you are truly appreciated also .

We were lucky to have a very special guest in our classroom on Monday. Connor, a black Lab, and Mr. Wolcott, his trainer, came from Canine Companions for Independence, our class’ service agency, to share and teach the children about the program. Your children asked great questions, and they were an excellent audience. I think their favorite part was petting Connor at the end.

It was sure a busy and fun filled week in 1st grade!!

In Religion – We finished our discussions on the SLEs, and we will begin learning about the rosary on Monday. I will be asking each child to bring in a rosary if they have one, and these will be kept in their desks for several weeks. Please know that I will make sure they take very special care of these while they are in the room. If they do not have one, no worries . . . I have plenty of classroom rosaries for the children. We will also attend the annual Crowning of Mary prayer service on Wednesday, May 16th, at 1:00 in the church. It is such a beautiful tradition within our Church, and your little ones will be leading this service in just a quick three years!

In Math – They did it! They regrouped in subtraction today, and they loved it! This will be our focus all through next week, along with addition regrouping practice. I also continue to throw in money, time, or measurement problems whenever possible. If you stop and think about it, they have sure come a long way with their math skills. Good for them!!

In Language Arts – Let me just sum this past week up by saying, “Your children are reading like crazy and writing like crazy”!

Hope your weekend is filled with lots of love and laughter and . . .

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL MOMS!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

It sure looked like everyone had a fun time at the Spring Gala last Saturday. I know I did! I would like to THANK everyone who purchased tickets for our Cosmic Bowling party, and I wish I could take all of your children; however I don’t think my bank account could handle that. I would like to congratulate Eva, Addison, Meghan, Alexander, Alden and Zack for being the lucky winners. Can’t wait to hit the lanes on June 2nd!!

In Religion – We are learning and discussing the OLG School Wide Learning Expectations (SLEs) in Religion class this week and next. Our discussions deal with being a good Catholic, a responsible citizen, a life long learner, an integrated individual, and a globally aware citizen. As usual, lots of great comments, ideas, and questions are being addressed.

In Math – The children did a good job on the chapter 10 test on Tuesday, and we are now tackling double digit subtraction. We will be working on this, along with addition regrouping, through next week, and I will also be introducing subtraction regrouping. If your children think they are big kids now, just wait until they start subtraction regrouping!!

In Language Arts – It’s official . . . we are on our final reading book in first grade! Seems like just yesterday they opened the first one. Time is going way too fast . The boys and girls were also busy learning how to write a paragraph, working on comprehension sheets, writing story sentences, and learning to spell new words. Keep reading with them at home; it really helps!

In Science – Our last chapter in science is the Human Body, and we had fun talking on Thursday about losing teeth (over 150!) and growing tall. Next week we will be discussing the Food Pyramid and keeping our bodies healthy.

Enjoy our first weekend in May and see everyone on Monday.

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte  :-)

P.S. I am really looking forward to celebrating an early Mother’s Day with all you moms next Thursday morning. Please be in front of the first grade classroom by 7:45 so we can all walk up to church together. You may want to put a few extra tissues in your purse that day.  :-)

Dear Parents,

Sounds like everyone had a great time over the Easter vacation. I heard stories about camping, visiting Mickey Mouse, going to LEGOLAND, seeing Grandma and Grandpa, and finding lots and lots of Easter eggs!! It’s always nice to have some down time with no alarm clock, no schedule, and most importantly, no homework!

That being said . . . now it’s back to getting up early, getting back on schedule, and getting all the 1st grade work done. Only one quarter left, YIKES!!

In Religion – I hope you all enjoyed reading the beautiful responses your children gave about Lent and Easter. Once again, they made me proud! This past week and next, we will be discussing families and how important each member is. Look for a beautiful Family booklet to be coming home in several weeks. Our discussions so far have been inspiring and entertaining. Your children have so much to say and my motto for these weeks is, “What’s said in 1st grade, stays in 1st grade!!”

In Math – Measurement is officially over! The boys and girls took the chapter test, did great, so now we move on! We began double digit addition, and they love it. As your children would say, “It’s big kid math!” This, along with regrouping, will be our focus for the next few weeks.

In Language Arts – We finished our 4th reading book this week, so Monday I will give the Unit 5 Skills test. Look for those test results in next week’s red folder. I also assigned the next book report, which will be due by May 4th. As usual I expect correct spelling, complete sentences, neat work and colorful pictures. Thanks in advance for helping your child with this.

Social Studies – We will be celebrating our culture next week in 1st grade. We have the Mediterranean, so our focus will be on Greece and Italy. The children will learn some Italian numbers, some of the Greek alphabet, facts about The Olympics, life in Italy, and they will even have the chance to taste some Greek and Italian dishes!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and send some prayers the Padres’ way; they need them!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

I have been concentrating so much on our daily activities and our Flat Stanley field trip coming up next Tuesday, the 13th, that I completely forgot that we are going on another field trip on the 28th. We will be going to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center with the 2nd grade to see a movie about bugs. We will first enjoy all the hands on activities in the Science Center, then see the movie, and finally enjoy lunch at Pepper Grove Park. Should be a great day! The permission slip forms are in the red folders and I will need them and the $$ by next Wednesday, the 14th. Remember to please fill out both sides of the form. Also, our drivers will be chosen after I have received all forms. Thank you!

In Religion –We have discussed The Stations of the Cross up to station eight and our conversations have been so inspiring. I believe that your children truly understand the journey that Jesus took during this time. Not only are our conversations so precious, but the Station booklets that they are creating look beautiful! These will come home when we finish the Stations, around the week of the 23rd.

In Math – We took a poll and it’s official . . . there are definitely WAY MORE digital clocks in your homes than face clocks!! The boys and girls have been working hard on the hour and half hour times this past week and we will begin 5 minute intervals on Monday. So far they are doing great with this skill. If possible, ask them some times over the weekend (hour and half hour) and see how they do.

In Language Arts – The Unit 4 Skills Test results are in the red folders and I am proud of the class scores. Your children are reading and writing beautifully! We began our next reading book and we have also been reading Charlotte’s Web daily. They are really enjoying the adventures of Wilbur, Fern, Charlotte and the entire gang. We are on Chapter 9, so we still have a long way to go.

In Social Studies – The boys and girls did a great job on the landform test, and we will be focusing on our United States of America next. Please THANK all of your relatives and friends who took Flat Stanley and Flat 1st grader around their cities, towns, etc. We have been learning about so many new and exciting places!!

Should be a sunny and nice weekend, so go out and ENJOY!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

It was nice to see all (or most!) of the children back on Tuesday, rested and ready to learn. They did a great job doing 5 days of work in 4 days! Hopefully by Monday we will once again have a full class of healthy 1st graders.

In Religion – This past week was spent on discussing Lent, our Lenten promises, and how we can prepare our hearts for Easter. The crosses that the children decorated are beautiful! They are up on our front bulletin board to remind us daily of the special journey we will be taking during this Lenten season. Next week I will begin discussing the Stations of the Cross with the class. My hope is that through class discussions, and through the special booklets they will be making during the next three weeks, your children will be ready to better understand what’s happening during the Stations of the Cross prayer service on March 21st.

In Math – Counting coins, counting more coins, and then counting more coins . . . that was math this week! Some children are having a difficult time when a quarter is thrown in the mix, so please help them at home whenever possible. Thanks! We will have a test next Tuesday, and, if all goes well (lots of good grades), we will sum up our money unit with a snack store on Wednesday (more on that later) and then move on to Time.

In Language Arts – Once again the children have finished another reading book, so I will be giving them the Unit Skills test on Tuesday. These results will come home in their red folders on Friday. Before anyone decides they want to change schools, I am apologizing in advance for the 20 spelling words and a sentence that will be coming home on Monday. Since we will be between reading books next week, which means that the reading, grammar, and phonics load will be lighter, I know that your children can handle more words. Trust me, they can do it!! Thanks for understanding  We will also begin reading Charlotte’s Web together on Monday and having a fun “Dr. Seuss Day” on Friday. Should be a great week!

Hope everyone has a good weekend and see you on Monday for the last days of February, YIKES!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte :-)

Dear Parents,

First grade was a very busy place this past week! The children were working hard on their daily activities, working hard on special projects for Catholic Schools’ Week, and even entertaining visitors. The students and I would like to thank the Helix Water District for sending a representative to discuss the water cycle with us and for showing us some cool water experiments. Ask your child how many water drops can fit on a penny.

We would also like to thank Mr. Redhouse for coming to our classroom and teaching us all about FedEx. The children enjoyed learning about how packages get shipped, who loads the trucks, where the packages go, and what happens if the driver gets tired! This was all great fun; however the best part was when the FedEx truck arrived in front of the 1st grade classroom. The boys and girls were able to tour the inside of the truck, and they especially liked the back up camera. Lots of waving went on!! Thanks again to Mr. Redhouse and his driver.

As you know, this Friday, Jan. 27th, will be our Open House at OLG. The classroom doors will open at 6:50 for you to come and visit your child/children’s classroom and see for yourself the wonderful work they do. Please don’t forget to check out the Computer Room, the Reading Center, and the Art Faire. You will LOVE it all!! Then top off your night with an ice cream sundae in Moloney Center.

Also, this Sunday, Jan. 29th, we will begin Catholic Schools’ Week with a Parish Appreciation Liturgy at 11:00, followed by donuts and coffee in Moloney Center. I hope to see many of you there representing our wonderful school!

Monday, the 30th, we will begin a variety of fun Catholic Schools’ Week activities here on campus. Every day brings something special for the children to experience with their school family. All of the days are great . . . but Grandparents Day is the greatest of all!! I can’t wait to meet all the wonderful “nana’s and papa’s” out there on Thursday, Feb. 2nd. Please let me know if your child will be without a grandparent so I can make sure she/he has a friend to hang out with that morning.

Last, but not least, your child’s 2nd quarter papers are in their red folders. They are all yours now, so please do not send anything back. Enjoy your child’s work!

Have a fun and safe weekend.

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte :-)

Dear Parents,

Things have been moving along smoothly in 1st grade since our Christmas vacation. The children have settled back into our classroom routine, and they have also been working their little tails off! Several book reports have come in these past days, and they look great. Can’t wait to see them all on the 24th.

In Religion – Last week the children had fun reading some Bible stories in their new bibles. The children made beautiful booklets illustrating several of the stories, which they can’t wait to share with you at Open House next Friday night. We are now discussing how to be peacemakers and forgiving followers of Jesus.

In Math – The children did great on the place value chapter 5 test on Tuesday, so things are now “shaping” up as we move into geometry. Your children will be drawing, counting, rolling, sliding, stacking, and even hunting for all kinds of different shapes and solid figures in the days to come. Should be fun!!

In Language Arts – The children did it again! They made a fashion statement last week by wearing their book covers on their heads in celebration of finishing their reading books. I have to say . . . only a first grader can make a book cover look soooo good as a hat!!! Besides being stylish, your children are also focusing on long a words, contractions and letter writing. We are becoming pen pals with the 1st graders at St. John of the Cross in Lemon Grove, and we sent our first letter off today. The children are very anxious to receive a letter back. We will also be doing a lot of writing in preparation for Catholic Schools’ Week, beginning on the 27th. (More info on that next week)

Our next field trip is to a production of Flat Stanley in March. I know this seems like a long way off; however, the theater needs our deposit payment by the beginning of February. The cost is $6.00 per child and I will begin collecting this on Monday. Please send CASH ONLY in an envelope with your child’s name. THANK YOU! Permission slip forms and chaperone info will be sent out at a later date. Also, please refer to the new child safety regulations for car transportation on the school website’s home page. No child will attend this field trip unless he/she is in compliance with the child restraint. I know that parents are borrowing other car seats if needed, so provide for this early!

I have to apologize for the confusion surrounding Raz-Kids last night. I forgot to give the username  :-(. It is tacojanny and the children’s password is read. Everyone should be good to go now!! Happy reading!!

Have a great weekend and I guess I’m rooting for the West Coast football team so . . . GO 49ers ! ! ! Almost forgot about our basketball team so . . . GO Aztecs ! ! !

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte :-)

Dear Parents,

From the sound of things (and the smiles on their faces) this past Tuesday morning, I guess Santa was good to everyone!!! Lots of bicycles, video games, Lego sets, and other special treasures were delivered on Christmas morning to all of the first graders. Hopefully Santa was good to you too!!

Hard to believe it’s 2012 and we are almost halfway through 1st grade. Now that all of the festivities are behind us, it is time to “buckle down” and get back into the swing of things. Your children will be introduced to many new concepts and skills, along with reviewing those they’ve already learned, and preparing for many new festivities. Please remember lots of sleep and healthy food for them as we jump back into the routine.

In Religion – This week the children learned the definition of a sacrament and how special they are in our lives. The children were ok with all of them, except matrimony. I got lots of UGHS!! when we discussed that one!! I told them they would eventually change their minds, but they didn’t believe me. Next week we will be reading some bible stories from our newly purchased set of Children’s Bible Stories. (Thank you to Mrs. Spounias and Mrs. Beck for organizing this!)

In Math – As you’ve seen on their homework sheets, we are still studying place value, and the children are doing great with this. This skill will continue through the remainder of the year, and next week we will concentrate on counting by 2’s, 5’s, 10’s and recognizing even and odd numbers. If this goes well, then it’s on to Geometry the following week!

In Language Arts – We finished our 2nd reading book this week, and the children will be taking the unit skills test next Tuesday. Hopefully I will have those results for you in their Friday folders. I have also given them a mobile book report to complete by January 24th. As always I expect neat work, complete sentences, correct grammar and punctuation, and colorful pictures. Thank you in advance for helping them with this.

*Please make sure they choose a book they have never read and that they also show it to me BEFORE they begin reading.

In Science – We will be studying solids, liquids, gases, and water these next weeks. I am hoping to get a representative from Helix Water District to come and give a learning demonstration to the children sometime soon.

In Social Studies – The next few weeks the children will be learning, and reviewing, some map skills and will also be starting a unit on the continents.

Relax and enjoy this beautiful weather we’ve been experiencing, and I hope your second favorite team is still in the running for the Super Bowl. Maybe next year, Chargers??!!??

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

The song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. I agree, however; I say, “It’s the most hectic time of the year” and our classroom is certainly proof of this. Along with the normal schedule we have in 1st grade, your children have also been shopping, singing, and practicing for the Christmas Program. What’s crazy is that next week it will be even busier!! Here are a few reminders and updates regarding our schedule for next week:

Tuesday, the 13th – Your children must come to school dressed in their outfits for the Christmas Program dress rehearsal. Please remember to bring their uniforms to change into.

Wednesday, the 14th – Once again your children come to school in their outfits for the 10:00 Christmas Program. Please remember to bring their uniforms to change into. For the 7:00 evening performance it is very important to have them in the first grade classroom by 6:30. We are the first class to perform so any late students will not be good for my nerves!

Thursday, the 15th – Our traditional Christmas “Pajama Party” begins right after the morning school bell. The children will enjoy a delicious breakfast together, sing beautiful Christmas Carols together, and be treated to several other wonderful surprises. The boys and girls are to come to school in their favorite pajamas, carrying their favorite blanket. (Uniform school shoes are required because of recess etc.) They DO NOT need to bring their backpacks today, only their lunch. This is always one of the most wonderful mornings of the year!

Friday, the 16th – Last day of school before our Christmas vacation. It is a minimum day and free dress, however; please remember that we are going to Mass in the morning (8:00 a.m.) so dress should be appropriate.

In the midst of all this excitement we will still be reading, writing, creating, and doing fun Christmas activities. I suggest lots of sleep for your little ones this weekend. 

Have a great weekend and dare I say that the Chargers are officially on a winning streak now???

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

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October 28th

Dear Parents,

Congratulations to Sparkle, our pig! She/he made us proud on Tuesday morning by coming in 3rd place in our annual Pig Race. In my 6 years here at OLG this was my first “placing”, so, needless to say, we were ALL excited!! Good Job, Sparkle!

Also, I would like to thank all of the parents who accompanied us to Oma’s Pumpkin Patch on Thursday. I appreciate you all taking the time out of your busy day to hang out with us. The 1st graders and their buddies had a great time! I sure hope all of the cotton seed came out of their shirts, pants, socks, and hair!!

In Religion – This past week we discussed what it means to be a Good Samaritan and how our actions affect those around us. Next week we will be discussing The Lord’s Prayer and what all those big words mean for the students.

In Math – Lots of different math skills happening in class these past days. The children worked on word problems, wrote some fact families, added and subtracted, and played “Pass the Pumpkins”. After a cumulative review on Monday, we will begin the chapter on data and graphs.

In Language Arts – As you probably noticed, the Unit Skills test results did not make it home today. These results will definitely be in their red folders next Thursday (no school on Friday!). Since we will begin the new reading book on Monday, the children did something special (and quite fashionable!) with their book covers today. For a good chuckle, ask them what it was!!

In Science – So far this year the children have studied plants, insects, animals and their habitats. They are now looking forward to the Physical Science chapter.

In Social Studies – Neighbors, communities, community helpers, and consumers and producers have been our focus these past weeks. The children are enjoying learning about how their world works.

O.K . . . I guess it’s a good thing that the Chargers are playing on Halloween night because maybe they will be scared into winning!! (Whatever works!) Have a great weekend, and I can’t wait to see who or what appears in my room on Monday morning!

Dear Parents,

“Doing small things with great love” surely came alive on Wednesday night at the Potluck.
THANK YOU to everyone who had a hand in making it such a success!!  I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say, “What a wonderful evening”!   I especially want to thank your children for being so well behaved and respectful of the 8^th grade helpers.  They made me so proud!

Along with preparing the “entertainment” for Wednesday evening, your children were also busy getting all of their 1^st grade work done.
In Religion – The Commandment booklets are
coming together nicely, and we continue to have inspirational discussions
daily.  We will be finishing these by the
end of next week, so look for them to be coming home sometime the following
week.

In Math – Still “taking things away” in
1^st grade!!  The boys and
girls are doing great with this skill, and next week I will be introducing fact
families to them.  The boys and girls
usually enjoy working with these, so it should be fun.

In Language Arts – The book reports were
great!!  Thank you so much for helping
your children with these.  I was
impressed with the complete sentences, the neatness, and the beautiful
pictures.  Good job, 1^st
grade!!  They were also busy learning the
short o words and creating their own Pumpkin
Book.  Remember to keep reading at
home with your children daily because it certainly helps!

I can almost guarantee that we should all
have a relaxing weekend with no stress because . . . NO Charger game!!!!  I guess I will actually have to do some
cleaning or yard work on Sunday now.  L

Stay
cool and God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

P.S.
Crayons are breaking, shrinking, and disappearing in 1^st grade!  Please restock your children when
possible.  Thanks!

Dear Parents,

First, a big THANK YOU goes to Mrs. Del Mundo for making all those beautiful Pot Luck
invitations.  They were certainly “treasures”!  I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the big event Wednesday evening.

Once again your children were very busy this past week in 1^st grade.  From beginning subtraction in math, to making our mystery ghosts in language arts, every minute counted.  They are certainly ready for a long weekend!!

In
Religion – We began our unit on the Ten Commandments,
and the boys and girls are working hard on writing and illustrating each
Commandment.  When we finish our
discussions on all Ten Commandments, your children will have a special booklet
to share with you.  We talk about the
Commandments in first grade words and believe me, each discussion is priceless!

In
Math – We are officially “taking things away” in math
now.  Subtraction is usually tougher for
1^st graders than addition, so we will be taking it slow to ensure
each child’s understanding of this skill.
In
Language Arts – This week we finished up our short i
words and will now be moving into short o words next week.  Thank you for helping your child to read all
the related phonics words so they can be rewarded in class.  They are doing super with this!  The children also wrote Fall sentences,
answered comprehension questions, did workbook pages, and played a fun antonym
game.
Enjoy the
long weekend and we’ll hope the high altitude on Sunday doesn’t go to the
Chargers’ heads.  They need to think
straight, focus, and stay on task. (Kind of like a 1^st grader!)  Go Chargers!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

Dear Parents,

First, a big THANK YOU goes to Mrs. Del Mundo for making all those beautiful Pot Luck invitations. They were certainly “treasures”! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the big event Wednesday evening.

Once again your children were very busy this past week in 1^st grade. From beginning subtraction in math, to making our mystery ghosts in language arts, every minute counted. They are certainly ready for a long weekend!!

In Religion – We began our unit on the Ten Commandments, and the boys and girls are working hard on writing and illustrating each Commandment. When we finish our discussions on all Ten Commandments, your children will have a special booklet to share with you. We talk about the Commandments in first grade words and believe me, each discussion is priceless!

In Math – We are officially “taking things away” in math now. Subtraction is usually tougher for 1^st graders than addition, so we will be taking it slow to ensure each child’s understanding of this skill.

In Language Arts – This week we finished up our short i words and will now be moving into short o words next week. Thank you for helping your child to read all the related phonics words so they can be rewarded in class. They are doing super with this! The children also wrote Fall sentences, answered comprehension questions, did workbook pages, and played a fun antonym game.

Enjoy the long weekend and we’ll hope the high altitude on Sunday doesn’t go to the Chargers’ heads. They need to think straight, focus, and stay on task. (Kind of like a 1^st grader!) Go Chargers!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Happy October!! Our classroom is quickly filling up with fall leaves, pumpkins, scarecrows, and assorted orange, yellow, and brown goodies.  Our beautiful “Pumpkin Patch of Prayers” bulletin board will be up next Monday.  This board will be a daily reminder to the children of the many blessings they have to be thankful for and to remind them of the many people who need our prayers.

With the change in classroom colors also comes change in some classroom activities.  One exciting change will be the introduction to 1^st grade book reports.  Please DON’T WORRY . . . these will be fun and special for your children (and not too much work for you, I promise!).

The first book report is in their red Friday folder and will be due by Tuesday, October 11^th.  I have explained the directions and my expectations to the children, and I have no doubt that they will all do a fabulous job.

My directions and expectations:

1.)  They may read a book of their choice (with your help)

2.)  Write complete sentences with correct spelling and punctuation.

3.)  Color the picture.

4.)  Hand in on time.

Happy Reading!!

All else in 1^st grade is moving along smoothly and your children are making me proud (and making me laugh!) every day!

Enjoy your weekend and let’s hope the Chargers give us a little more breathing room this Sunday.  I don’t want another 4^th quarter nail biting session!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

September 22, 2011

Dear Parents,

We had another successful week in 1^st grade!!  Your children were busy reading, writing, adding, writing some more, singing, drawing, and then writing even more!  I would like to THANK everyone for sending in the $24 for The Grinch.  We put our deposit down and have secured our reservation for the 1^{st .} As we get closer to December 1^st, I will be sending home info regarding the chaperones.  Also, I will be sending home the Pumpkin Patch field trip information soon, so please be on the lookout for that.

I have had several questions/inquiries about the reading groups on Friday, so I would like to clear up  a few things.  When I am able to have reading groups on a particular Friday,  I will be sending home a colorful (and somewhat funny!) slip in your child’s red folder with the Friday reading date.  If you are able to come and read on that day, please mark yes and then I will see you on that day.  I DO NOT send a reminder, so just show up at 11:15, sign in at the office, come to the 1^st grade room, and then you are off and reading!  Thank you so much to those who read today.  The children LOVE having you here!!

In Religion – We discussed our saint, St. Anthony, and the children also learned how the Blessed Trinity is an important part of their lives as followers of Jesus.  They are learning to recognize the Sign of the Cross as a prayer to the Blessed Trinity.  Next week we will be discussing how Jesus worked among the people and shared His love.

In Math – The boys and girls had fun adding with dominos this past week and also taking their timed tests and learning about related addition facts.  We will continue with these skills next week, along with number line addition, identifying number patterns, and practicing the double facts.

In Language Arts – Ask your child to name some nouns for you today, and you’ll be so impressed with how smart they are!!  We talked about nouns, read lots of nouns, wrote many, many nouns, and best of all . . . went on a “Noun Hunt” around OLG.   Next week we jump, hop, move, slide, skip, and fly  into verbs!!!

**THANK YOU to everyone who sent in treasure chest goodies.  We are stocked now!! I would like to CONGRATULATE John, Payton, Aubrey, Eileen, Justin B., Hali, Ronald, Royce, Meghan, Addison, Eva, Matthew, Sophia W., and Alden for making their first trip to choose some goodies.

O.K., I know last week was a tough one for the Chargers; however, I certainly expect them to show Kansas City who’s the boss!!!  GO CHARGERS!!!

Have a great weekend and God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

CONGRATULATIONS to your children for making it through the first full week of school!  They were extremely busy navigating through all those new books in their desks and, I have to say, they sure did a great job listening and following all the new directions.  Good for them!!

I also CONGRATULATE you for getting them to school on time, having them in dress uniform when needed, checking their homework, and especially for signing their homework pads.  All of these things make for many happy children in the morning.  Thank you!

There has been a change of date for our field trip to Oma’s Pumpkin Patch.  The new date is Thursday, October 27^th, instead of the 28^th.  More info regarding this field trip will be sent home soon.  (Just wanted to give you a head’s up since I originally had said the 28^th.)

In Religion – This past week I discussed OLG’s School Wide Learning Expectations (SLEs) and what they mean for your children.  They have been writing and illustrating these expectations in their Religion notebooks.  Next week we will be learning about our class saint, St. Anthony, and also about The Blessed Trinity.

In Math – Reviewing number order, greater/less than, and addition skills was our focus this week.  The children have also been taking 3 minute math timed tests.  These tests are given three times a week  to strengthen their math skills.  They will not be incorporated into their math grade, but my hope is that they will help your child’s mastery of our math skills.  Please look for these in their blue homework folders.

In Language Arts – The children read the first stories in the reading book and also answered their first set of reading comprehension questions.  I must say, I have some great readers in here!  Look for the 2^nd set of comprehension questions to be coming home in next week’s red folder.

At this time I would like to THANK Mrs. Beck and Mrs. Spounias, the homeroom moms, for doing such a great job so far this year!!  They make all of our lives easier, so thank you!!

Also, so many children have been receiving tickets for good behavior, neat work, etc., that I now have students ready to go to the treasure chest.  The problem is that the treasure chest is not ready for them.  I will be purchasing some small items for it this weekend, however, if anyone finds themselves in Target, Wal-Mart, the Dollar store, or wherever, and would like to buy some small items also, that would be great.  Stickers, fun pencils, small games or toys are all wonderful.  Pretty much, if your child likes it, so will someone else!!  Thank you!

Hope everyone has a restful weekend, and I think we need to cross our fingers for the Chargers on Sunday.  New England and Tom Brady are going to be tough, but I have faith that we can take them!!  GO CHARGERS!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,
All I can say is that Mrs. Herman wasn’t lying when she told me that I was getting a great class this year. SHE WAS RIGHT!!! All of the boys and girls did a fabulous job this week listening to me go over (and over!) all of the rules and procedures. I am sure they will welcome a few days without hearing my voice.
The children did so many new things this past week that I don’t know where to begin. They unpacked their supplies, put their names in books and notebooks, met their buddies, drew themselves, made flowers, wrote sentences, did some addition, wrote a class prayer, began a summer book, found the bathroom (very important!), and much, much more. Tired hands this weekend for sure!!
I look forward to seeing all of you at “Back to School Night” next Wednesday evening at 6:00 in the 1st grade classroom. This is a perfect opportunity for me to explain to you everything that I have told your children this past week and then some. If this is your first experience in 1st grade, I just want to give you a “head’s up” for Wednesday . . . it’s NOT as overwhelming as it might sound!!
Hope everyone enjoys the nice three day weekend and try to stay cool!
**Please make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep on Monday night because starting Tuesday morning they will be opening most of those big books in their desks and getting busy!!
God Bless,
Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

Welcome to your first grade adventure!  I am truly looking forward to a year filled with prayer, reading, writing, singing, solving problems (mathematical and otherwise), laughter, smiles, and lots of love.  Your children will be entering the “big building” with a variety of mixed feelings including fear, anxiety, excitement, sadness, joy, and wonder.  My hope is that after their first few days in 1^st grade the only feelings left will be joy, excitement, and wonder.

Together we can make that happen!!

Their first grade journey involves all of us, and I have no doubt that this upcoming school year will be a very successful and rewarding one.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions throughout the year.  My door is always open!!

Once again . . . WELCOME to 1^st grade!!

God Bless,

Mrs. Schulte

Dear Parents,

To conclude our Multi-Cultural Week we will walk across the street to La China for lunch on Friday. If your child does not like Chinese food, he/she can bring his/her own lunch or order hot lunch and eat lunch at school.

The April book report poster will be due on Monday, April 30. For the May book report, I would like the children to read some poetry. The children should copy their favorite poem so that they can read it aloud to the class on Monday, June 4.

On May 30, the second grade students will board the Horizon Floating Classroom for our final field trip. The San Diego County Outdoor Office of Education sponsors this learning program. The U.S. Coast Guard limits the total number of passengers to forty people. We have twenty-nine students and one teacher. That leaves space for ten parents. Two spots will be offered to the room parents if they choose to attend. If you would like to join us on this field trip, please indicate so on the field trip permission form. We will probably draw straws for the chaperones.

At the first Friday Mass on June 1, the children may wear their First Communion attire. They should come to school dressed in their First Communion clothing. After Mass, we will assemble for a group picture and afterwards they can change into their uniforms. . We will need a few parents to assist the children in changing.

Finally, on Wednesday, June 6, the second grade students will host a Portfolio Night. This will be a night of celebration in your child’s accomplishments this year. There will be selected samples of your child’s work for you to review as you share in your child’s growth and progress this year. You and your child can come to our classroom anytime between 5:00-7:00 P.M.

Listed below is what we will be learning at school over the next several weeks:

Reading: We will have our unit four reading test later this week. We will also learn / review the following skills: nouns, pronouns, main idea, fact and opinion, suffixes, and similes.

Math: Subtraction with regrouping twice, rounding and estimating to the nearest hundred, problem solving, fractions, predicting outcomes, probability, and measurement.

Religion: We will learn about belonging to a parish community, leadership in the Church, how Jesus prayed, and the way prayer brings us closer to God.

Science: We are finishing up our weather unit. Next week we will begin learning about the Solar System.

Social Studies: We have finished up our Nystrom Social Studies / Geography Curriculum. We will begin a unit on “Knowing Your Family.” We will learn about ancestors and family traditions.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at lroble@olg.org.

Blessings,

Lynn Roble

March 6, 2012

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we have approximately sixty-five days of school left! Time flies when you’re having fun!

The oral book reports will begin on Wednesday, March 7. We have many parents who requested that their child present their report on Friday. The presentations will not begin until after Mass. It will take longer to get through the presentations since so many people requested Friday. If anyone would like to switch from Friday to Monday morning, let me know.

There will be no book report required for March. I will send home a book report form at the end of March for the April book report. The April book report will be a free choice book. The book report will be due on the last school day in April.

Listed below is what we will be learning this month:

Language Arts: The theme of our current reading unit is:“My Time to Shine: Ties Through Time.” All of our stories in our Reading book will revolve around this theme. We will also learn or review the following skills: classifying, suffixes, sequence, compare / contrast, main idea, and supporting details.

Math: We will finish up our unit on telling time. The next chapter extends the children’s understanding of place value to one thousand, rounding to the nearest hundred, and problem solving.

Religion: We will continue to learn about the Mass. We should finish up our Eucharist books by March 23. We will also learn about Holy Week.

Social Studies: We will learn a wee bit about Ireland. We will also finish up our unit on Community.

Science: Force and magnets.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Lynn Roble

February, 2012

Dear Parents,

As we begin the third quarter of school, we have many activities to look forward to.

I would like the children to read a biography about a U.S. President or First Lady for their February book report. The children are already familiar with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, so please have your child choose another president or first lady. The students can also gather information on the Internet.

Please discuss with your child two presidents or first ladies they would be interested in researching. Your child should bring in the names of two presidents or first ladies for their report. We want to learn about many different presidents, so we don’t want too many duplicate reports.

The children will orally share their reports with the class beginning on Wednesday, March 7th. Included in the Friday folder will be the rubric that I will use to grade the oral reports. The children do not need to turn in a written report. They may want to write down some notes on index cards.

I would like the children to decorate Valentine cookies for the seniors at Little Flower Haven. I have scheduled Lauerman Hall on Tuesday, February 14, from 8:15-10:00, so we have room to decorate cookies. We will need parent volunteers to help the children. We are also in need of about five dozen unfrosted cookies for the seniors and 2 ½ dozen cookies for the children. The children will also each decorate a cookie for themselves to eat. There will be a sign up on Sign Up Genius if you can help with donating cookies or other supplies for this project.

A curriculum review for the month of February will include:

Language Arts: We will work on the following skills: change “y” to “i” before adding an ending, quotations, correct verb tenses, contractions, summarizing, character traits, and drawing conclusions. We will have a unit test on unit three at the end of next week.

Math: We will finish up our unit on Geometry next week. Next, the children will begin a unit on time and money.

Religion: We will begin our Eucharist books on Monday. When we have completed the books, I will send them home with your children. The goal is to have the children prepared for their interviews with the priests beginning around March 26.

Science: Light and heat energy.

Social Studies: We will learn how communities change and also about making, selling, and buying goods, as well as wants versus needs.

If you have any questions, please email me at: lroble@olg.org.

Thank you for your continuing support,

Lynn Roble

Our Trip to the Zoo

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January 1, 2011

Dear Parents,

Please accept my sincere gratitude for all the extraordinary gifts cards I received for Christmas this year. I appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness.

Welcome back! I hope everybody is well rested and ready to begin an exciting New Year.

For the month of January, the book report will be a free choice. The children should read a chapter book at their reading level. The book report form will come home on Friday. The book report will be due on Tuesday, January 31.

A curriculum review for the month of January is as follows:

Language Arts: We will finish up our current unit and have the Unit Two test this week. The title of our new unit in our reading book is: How Can We Learn and Work Well Together? All of our stories will revolve around this theme. We will also learn about realism, fantasy, tall tales, and similes. The following skills will also be covered this month: summarizing, verbs, alphabetical order to the second letter, context clues, glossary, and cause and effect.

Math: Subtracting two digit numbers with and without regrouping, using mental math strategies, estimating differences of 2 two-digit numbers, using addition to check subtraction, and problem solving.

Religion: God gives us the Ten Commandments and Jesus teaches us about God’s forgiveness. We will also be practicing going to Reconciliation. Mrs. Hause will give the children a tour of the church, including the Reconciliation room.

Science: Light, heat, and sound energy.

Social Studies: Places in a community, workers in a community, community leaders, and the history of a community.

If you have any questions, please email me.

Lynn Roble

lroble@olg.org

Museum of Natural History Field Trip

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November / December Second Grade Classroom Update

November 2, 2011

Dear Parents,

We have much to be thankful for during the month of November. We will learn the importance of showing and sharing gratitude as we approach the important holiday of Thanksgiving.

A big thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to come in and read with the children. The children look forward to reading with each of you. The supplemental reading would not be possible without you!

For the November book report I would like the children to read a book about a Native American or a book about a Native American tribe. The book report form will be in the green folder which will be sent home on Thursday since there is not school on Friday. The book report will be due on Monday, December 5th. There will be no book report required for the month of December.

Listed below is the curriculum for November:

Language Arts: We should finish up reading the stories from our current unit: What can we learn from looking at the world around us? We will also cover the following skills: Proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, irregular plural nouns, antonyms, compare and contrast, changing y to i before adding an ending, drawing conclusions, guide words, compound words, and writing powerful sentences.

Math: The children will learn to predict future data based on present data, compare data, read and interpret circle graphs, read and interpret line plots, Venn diagrams, using graphs to solve word problems, adding one and two digit numbers with and without regrouping, and estimating sums of two digit numbers.

Religion: We will focus on Reconciliation. The children will complete the Reconciliation Book and send it home before Christmas vacation.

Science: We will learn about sound, heat, and light.

Social Studies: We will learn about wants and needs. The children will also learn about the importance of making and selling goods, providing services, and earning and spending money.

Blessings,

Lynn Roble

Dear Parents,

The children and I have settled into our routines and share an excitement for learning with one another everyday.

Every Friday you will find your child’s corrected work in his/her folder.  Please take time to go over this work together.  Celebrate your child’s accomplishments and review any corrections.  Thank you!

The second graders will be required to complete a book report at home every month.  I will be sending home the book report form at the beginning of next month.  The book report will be due on the last school day in October.   I would like the children to read a mystery book for their October book report.

Please consider signing up to read with the children on the October calendar.  The outside reading program cannot be implemented without our parent volunteers.

A curriculum review for the next several weeks is listed below:

Language Arts:  We will finish up our first unit in our reading book.  The children will take a unit test when we complete the unit.  We will also work on the following skills:  drawing conclusions, telling a story in sequence, alphabetical order, nouns, adjectives, and learning to edit our own writing.

Math:  Compare and round numbers to 100, complete number patterns, estimate numbers to 100, read and interpret various graphs, and multiply numbers by 0 and 1.

Religion:  Baptism, Confirmation, praying the Rosary, and seasons of the church.  We will also learn more about saints and how we can follow the saints’ examples.

Science:  We will discover changes in matter and learn about sound.

Social Studies:  We will learn about maps, globes, natural and cultural features on a map, and locating places on a map.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Many Blessings,

Lynn Roble

Field Trips Second Grade 2011 / 2012

Children’s Museum October 24

Indian Hills Tuesday November 15 (all day)

Natural History Museum Workshop November 30

San Diego Zoo January 25

Midway Museum February 23

Junior Theatre March 13

Rueben H. Fleet iMax Theatre March 28

Flower Fields April 17

Floating Classroom May 30

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August 29, 2011

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Second Grade! I look forward to meeting all of you at Back to School Night. I will post a classroom newsletter to the OLG website at the beginning of each month to inform you of any classroom activities and what your child will be learning in the weeks ahead. A curriculum review for the next several weeks is as follows:

Reading: Subject of a sentence, predicates, homophones, beginning and ending word sounds. The theme for the first unit in our Reading book is: Friendship.

Math: We will review how to add a column of three numbers, subtraction, and counting up to subtract. We will also learn to use addition to check subtraction computation.

Religion: Jesus is the Son of God, and He is human like us. We will learn about the work of Jesus and the beginnings of the Church. The children will learn The Prayer of Sorrow. I will send home a copy in their Friday folder.

Science: We will learn about rocks, soil, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Social Studies: The children will learn how to read maps. We will begin our Geography worksheets and learn about the Earth’s natural resources.

Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Lynn Roble

Kindergarten ~ Our Kindergarteners have been working hard on their ABC’s and Phonics lessons with Starfall, as well as on their Math skills with Sadlier-Oxford. They are doing a fabulous job! Way to go, Kindergarten!

1st Grade ~ Our 1st Graders are working on their Math and Phonics skills with Sadlier-Oxford, as well as learning how to read new words and stories on Starfall. They are finishing up their ‘State Booklets’, and will soon begin to work in our Paint program to create lovely springtime images. Keep working hard, 1st Grade!

2nd Grade ~ Our 2nd Graders are working on their Math and Phonics skills with Sadlier-Oxford, as well as learning how to read new words and stories on Starfall. They are also currently working on their ‘Math Minutes’ skills so that they can challenge the 3rd graders to a math competition at the end of the year! They will soon begin to work in our Paint program to create lovely springtime images.

Super job, 2nd Graders!

3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Grades ~ Our 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders are wrapping up their PowerPoint presentations about their families, or about their favorite sports. They used custom animation, slide transitions, and sound to enhance these presentations. They will also begin to work in our Paint program to create lovely springtime images. Great job, keep it up!

7th Grade ~ Our 7th Graders will be using Publisher to create web pages for their own “company” for which they will advertise its products and services. These web pages will only be stored on our server and cannot be accessed through the internet.

Keep up the good work, 7th Grade!

8th Grade ~ Our 8th Graders are busy preparing for Graduation. They are writing the script for the Teacher Appreciation Prayer Service and for the Graduation Mass itself. They are also creating a slideshow of memories for this special event.

Way to go, 8th grade! You are fabulous!!

Happy Spring!

Mrs. Ruiz

Fall ~ 2011

Kindergarten ~ Our Kindergartners are working hard on their ABC’s and Phonics lessons with Starfall. Soon, they will begin working on their Math skills with our Sadlier-Oxford Math program. Keep it up, Kindergarten! You are off to a great start!

1st Grade ~ Our 1st Graders are creating Word documents in which they change their font size, style, and color, as well as background colors, textures, and patterns. They will soon begin working on their Math skills with our Sadlier-Oxford Math program, as well as learning how to read new words and stories on Starfall. Way to go, 1st Grade!

2nd Grade ~ Our 2nd Graders are creating tables about Fall! They will describe this very special time of year through the use of words, pictures, and colors. They will begin to work on their keyboarding skills with our Type to Learn program soon.

Super job, 2nd Graders! Keep up the good work!

3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Grades ~ Our 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders are also busy creating tables about Fall. They will describe their favorite things about Fall, and then use line styles, weight, colors, and pictures to add pizzazz to their work. They will begin to work on their keyboarding skills with our Type to Learn program soon, and the 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders will begin to work in Excel for creating spreadsheets and graphs. Way to go!

Keep working hard!

7th & 8th Grades ~ Our 7th and 8th Graders just finished working in Word documents, writing about their Summer adventures or about their fabulous school year to come! They will soon begin working in Excel, and will undertake the task of going on a “mock” shopping spree for a Winter Ski Getaway! This will include pricing items, computing sales tax, and creating appropriate charts and graphs…..all this while staying within a specified budget! You’re working hard, 7th and 8th Graders!! Keep it up!

Happy Fall!

Mrs. Ruiz

Dear OLG Families,

Welcome back to another year here at Our Lady of Grace School! I hope you all had a fabulous summer break, but now it’s time to get busy, work hard, and polish up our computer skills.

Throughout the year, students will be working with our Microsoft Office 2007 programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Excel ~ grade appropriate, of course! Kindergarten – 2^nd grades will work on improving their reading and math skills, 3^rd – 5^th grades will create tables and slideshow presentations, and junior high students will create graphic organizers and design web pages.

I can’t wait to see all of my students back again, and I’m looking forward to meeting our new students and their families as well!

Have a great school year!

Mrs. Ruiz

The month of March is already upon us, and we are continuing our Lenten journey. The students each have a Lenten calendar with special good deeds that they are doing throughout this journey. Hopefully you have seen this calendar; it is to be turned in for credit on April 4th.

The year is quickly going by, and April 5th marks the end of the third quarter. Please continue to help your child stay focused by continuing to practice Math Flash Cards in both multiplication and division, and/or by working on the computer with “First in Math”. Our third grade Planet Report is due on April 4th, and the students all seem to be enjoying this project. The report may be handwritten or written on the computer. If you have any questions about this assignment, please contact me at ksisk@olg.org.

Easter break is just around the corner. The students have Friday, April 6th, as their first full day of vacation (we dismiss at noon on Thursday, April 5th), and we return to school on Monday, April 16th. I hope that everyone is able to relax and come back to school with lots of energy and excitement to complete our year.

Multicultural Week starts April 23rd, and the third grade celebrates the Scandinavian culture. The class will be learning more about the people, lifestyle, and food of these countries. If you or someone you know has any ideas or items that you would like to share about this culture, please let me know.

Thank you for your continued support,

Mrs. Sisk

January and February Newsletter
Third Grade
Happy New Year and welcome back to school. The second quarter in quickly wrapping up and the students will be halfway through third grade soon. The class is now writing in cursive only. Your help and guidance at home with letter formation and neatness is so beneficial. I am so proud of how well everyone is doing on learning their multiplication and division facts. We have practiced up to the 5’s and are working on mastering those facts. Soon we will add on the numbers to 10. Thanks for your help with flash cards.
The class is getting ready for Catholic School’s week Open House and has several fun projects in the works. Open House is Friday, January 27th.
The assignment “Math Menus” was sent home in early January. It is a fun and creative way to create and solve Math word problems. This assignment is due January 20th, and will be out on display for Open House.
The students have been studying the Native Americans and are working on group projects, building homes in which the tribes lived. The students can’t wait to share them with you.
Valentine’s Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, Feb. 14th. The class will be able to bring valentines to school if they would like. We have 30 students at this time; they must bring one for everyone or none at all. To make it easier for them to distribute their valentines, PLEASE DO NOT address them to the individual child. Just have your child write his/her name on each valentine. Thanks for your help.
The Thursday night spelling practice test must be signed and graded by the parent or adult that gave the test to the student. Many spelling practice test papers are coming in not graded or signed. The students need to write their words in cursive. Your help is greatly appreciated.
The third grade will be busy preparing for the Mission Awareness Mass on Friday, February 17th. Look for the time closer to the date on the website.
Thank you for all your support,
Mrs. Sisk

October and November

These months of fall have always been my favorite time of
year –  the weather is beautiful and the
holiday season is beginning. The third grade has a busy couple of months ahead.

We had a great visit from the El Cajon Fire Department the
first week of October. All the third grades in the city are making fire safety
posters. The theme this year is “Protect Your Family From Fire.” Students have
received information about the contest, and their posters will be due Monday,
Oct. 24^th.

We enjoy Monday, Oct. 10^th, , off for Columbus
Day, and begin ITBS testing on Tuesday. Please make sure your child has a good
night sleep and is on time for school each morning. The students will have very
limited homework during these two weeks. It is a great time to practice their
Math facts on the First in Math program.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, we will go on our first field trip to
Birch Aquarium. The permission slip will be sent home the second week of
October. On the form there is a place to volunteer to drive. I am not able to
take everyone and hope to give everyone who wants to chaperone 1 chance to
attend a field trip this year. So I will be getting back to you on drivers.

Red Ribbon week is the last week of the month. A flier with
all the special events will be coming home. During that week we have the “Pig
Race” for the magazine drive.  Sadly, so
far, the 3^rd grade has not won a pig, but we are VERY close. If you
haven’t sent in your magazine orders, please do so now.  The 3^rd grade would love to have a
pig in that race. (Remember, if you signed the enrollment agreement agreeing to
buy out of the Magazine Drive, you have already been counted.)

Monday, Oct. 31^st , is the Halloween Carnival. Each
student may wear an appropriate costume to school.   The afternoon will be spent having fun at
the  carnival, but we will still be
having school in the morning hours.
Again, please remember that your entrance into the carnival and pass for
most games has already been paid for through Student Fees.  However, your child’s lunch and extra games
and raffle tickets will cost extra.
Also, if you bring a decorated cake for the Cake Walk on Halloween
morning, your child will receive 3 free raffle tickets.

Our Thanksgiving Food Drive begins the first week of
November.

Keep a look out –  report cards go home on Monday, Nov. 7^th,
and Parent Conference s start Tuesday, the 8^th. The following week
will be exciting with our class field trip to Mission Trails Park to learn more
about the “Kumeyaay People”, the indigenous people who lived in this area. We
will then enjoy a week of family and friends as we take the week of
Thanksgiving off from school.

See you all back relaxed and ready to learn on November 28^th.

Welcome to Third Grade

Dear Third Grade Students and Parents,
Welcome Back! I hope that you had a summer filled with fun and adventure. I had a very busy summer and am so happy to be starting back to school again. We have a lot of exciting learning ahead of us this year, and I know that with your support we can face all challenges and achieve our goals. Students, I will see all of you on August 29th, and I am looking forward to meeting all parents on September 7th for Back-to-School Night.
God Bless, Mrs. Sisk

Below is an overview of what we will be covering in each subject area this year. I will go into greater detail at the Back-to-School Night meeting.
Religion: We will be learning about “The Church”- Jesus gives us the Church, being a member of the Church through worship and discipleship.
Math: Multiplication and Division are the focus this year. Many other skills are reviewed and introduced.
Literature: We start each day with independent reading. The class will use the textbook along with novels to build vocabulary, comprehension and their love of reading.
Language Arts: This includes Spelling, Vocabulary, Grammar, Punctuation, Capitalization, and varied writing styles: Personal Narrative, Persuasive, and Research Reports.
Social Studies: The land of the United States is the main theme of the class. We will explore landforms, the people that settled the land and the land today.
Science: The following areas will be covered:
Life Science- How plants and animals grow and change and varied environments.
Physical Science- Matter, Machines, Energy and Sound.
Earth Science- The Earth’s surface, our sun, the planets, clouds and storms.
Human Body- The body systems and staying healthy.

The eighth grade students are well on their way to completing the Research Project. They have approached this important and difficult unit with enthusiasm, being particularly careful in completing each step and meeting each deadline. I am looking forward to reading about the wide variety of topics they have chosen. From the fate of the USS Indianapolis to the effects of wave action on the San Diego coastline, from the reign of Elizabeth I to the accomplishments of football great Ernie Davis and high jumper Dick Fosbury, the topics are as varied as the individuals who are writing about them.

At the same time they are working on the Research Projects, the 8th graders are preparing their SLE Master Presentations. In these presentations, they demonstrate how they have mastered the five Schoolwide Learning Expectations. The final presentations will be in May.

The seventh graders are currently improving their proofreading and editing skills. Each day they start class by reading and correcting a humorous passage.

In addition, they have started learning how to write Expository Essays. The first essay will be a compare/contrast essay in which they compare and contrast themselves as a small child with themselves now. Then they will work on improving their ability to summarize, to explain, and to describe.

Of course, they continue to increase their knowledge of the English language through grammar and word studies.

SPRING GALA

Mr. Millican and I are looking forward to seeing all of you at the Spring Gala. We especially hope you buy LOTS of Teacher Time Tickets so your son or daughter can join us, along with 3 of his/her friends, for a stroll across the street and lunch at the Windy City.

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year!  2012 kicks off with an Art Faire held on January 27th. during our Open House. (7:00-8:00 p.m.)  This year I’ve scheduled a few eight grade students to provide music while you enjoy the art.  We will have a performance on the piano as well as a violin solo. Artwork will remain up during the following week for Grandparents to view on Grandparents Day held on Februrary 2nd.   Please feel free to come into Lauerman Hall/Art Studio at anytime from January 27th. through Friday, Februray 3rd. to enjoy our wonderful Art from grades 1-6.  We will display art inspired by master artists as well as cultural pieces and projects that reflect social studies curriculum.

Please enjoy the photos that are posted from our first quarter of 2011.  You will see pieces from our Dia de los Muertos studies, still life pumpkins and corn husk dolls to name a few. Enjoy!

I look forward to meeting you in the Art Studio!

All good wishes,

Mrs. Gail Rugee

Pinwheels for Peace

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Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the Art Studio!  The 2011-2012 school year promises to be full of Art Adventures as we explore the fundamentals of art, great master artists, cultural art and this year’s school wide theme “Do small things with great love.”  This quote, from St. Therese of Lisieux, France will act as our inspiration for a school wide art project to reflect her simple yet powerful words. St. Therese was known as the “Little Flower”. Her life was dedicated to doing small things with great love for the Lord.  I’m excited to take this theme and tailor it to a paper mosaic Art Project that will be rich with spiritual inspiration. Our students will create an individual piece inspired by the “Little Flower” and, collectively, we will create one large scale art piece. My target date for completion is January, 2012 for installation at the Art Faire. I hope you’ll visit the Art Studio to view your students’ wonderful work!

Volunteer hours are always available and greatly appreciated for both the Art Faire and on a regular basis as “Parent Volunteer” and even “High School Volunteer” in your student’s class.  Grade specific room parents usually schedule volunteers for the art studio; please contact them for details.  I realize volunteers are very busy and changes are constant. Please feel free to e-mail me if you find you have time to volunteer on an unscheduled day or if you aren’t able to attend your prescheduled day.  Our Art classes are only one hour a week, and we work quickly. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before class for instruction and a few minutes after for clean up.

Please accept my gratitude in advance for your assistance.  Your presence contributes to a productive and successful year in the Art Studio.

Art Classes are scheduled as follows:

Mondays:          Grade 6 – 12:35-1:35p.m. (after lunch)
Grade 4 -    1:50-2:50p.m.

Thursdays:        Grade 1 – 12:35-1:35p.m. (after lunch)
Grade 2 –   1:50-2:50p.m.

Fridays:
Grade 3 – 12:35-1:35 (after lunch)

Grade 5 – 1:50-2:50

I look forward to working with your young artists!

All good wishes,
Mrs. Gail Rugee