Principal's February, 2008 Letter
February 11, 2008
Dear Parents:
WONDERFUL NEWS:
- All of our eighth graders have been accepted to
the high school of their choice. I
am pleased to tell you that several students have received academic
scholarships totaling over $100,000.
The faculty and I are very proud of our students and know you are too.
- Classrooms
in 1st and 2nd grade have had a new student computer
installed, and classrooms in grades 3-5 now have a second student
computer. The middle school
language arts classrooms have also had a second computer installed. In addition, we have a new "Student Network" which
connects all of the student computers in the school. Student
computers in the classrooms and the lab are connected to a new server,
which means that students may access their work from any student computer
in the building. I offer a very
special Thank You to the PTO for their generosity in this undertaking.
Did You Know:
- Mrs. Brzenk’s
first graders celebrated the 100th day of school on Thursday, February
7th. The children worked on a project of 100 things at home.
On Thursday they wrote 100 words, counted to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's, and
10's, and measured 100 feet down the hallway. The students also
wrote 100 things they thank God for and wrote stories about things they
now know after being in first grade for 100 days.
- Both first
grades will be making Valentine cards and decorations for a shelter.
- Some of our eighth graders are tutoring sixth
graders in math.
- Tyler
Sparling (Gr 5) donated eleven
inches of her beautiful long hair to the Locks for Love program. Thank you,
- Our 7th and 8th grades are piloting a new
computerized grammar program called EGUMPP (Electronic Grammar Usage
Mechanics Proficiency Program). This program helps students
learn and practice English grammar and writing skills. Once we
have students comfortable using the program, they will be able to work at
school and at home at an individualized pace. Please contact Mrs.
Trombino if you have questions about this program.
- Eighth grader Miles McCarthy was awarded the top merit scholarship at
- Fifth
Grade is preparing to celebrate
its annual Chinese New Year Celebration with their dragon puppet parade
and Chinese Luncheon. The students have been working in Math class
designing scale models of their puppets which will be on parade Thursday,
February 14th and then on display outside of the 5th grade classrooms. If
you are in the building please stop by to see them!
- The second
graders started Reader's Workshop last week with parent
volunteers. Thank you volunteers!!!!!!! In addition to
starting a new science unit the Lenten customs of fasting and prayer
are being discussed. The plan for the 100th day of school will
be working cooperatively in groups to complete several math and
language arts activities. The children will exchange
valentines, have a treat or two, and play a few valentine themed
activities on Valentine’s Day.
- 8th grade Spanish: The
students have been working on the "Casa de Sueños" or Dream
House projects. Students have been writing about what they would like
their dream house to look like. They will also provide a visual to go
along with their essay. Some of the visuals will include; power point presentations,
posters, filming their dream house, dollhouses, etc....
- 7th grade Spanish: The students just finished a unit on
telling time and have begun Chapter 3. In this chapter students are
learning how to extend an invitation, accept an invitation,
and decline and give an excuse. They have also been talking
about sports and pastimes. Soon the students will be working on a
mini-project, "Mis Pasatiempos Favoritos".
- 7th
grade Religion: Students have been learning about the
parables of Jesus. They were divided into groups and each given a
parable. They had to put a modern day spin on the parable and
present it as a skit to the class. They also talked about Blessed Father
Damian and his dedication to the social outcasts of the day; the
lepers. The class discussed what members of our society are
considered to be outcasts today and how Jesus would want us to treat them.
- 6th grade Religion: In
Religion the students watched a movie called "Millions" about a
little boy who finds a lot of money and how he goes about trying to give
the money to people in need. After watching the movie, the class was
assigned to a small group and each group was "given" a million
dollars. They were told to divide it anyway they wanted to and to spend it
anyway they wanted to. It was interesting to see which students chose to
spend the money on themselves and which ones were more generous with their
money. Once all the groups have presented their projects they will discuss
the quote, "It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a
needle than it is for a rich man to get into heaven."
- 6th grade Spanish: the
students have learned the days of the week, months of the years, and
numbers 1-30 in Spanish. Next, they will learn about dates and
holidays, especially the holiday coming up soon, "El Día de San
Valentín". Soon after they will begin to work on the
Multicultural Fair. The Spanish classes will be studying the country of
- Mrs.
McCarthy’s first grade began
their social studies unit on citizens. They are learning how to be a
good citizen in the classroom and beyond. They began the unit
learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. They read stories about him
and watched a wonderful movie. The students learned about his dream
and then also wrote about some of our own 'dreams' for the world.
- Grade Three (3B and
3A) students are participating in the Great Mail Race. Each
student wrote to two states to cover all 50 states. Names of towns were randomly selected
from a post office Zip Code list. The students are also building an ice
cream sundae with every new multiplication table that we learn.
- Kindergarten will be learning
about the meaning of the very holy season of Lent. They will work on their Lenten Activity
Calendars, pray in the chapel, learn about the Stations of the Cross, do good
deeds at home, at school and in the community. The children will be working on
Valentine activities and having a Valentine party. The class has sent the Valentine
wreaths, which were made during Open House, to a local nursing home.
- This month, the K1 Class will begin a unit on the Post Office. The children
will design their own stamps, decorate mail bags, and learn how our mail
is sorted and delivered. An area of their room will be changed into the K1
Post Office.
- Seventh grade language arts
students conducted research on various topics that apply to their class
novel, Where the Red Fern Grows. They presented skits and
posters describing the Ozarks, coon dogs, and The Great
Depression. Seventh grade also has been preparing for the
100th Day of school. They created lists of 100 shoes, 100 favorite
songs, 100 favorite everythings, 100 names, 100 favorite stores, 100
Boston Sports players, 100 animals, 100 sports teams, and 100 baseball
players. They will have 100 minutes of silent work time, and in exchange
they will have 100 minutes of outdoor time on a warm day in May.
- Sixth Grade is finishing The
Witch of Blackbird Pond. In conjunction with reading the novel,
6th grade students held two debates on the topic of freedom. Half of
the group prepared for a debate on animal rights, and the other group
prepared for a debate about freedom of speech. Freedom is one
of the themes in the novel, and the students did a wonderful job looking
at both sides of an argument.
- Fourth Grade did an awesome job on their animal projects which are on display
in the hall and classroom. In
social studies the students are studying the American Revolution and
Immigration.
CIA’s for January:
K Lucas P 5H Kyle K
2A Michael B 6 Jen S
3A Kevin S
Mrs. Roseanne Mungovan
Principal
Previous weeks Weekly Memos may be found in
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