Newsletter

* * * * This Week’s Highlights * * * *

As a part of a school-wide teaching opportunity, SJC will hold a mock Presidential Election this Fall. The faculty and Grades K-8 will participate in both a popular vote and the electoral college. In order to total 50 states in the school, each homeroom will be divided into two states. On October 27, each room will receive the names of their two states: 1 Republican and 1 Democratic. Students will be divided to act as delegates in one of the two states, and each group will research their “state” to find out more background information. On October 29, the “candidates” for President will present their platforms in an all-school assembly. The second grade will cast a paper ballot vote on Thursday, October 30 and the winner will be announced on November 4. Feel free to check out the mock election website at www.nationalmockelection.org where you will find lots of age-appropriate information. You may also want to visit www.50states.com to help your child learn more about their state for the election. I will be asking for parent volunteers next week to help us research before the election.

Room 103 is still in need of two or three parent volunteers to help us weed the garden in the courtyard this Thursday, October 23 in the afternoon. We are attempting to beautify this “green” space and give students the responsibility of maintaining it. If you are able to help, please send me an email. The rain date will be next Thursday, October 30.

As in years past, SJC is collecting bagged Halloween candy for our sharing parish, St. Thaddeus. St. Thaddeus hosts a Halloween party each year because it is not safe for children to trick-or-treat in their neighborhood. Some of the Halloween candy will also be sent to the Port Mission, to provide a treat and brighten the day of those that are hungry. Please send your donations with your child to our classroom. We will be working with our sixth grade buddies to sort the candy and decorate individuals bags for the treats.

This week we will:

· Continue Unit 3 of Everyday Math. This week we will use coins to make purchases, review telling time, and collect/record/graph data. For extra practice, have your child count your spare change at home and have them “purchase” various items under $1 from your kitchen cabinets using coins.

· Review the branches of our federal government and their roles in Social Studies. We will also think about the issues affecting our daily lives and changes we would make if we were elected President of the United States.

· We will have our first Art Volunteer presentation in the classroom this Wednesday. Ask your child what artist they learned about and mimicked in class!

· Read and discuss a non-fiction story about pond life in Around the Pond in Language Arts.

· Continue our Monday-Thursday Book Clubs. This week we will focus on the skill of identifying and retelling the beginning, middle and end of a selection. Reading and written assignments are due on Thursday.

· Our spelling words are: like, him, see, time, could. Please note that our test will be on Thursday of this week.

Please Note…

· Market Day orders are due today. Pick up your order on Thursday from 2:30-4:00 P.M. at the Parish Center.

· There is no school on Friday, October 24 for Staff Development.

· Please join us on Monday, October 27 at 9:05 A.M. for a Grades 1-4 Liturgy.

· The St. John of the Cross Book Fair will run next week in the Parish Center on Tuesday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 28. Our class will attend the Book Fair on Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. Please feel free to join us to help your child choose his or her books. If you will not be in attendance but would like your child to choose books, please send cash in an envelope marked with your child's name.

· Remember to log those minutes in the October Reading Log! Reading Logs will be due on Monday, November 3.

· Donations of new or gently used board games, Legos, colored pencils, building blocks, or books are always welcome in our classroom!