We are God’s people.
Based on 1 Peter 2:10

Dear Kindergarten Families,

Students had a wonderful time on Friday parading with their 5th grade prayer pals and wishing everyone “Gung Hay Fat Choy!” They truly earned their noodles, rice, oranges, etc. I love my job!
Our class has curtains!!! I am so excited! We will now be able to see the Smartboard all day. The South side curtains will be coming soon. A big THANK YOU to Mr. Hire for hanging the curtains! I would also like to thank Mr. Haycraft for raising the flag and adding a hook to hang our hula hoops. Now the students will not trip over them as they get to their cubbies .
This week we will celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Our theme this year is Faith, Academics, and Service. Please refer to the pink Principal’s letter and the homework sheet for events that will be taking place.
During Catholic School Week, we will be making Thank you cards for local businesses that support our school. We would like children to personally take the Thank you cards to these businesses and say Thank you for all their support and generosity. Please let me know if you and your child would be able to do this.
The Kindergartners will be singing a short song Thursday, February 2 at our Open House. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. Please have your child in uniform in the Parish Center by 6:25 p.m.
Our 100th day of school will be Friday, February 3. Part of your child’s homework this week is to find and count 100 objects (for example, 100 cheerios, 100 beads, 100 toothpicks) and create something with those 100 items. Have your child bring in his/her creation on Friday, February 3 and not before. We will share them on our 100th day of school.
I have have a collection of red sweaters in the class room. If your child has lost a sweater, please come by and take a look. I have asked students and they all tell me they are not theirs . I am also unable to find and/or read names.
We will begin collecting goods for the Food Bank every first Friday of the Month. All students will bring items with them to Morning assembly. This is a great way to give back to the community and restock the Food Bank. This will officially begin in March. Part of Catholic Schools Week this week, is for students to bring donations for Saint Ann Outreach everyday. Thank you for your continued support!
Have a great (Catholic Schools) week!
God Bless,

Belia Chávez

This is what we’re working on this week:

Language Arts: We will continue Unit 6: My Shadow. We will complete phonemic awareness activities, writing in journals. Our letters this week will be: Uu, Xx and Zz and their sounds /u/ like in bug and up, /ks/ and /z/. Our new High Frequency Words: but and up . Decodable 9: Bud and Max.

Religion: Our faith focus this week will be the people in our Church family and things we do with our church family. We will attend a prayer service on Monday morning for Catholic Schools week, and we will attend school Mass on Friday beginning at 8:15 a.m. Please join us! We will also be discussing how SPECIAL they are and what they love about themselves J!

Math: Students will work with numbers greater than 12. We will practice identifying, counting, writing and ordering numbers.

Science: We will continue to look at the daytime moon and keep a moon log.

P.E.: We will practice some jump roping skills and work on the skillastics activities.

MISC: This week, we will discuss and complete activities for Open House, Groundhog Day, Chinese New Year and the 100th Day of school.

Greetings as we celebrate Catholic School Week throughout the diocese! As a part of our week of focusing on being a CATHOLIC School, I ask for you to share with your child why you chose to send your child to Saint Ann Catholic School. Remind your child of sacrifices that you may be making as a family in order to be a part of this school family. Let you child know why Saint Ann School is important to you. Be sure to refer each day to the notice about our Catholic School Week Activities that was sent home.

Our fieldtrip to the Kern County Library and park is this Tuesday at 10:25 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please remember to leave your child’s car seat in front of the class Tuesday Morning. If your child would like to check out a book, please give your child his or her library card. Kirstin Schlichting offered to buy pizza for the students for lunch at the park. We will also use some class funds to buy pizza and provide water bottles for the students. Jessica Cooper offered to provide some snacks for the students. If your child, chooses to bring his or her own lunch, please put it in a paper bag to make it easier to dispose. We also need a tarp or sheets to sit on at the park. If you would like to lend our class your tarp or sheets, we would be very grateful! Lastly, Drivers and Chaperones, please come to the office and make sure all your documents are completed.

For Catholic School Week, we are showing our appreciation by sending some local businesses thank you notes for helping our school. I need a couple of parent volunteers to deliver the thank you notes we made in class to show our gratitude.

I hope to see you and your child at Open House this Thursday night. You will be able to visit our classroom and also visit the second grade room (your very near future) and the rest of the school! Please invite families who do not attend Saint Ann School so they can learn more about our school. It is a night to celebrate the Saint Ann School Family!

This week in math, we will subtract from 12 and less. Also, we will relate addition and subtraction (fact families) for 11 and 12. We will continue to count coins. We will also review counting by 10s

This week in phonics, we will continue to blend, spell, and read words that contain the long /oo/ sound spelled oo (moon), _ue (true), _u (ruby), ew (new), u_e (reduce) and the short /oo/ sound spelled oo (foot). In grammar, we will learn to put commas in a series. For example, we saw zebras, apes, tigers, and sharks at the zoo. We will also be making a booklets of adjectives to describe feelings.

Math: subtract from 12 & less, fact families for 11 & 12,
Phonics: long /oo/ and short /oo/
Grammar: commas in a series, adjectives to describe feelings
Science: learn about the groundhog
Social Studies: look at maps, and learn about cities and states
Religion: How God wants us to be happy.
Activities: Paint a bracelet for Catholic School Week,
make a groundhog out of paper, headband for the 100th day of school,
Upcoming Events: Fish Fry March 9
God Bless You,
Mrs. Nguyen

January 30, 2012

Dear Families,

I would like to thank all of the students who participated in Masses over the weekend. They did a wonderful job!

Catholic School Week activities all week.

Week Agendas

Religion: We will learn how God teaches us to love in the fourth through tenth Commandments. We will discuss how we should love and respect one another.

Language Arts: We will read “Earth…Our Planet in Space” (Genre: Expository Text)…practicing to improve phonics, fluency and accuracy. We will learn and use new vocabulary words and use our knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and other spelling patterns to say and define words. Our spelling words will focus on a review of suffixes, inflectional ending and Greek and Latin roots.
Spelling Words:

scary kindly pleasing clogged harmful erosion
careless statement mariner grateful import notable
electricity weakness telescope Challenge Words: advertisement amusing

We will take a spelling pretest on Monday … 100% on the pretest = NO TEST ON Friday!! They can show you their pretest. Also, see spelling activity sheet Pg. 89/90. I put it in their take home folder.

Math: We are working on multiplication and division … drilling math fact families of 2, 3, 4 and 5. We will start the 6’s this week. We will use a standard ruler to the quarter inch and compare that to a metric ruler. We will practice adding and subtracting larger numbers (up to the ten thousands place), continue to drill on telling time to the minute (using expressions like quarter after and half past), review values of coins and bills (adding up and subtracting coins/bills) and review place value and rounding/estimating.

Have a great week … we will! Tina Rockdale

Dear Middle School Parents and Guardians,

• This is Catholic Schools Week! Everyday is filled with activities. Please review the Principal’s Letter for a review of daily highlights.
• Don’t forget that Thursday is Open House at St. Ann School, starting at 6:30 P.M. in the Parish Center.
• On Tuesday, students will be writing thank you letters to the businesses who support our school. We need parent volunteers (per grade level), who would be willing to drop off the thank you letters after picking up his/her child at school. If you would like to deliver a thank you letter with your student, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
• We will be holding another Science Camp/Retreat Fundraising meeting tomorrow, January 31, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 6. Please join us as we discuss our upcoming fundraisers.
• Tomorrow is the last day for sending in Box Tops to count toward the ice cream party for the class who collects the most. We will gladly send home additional sheets! Please turn in Box Tops to your homeroom teacher.
• To give back to our school and church community, middle school students will be picking up trash around campus on Tuesday. Please send gardening gloves with your child on that day.
• Service Logs for the month of January are due on Wednesday, February 1.
• 6th Grade is in charge of Mass this Friday. Please join us!
• 7th Grade is in charge of bake sale this Friday. Please contact Mrs. Wadley is you would be interested in selling the baked goods at lunchtime.
• Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered to drive on the 7th Grade field trip to the IWV Concert. We will be leaving right after mass on Friday (around 9:30 am), and we will return around 11:00 am.
• Students should be reading their first AR book for third quarter; they need to take an AR quiz by the end of the day next Monday, February 6.
• Basketball News:
• Girls (from Coach Linck):
o We will be practicing up at Cerro Coso tonight. Practice will be held at CCCC at the usual time (6 pm - 8 pm). Wear your uniforms as we will be having team photos taken. We will also have either a scrimmage with the team and/or a game against the parents.
o We will not have practice this Thursday – Coach Sliva and I will be attending the Burroughs girls basketball game and invite all of the players and their families to join us. We would like the players to wear their shooters shirts. The JV game (with Allie and Lexi) starts at 4:00 pm and the varsity game at 5:30 pm.

Have a great week!
Mrs. Sherrick, Mrs. Wadley and Mrs. Duck

6th Grade
Language Arts: Spelling workbooks are due on Thursday, and the Spelling Unit 21 test is Friday. AR Quiz #1 needs to be taken by next Monday, February 6. We will begin our new literature book, Old Yeller, this week by reading Chapters 1-3. A quiz over these chapters will be taken early next week.

Social Studies: Students will continue presenting their Glogster projects. An Egypt Assessment is scheduled for Friday.

Religion: We will continue our coverage of Chapter 10 (“Come, You Who Are Blessed” – a Scripture Story). This chapter will explain why hearing the Gospel is vital for all people today and forever. The Chapter 10 test will be next week. We will also be working on decorating the Mary box and bag in which to send the Mary statue home with students beginning next week.

Earth Science: Students will learn about earthquakes–what causes them, how they travel through the earth, how the strength of quakes is measured, and how they are detected.

Math: Concepts & Applications: Students will learn how to convert within the customary unit of measurement system. Students will also learn how to determine the area and perimeter of a rectangle and find the circumference of a circle. The test for Chapter 6 (sections 2-9) will be on Friday. Reminder: POW is due Friday (remember the Problem of the Week will be available on Gradelink).

7th Grade
Language Arts: Spelling workbooks are due on Thursday, and the Spelling Unit 21 test is Friday. AR Quiz #1 needs to be taken by next Monday, February 6. Students will begin reading Chapters 1-5 of The Giver; a quiz over these chapters will be taken early next week. In grammar we will continue working on diagramming direct objects.

Social Studies: Students will continue studying the Islam with an assessment on Friday.

Religion: Students will review that Saint Paul used rhetoric to persuade others. Students will write their own speeches, convincing others to respect the sanctity of life. Speeches will be presented in class on Wednesday. In addition, students will learn about God’s gift of grace and determine how to lead a life of grace. Reminder: Blessing Books will be collected Friday for the dates of 1/20 through 1/26.

Life Science: Students will continue studying heredity. They will explain the experiments of Gregor Mendel, how genes and alleles are related to genotypes and phenotypes, and the difference between meiosis and mitosis. They will describe how Mendel’s ideas are supported by the process of meiosis.

Pre-Algebra: Students will learn how to determine the least common multiple between a set of numbers. Students will also add and subtract unlike fractions and rational numbers. There will be a test on Chapter 5 (Sections 1- 7) on Thursday. Reminder: POW is due Friday (remember the Problem of the Week will be available on Gradelink).

8th Grade
Language Arts: Spelling workbooks are due on Thursday, and the Spelling Unit 21 test is Friday. AR Quiz #1 needs to be taken by next Monday, February 6. The class will begin reading Dicey’s Song; we will work on the first two chapters. The quiz over these chapters will be early next week.

Social Studies: Students will continue with Chapter 8 (The West) covering exploration west of the Mississippi, Manifest Destiny and life in the West.

Religion: Students will begin Chapter 7 (The Holy Spirit: A Scripture Story). Students will identify the Holy Spirit’s role in Jesus’ ministry and the mission of the Holy Spirit. In addition, students will learn that the Holy Spirit was promised to the Apostles to help them spread God’s word. Students will also learn about Pentecost and identify the signs that accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit. Reminder: Blessing Books will be collected Friday for the dates of 1/20 through 1/26.

Physical Science: Students will describe the properties of mixtures and methods of separating the components of a mixture. They will analyze a solution in terms of its solute, solvent and concentration. Students will also compare the properties of solutions, suspensions and colloids. A quiz is scheduled for Friday.

Algebra: Students will begin for Chapter 7 (Solving Systems of Linear Equations and Inequalities). Students will learn how to solve systems of linear equations by graphing, using substitution and eliminating variables by adding or subtracting the equations. There will be a quiz on Chapter 7 (Sections 1-3) on Friday. Reminder: POW is due Friday (remember the Problem of the Week will be available on Gradelink).

PE – We will use our time this week to cover Safe Environment curriculum. We will also be involved in Catholic Schools Week activities, such as cleaning up trash around the campus.

o Don’t forget the optional family art project and reflection/poetry project, which are both due on Monday. Your art project may reflect either this year’s theme or last year’s—“A+ for America—Catholic Schools.” These wonderfully creative projects will be on display in the School Office all week.

o Our students did a fabulous job as greeters, readers, musicians, servers, and gift/banner bearers at this weekend’s Masses. You were excellent representatives of our school! Thank you, students, and thank you to your parents who helped you practice and made sure you would be there on time.

o Special Events:
o Tuesday is Crazy Hair Day. Students may wear hair accessories or create interesting hairdos. Any hair color changes must wash out by the next day, of course.
o Wednesday is Spirit Day. Students are encouraged to wear as much red as possible with their uniform pants, shorts/skorts, or skirts.
o Thursday is Crazy Hat Day. This is when student creativity is at its height!

 Thursday is our Open House beginning at 6:30 PM in the Parish Center. Last week we e-mailed you a flier that we hope you either posted or gave to someone who might consider Saint Ann School for their child(ren). The one you received in the Monday Envelope had the correct date, but the incorrect day of the week. We are including a flier again in this Monday Envelope. We are working to increase our enrollment (to help keep costs down!), and this is an excellent opportunity to let the public experience what Saint Ann School has to offer. Don’t forget . . . for every family that attends Saint Ann School based on your referral, you will earn a $100 H.E.A.R.T. card. If you see a new family at Open House, please share with them about our wonderful school.

 Our Car Raffle is this coming Saturday!

 70 tickets are still un-sold. Please remember that if you have not bought or sold your family’s ticket by tomorrow, we will sell it to someone else and charge your tuition account the $250. If you know anyone who wants a ticket, send them to the School Office.

 Prizes – If your company would like to donate a prize (gift certificate, gift basket, small item, etc.), please do so by tomorrow so that we can get your company’s name listed in the program. Thank you!

• Valentine Friendship Grams will be sold by Middle School as a Science Camp fundraiser. See the enclosed flier.

 We have one-pound boxes of See’s Chocolate for Valentine’s Day available for sale!

 Our Father/Daughter Valentine’s Dance will be held on Friday, February 10, from 7 PM to 9 PM in the Parish Center . Fathers, Father Figures, and Daughters of all ages are invited. Bring your entire family for a fun night. $5 each person entrance fee which will be taken at the door (age 4 and under are free). Special DJ’s will be providing dance music from all eras. Desserts and coffee and punch will be served. A special photo op corner will be set up. Bring your own camera, or there will be a photographer available. Pictures will be emailed to you for a fee of $2. All proceeds will benefit our Middle School trip to Science Camp. For information, contact Paula Welsh at 375-1685.

 Box Top contest ends tomorrow. Please send in your collection sheets.

Upcoming Events:

Tues., Jan. 31
Crazy Hair Day

Wed., Feb. 1
Spirit Day

Thurs., Feb. 2
Crazy Hat Day
Open House, 6:30 PM, Parish Center

Fri., Feb. 3
School Mass, 6th Grade, 8:15 AM, Church

Dear parents and students,

Happy Catholic School’s Week to you! This week is always a very special time to celebrate the wonderful gift of our great school. We have many events scheduled, so please refer to your schedule on the back of last week’s Principal’s Letter. Of special note is Open House this Thursday evening at 6:30 pm. Mrs. McMahon and I would like to have a small tray of cookies in the room to welcome prospective families. If you can help by sending in a package of cookies…thank you! We will be going to the IWV Concert Association’s presentation of Moscow Nights and Golden Gates on Friday at 9:30. Two drivers have volunteered (for 7th grade, too) but we need more. Please fill in the slip at the bottom of this letter if you have all necessary paperwork submitted to drive for field trips.

Language Arts: We will read “Apollo 11: The First Moon Landing.” This narrative nonfiction is an introduction to the amazing accomplishments of the space program. Students will work on clarifying and visualizing skills. Students will also write thank you letters to businesses that support our school throughout the year. If you and your family would like to deliver a thank you to a business this week, please fill in the space below.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics:
This week the class will review words that are synonyms and antonyms. They will finish their science fiction stories. The emphasis will be placed on the vocabulary associated with our story and using the words appropriately when speaking and writing. Encourage your kids to use their vocabulary and spelling words to expand their own vocabulary and learn the power of words. The students will write a class poem as a special writing assignment for Catholic Schools Week.

Math: This week we will continue to work on comparing, adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators and mixed numbers. We will also continue to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. We will take a test at the end of the week.

Science: This week we will continue studying the Solar System, to coincide with our new reading unit “Our Corner of the Universe.”

Religion: Unit 2 “We Worship”
We will complete chapter 14 on One Bread, One Body. Students will deepen their understanding on the meaning of Mass.

God bless,
Mrs. McDonald (for Mrs. McMahon)

Spelling List
hoop bloom noodle patterns
tooth food rooster pretenders
mood room school mimicry
igloo pooch bedroom surroundings
soon pool caboose camouflage
*Please work with your child to learn the spellings and meanings of these words this week. J

Calendar of Events
First Reconciliation - Feb. 10, 2012 – 9:15am
Church Search – Feb. 21, 2012 – 5:30pm
First Holy Communion Retreat – Apr. 28, 2012 – 9am-11:30am
FHC Practices- May 8, and May 11 – 5:30pm
First Holy Communion Mass – May 12 – 10am
Please mark your calendar!

Service Project Help
As part of our Catholic Schools week activities, we will be making Thank You Cards for businesses in town that have supported our school. I need parents to volunteer to deliver the thank you cards with your child, in uniform, to the businesses. Cards will be ready Tuesday at the end of the school day. If you would be able to help me out, please let me know.

Exciting News!
We have some very exciting news in second grade. This week we will welcome Gabby Garot into God’s family as she receives the holy sacrament of Baptism. This special event will take place at our school Mass on Friday at 8:15am. You are welcome to join us at Mass on Friday as we witness this great event in our church and school family.
This is also a great opportunity to spend some time talking with your child about their Baptism. As we are preparing for the next sacrament, Reconciliation, it’s great to spend time discussing the importance of these sacraments.
Please join me in congratulating Gabby and her family on this great first step!

Skills Practice Book
We have finished the stories in our first Skills Practice Workbook. Your child is bringing home the book today. This is NOT an assignment that needs to be completed or returned to school. You are welcome, however, to use it as a resource or review for your child now or during the summer.

Reconciliation is Almost Here!
I am enclosing a practice scrip for receiving the sacrament. We have not started working on this in class but it would be very helpful to your child to start practicing at home. To respect their privacy when practicing I have the students say, “sin, sin, sin” instead of sharing their sins. We will discuss how this changes for the real thing next week.
Also, I want to let you know that we have our Religion class from 2:00 to 2:40 every afternoon. It is very important that your child be at school during this time as we prepare for Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Please make every attempt to help me to prepare your child to receive these precious gifts from God.

Reconciliation is Coming!
It is almost here. I wanted to give you some information about the special day. We will be receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation next Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. The service will be after Friday Mass at approximately 9:30am. You are invited to join us and are welcome to receive the sacrament after the students receive on Friday (time permitting). This is a perfect opportunity to share this sacrament with your child.
We are allowing the students that are receiving the sacrament to dress up for the day. This means that they are not required to wear their uniform if they choose to dress up. This is a special day and the children deserve to express that with their clothes. Please keep in mind that they will be in these clothes for the entire school day. This includes outside recesses. Dressing up is optional. If your child does not dress up they will need to be in uniform. Dressing up would include the following:
Boys - dress pants and nice shirt, tie optional.
Girls – dress, skirt or nice pants, and nice shirt
All outfits must comply with school free dress guidelines. This means that clothes must be appropriate for school. No mid-drifts or straps less than 3 adult fingers wide. No t-shirts or jeans are acceptable. If you have any questions please let me know.

Here’s What We Are Learning This Week
Every week I highlight what I am covering in class. This will give you an opportunity to talk with your child about specific subjects that we are covering. Not all topics are covered every day. Be sure to always check to see what we are doing in 2nd Grade!
Reading –We are reading the story Animal Camouflage.
Phonics – Reviewing /oo/ sound, synonyms and antonyms.
Writing – We are starting our animal reports.
Grammar - Reviewing how to use colons
Math –We are finishing our chapter on subtracting with regrouping and working with shapes.
Spelling – Words with the /oo/ sound spelled with oo.
Religion – We are continuing our preparation for the sacrament of Reconciliation.

January 23, 2012
Dear Families,

Our new semester has started. You will find your child’s report card in the Monday Envelope. I thank each of you for the support you may have given to me by working so well with your child through the first semester of first grade.

This week in math, we will learn how to add with three numbers. Also, we will add sums to 12, and subtract by using the number line.

This week in phonics, we will continue to blend, spell, and read words that contain the /oo/ sound spelled oo (moon), _ue (true), and _u (ruby). In grammar, we will review the different types of sentences: telling, exclamatory, and interrogative. We will also learn how to write instructions using sequence words (first, next, then, last).

Our field trip will be to the Kern County Public Library on Tuesday, January 31. Please note that all the students will be in a booster seat. We will also be having lunch afterwards at the park. I will need parent drivers and chaperones. The Sign-up Sheet will be posted on the door. If you want your child to check out a book, please make a trip there to apply for a library card for your child.

Our Macaroni and Cheese Hot Lunch and Bake Sale is this week on Thursday, January 26. Thank you to the Meylemans’s family for making and donating the macaroni and cheese for our fundraiser! Thank you parents for buying the supplies and organizing this event. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mandy Patin for more information (760-382-2149 or mandy_patin@yahoo.com).

Math: adding three numbers, sums to 12, subtract by counting back
Phonics: /oo/ sound spelled oo, ue, u
Science: learn about what different animals do during the winter
Social Studies: look at maps, and learn about cities and states
Religion: continue to learn about states
Activities: Snowman booklet
Upcoming Events: Fieldtrip (Jan 31), Catholic School Week (Jan 28-Feb 3), Fish Fry March 9

God Bless You,
Mrs. Nguyen

We are all children of God.

Based on Galatians 3:26

Dear Kindergarten Families,

We have begun our 3rd quarter of the school year. It just amazes me how much your children have grown (academically, emotionally) since the beginning of Kindergarten. Report cards will be coming home today, Monday, January 23.
We are in need of someone to help with library. Our library time is Wednesdays from 8:00-8:25a.m. This person would need to be safe environment cleared and would read to students. The students love being read to ! Let me know if you are interested.
Well, not many showed interest in attending the concert so I have decided to not do it. I am getting a lot of concerns over the distance of field trips, which is understandable. I know we will definitely have another trip to Stater Brothers so I hope students are still doing chores around the house!
Mark your calendars! Our Fish Fry will be March 2 with 8th grade. Please let me know if you are able to help. I can’t wait to attend. I have heard they are really fun !
Next week is Catholic Schools Week. Please look for information in the weekly Principal’s Letter. Kindergarten students will be performing a little song at Open House, so mark your calendar for Thursday, February 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. Please have your child come by 6:15p.m. to perform!
Flat Stanley returned from Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. He is now on his way to Arizona. We look forward to having him return to our classroom so we can see and read about his adventures. He will be sent home with someone else today. Check your Monday Envelopes!
I would like to THANK all those who donated to the classroom wish list. It is truly appreciated!!! We will be enjoying the Lincoln Logs and jump ropes this week! We have also been enjoying a wonderful car rug which was donated by the Winterly family. I would also like to THANK all of you for your continued support! I am truly blessed to be working with such beautiful and amazing children. They are our FUTURE !

Have a wonderful week and God Bless!

Belia Chávez

Big Happy Birthday wishes go out to P who turns 6 on January 27!

This is what we’re working on this week:

Language Arts: We will begin a new unit (Unit 6: My Shadow). If you have anything related to this topic, please discuss it with your child and bring it in to display on our Concepts/ Questions Board. We will work on Open Court activities that include phonemic awareness activities such as word blending and rhyming. Our letter focus this week are Jj and Ff and their sounds /j/ and /f/. Our new High Frequency Words are: for and play. I have included an extra page, in the student’s Homework folder, with 3 High Frequency Words (play, here and are) that are not in the program. These words are seen in many of our books. Students also use them in their writing. In turn, I will be adding these words in this unit. Look for Decodable 8 “Jam Pot.”

Religion: Our faith focus this week will be that our families share God’s love with us. They help us live as children of God. We will attend school Mass on Friday beginning at 8:15 a.m. Please join us!

Math: We will continue working on Time and end our unit. We will begin Chapter 10 dealing with greater numbers. Chapter 10 information is included in the Monday Envelope.

Social Studies: We will learn about Chinese New Year and complete daily activities related to the holiday. We will also celebrate Friday with a Dragon parade around the school wishing everyone “Gung Hay Fat Choy”! We will also have noodles and rice on Friday!

Science: We will continue to talk about the moon and hopefully begin our moon log this week . Please have your child look at the moon each night. It is better to see it at night as compared to the daytime right now! We will identify the shapes of the moon.

P.E.: We will learn how to play Skillastics, which is a PE program. Thank you 1st grade for sharing .

MISC: We will complete activities related to snowmen and Chinese New Year.

Our Student of the Week is: J T!
J is 6 years old.
His favorite color is blue.
He also likes dogs, steak, soccer and a racecar book with Lightening McQueen.
Three super cool facts about J include: he rides a bike, he spins and he likes to draw cars.
J would like to be a cop when he grows up!

January 23, 2012

Dear Families,

Notes and Reminders:

Monday, 1-23 Reports Cards are in the Monday Envelope. Please call me if you want a conference.
Advisory Council Mtg 7 P.M. S.L.
Sat/Sun, 1-28/29 Catholic Schools Week begins with our students participating in Masses at both St. Ann and the All Faith Chapel on Base. On the reverse of this letter you find the list of activities throughout that week (1-28 – 2-3-12)

Week Agenda

Religion: We will continue to discuss the Ten Commandments. We will discuss how they help us live the covenant (the agreement of friendship between God and his people) and how the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Commandment teach us to live the Great Commandment.

Language Arts: We will read “Journey to the Moon” (Genre: Expository Text)…practicing to improve phonics, fluency and accuracy. We will learn and use new vocabulary words and use our knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and other spelling patterns to say and define words. Our spelling words will focus on Greek and Latin root words.

Spelling Words: Notice in their homework folder activity sheet pg.55. The words are:

grateful mission report autograph astronaut dialogue
import marine photograph mariner dismiss gratitude
astronomy apology telescope Challenge Words: biography microscope

We will take a spelling pretest on Tuesday … 100% on the pretest = NO TEST ON Friday!! They can show you their pretest. See Spelling activity sheet Pg. 73/74. I put it in their take home folder.

Math: We are working on multiplication and division … drilling math fact families of 2, 3 and 4. We will start the 5’s this week. We will use a standard ruler to the quarter inch and compare that to a metric ruler. We will practice adding and subtracting larger numbers (up to the ten thousands place), continue to drill on telling time to the minute (using expressions like quarter after and half past), review values of coins and bills (adding up and subtracting coins/bills) and review place value and rounding/estimating.

Science: We will learn what the Sun is (a star – a ball of hot gases) and how it helps life on Earth. We will also talk about the effects of solar storms on Earth.