St Patricks Elementary School

Hello parents,

It is very important that your child bring a coat or sweater with them to school every day. As long as the weather stays nice, we will be going outside to play at recess. We also put our jackets on to go to church on Fridays and to gym when it’s cold out. Because of this, it is very important that your child has something warm to put on when we go outside.

Reading-In reading, we are going over the story Whose Garden Is It? This week we will go over the vowels I and O. We will learn the sounds of the letters, words that begin with these letters, and also learn how to write the upper and lower case versions of each letter. Please continue to drill your children on the letters and words we’ve been going over. These letters are: B, D, J, K, P, T, F, S, V, Z, H, A, E, H, L, R, M, N, Q, and X. Our sight words are: I, am, one, little, two, three, the, a, have, four, it, is, to, my, we, and like.

Math-This week in math we will review writing the numbers 0-5. We will also learn about these numbers by pairing them with groups of objects that have the amounts 0-5 in them. We will also start using a number line. While using the number line, the students will practice finding the missing numbers in the line. We will also be counting forwards and backwards with the number line.

We will continue to go to the library every Thursday. It is important that you read your child’s book to them, and make sure it is returned to school by Thursday every week.

Important dates:

11/11/09-No school-Veteran’s Day

11/13/09 There will be no mass today because Father Steve will be out of town.

Also, we will continue selling Smencils in the classroom. They are $1 per pencil.

St. Patrick School

Weekly Bulletin

November 9-20, 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009 (Reed) (Jackson, Kraus)

            Teachers of grades K-2 are asked to turn plan books into the office today.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (Moody) (Derico, Moody)

            Teachers of grade 3-6 are asked to turn plan books into the office today.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

            Veterans Day – No school

Thursday, November 12, 2009 (Derico) (Reed, Moore)

            Teachers will meet at 7:30 in the library to plan the Christmas program.

            The St. Patrick School Advisory Council will meet at 5:30 in the library.

Friday, November 13, 2009 (Clevenger) (Moore, Clevenger)

Monday, November 16, 2009 (Jackson) (Derico, Moody)

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (Moore) (Jackson, Kraus)

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (Kraus) (Derico, Moody)

            A staff prayer service will be held at 7:40 in the library led by Mrs. Riley.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 (Reed) (Reed, Clevenger)

Friday, November 20, 2009 (Moody) (Moore, Reed

            Student prayer service will be held at 2:30 led by the third grade.

            The man who can make hard things easy is the educator. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves. – James M. Barrier

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be – Abraham Lincoln

Many thanks to all who helped to make our Halloween party a success.  We had creative costumes, fun games, and lots of great treats.  I think everyone had a really good time.

Reading/Language Arts:  Our reading story this week is Pearl and Wagner.  (We will skip the Thanksgiving story for a week or two.)  The spelling word for this story are: read, easy, seat, wheel, windy, teeth, wreath, feel, deep, party, leave, sleep, team, eagle, season, recess, electric, detail, feast, fifteen.

Other skills we will work on this week are identifying verbs and using possessive nouns properly.

Math:  We will continue with our weekly math facts.   Thank you for helping your child to study his or her math fact cards each evening.  The facts are getting more difficult each week.

We will have an assessment on geometric solid figures this Monday.  On Tuesday, we will begin studying telling time.  Most students are already very familiar with telling time, so we will move quickly.  We will concentrate on elapsed time during this chapter.

Social Studies:  We are learning some about history this week.  We will learn about timelines and historical sources.  We will also learn some about Thanksgiving.

Religion:  We will spend some time this week learning about the Holy Spirit.  How is the Holy Spirit active in our lives today?

Hello parents,

I would like to thank the parents that helped with the Halloween party. It was a great success. The children had a wonderful time!

It is very important that your child bring a coat or sweater with them to school every day. As long as the weather stays nice, we will be going outside to play at recess. We also put our jackets on to go to church on Fridays and to gym when it’s cold out. Because of this, it is very important that your child has something warm to put on when we go outside.

Reading-In reading, we are going over the story A Bed for the Winter. This week we will begin our strange letters. There are only two of these letters. They are Q and X. We will learn the sounds of the letters, words that begin with these letters, and also learn how to write the upper and lower case versions of each letter. Please continue to drill your children on the letters and words we’ve been going over. These letters are: B, D, J, K, P, T, F, S, V, Z, H, A, E, H, L, R, M, and N. Our sight words are: I, am, one, little, two, three, the, a, have, four, it, is, to, my, we, and like.

Math-This week in math we will continue to go over the vocabulary words more, fewer, less than, greater than, and equal. We will continue to do activities to compare different groups to learn these words and their meaning. These activities are done to put the vocabulary words we’ve learned into action. We will also continue graphing information to show a different way to figure out if we have more or less of something.

We will continue to go to the library every Thursday. It is important that you read your child’s book to them, and make sure it is returned to school by Thursday every week.

Important dates:

11/2/09-Report cards will go home.

11/6/09-There will be no mass today or 11/13/09 because Father Steve will be out of town. Today is also banking day.

11/7/09-St. Pat’s Elimination dinner will be held.

Also, we will continue selling Smencils in the classroom. They are $1 per pencil. The children seem to love them. I can tell because we’ve already sold quite a lot.

Third grade is “batty” about Science as we learn new and interesting facts about bats.  On Thursday, Mike Masterman, expert cave guide, visited our classroom.  He gave a wonderful presentation about bats in West Virginia.  The students are continuing to research and present their newly learned information!

Language Arts- This week we are reading Prudy’s Problem and How She Solved It by Carey Armstrong-Ellis.  We will focus on the vocabulary and spelling words below.  It would be helpful if you will reinforce the meaning of these words at home with your child.   The words in italics are our challenge spelling words.  Finally, the words in the boxes contain the phonics rules we are practicing.  Please listen to your child read these words aloud.

Spelling Words:  sunglasses, football, homework, haircut, popcorn, railroad, snowstorm, earring, scarecrow, blueberry, butterflies, lawnmower, campground, sandbox, toothbrush, thumbtack, earthquake, scrapbook, courthouse, whirlpool

 Vocabulary Words:  enormous, scattered, strain, realize, collection, shiny

Fluency Reading Practice-  Students will be reading one of the following books:  When I Was Young in the Mountains, Make Way for Ducklings, The Talking Eggs.  Please practice this book EVERY night with your child.  Third grade will be reading these stories to the younger children on Friday.

Math- We will continue studying our multiplication facts.  The students did a great job with the nines last week!  Please continue reviewing previously covered facts with your child.

Science- Students will be completing their Bat Research Projects and presenting them to the class this week.

Social Studies- Students will continue to learn about patriotic symbols of our country.

Religion From Mrs. Thompson- Any student who is having trouble finding adequate information on the saint that they chose to do their report on, please e-mail me and I will be glad to copy some information for them  to use.  www.dianathompson222@hotmail.com

Children are being given a “Good Deed” slip.  These slips are for things they do for others with out being asked to do so or with out pay.  It can not be something that they are expected to do or part of their regular chore list.  Hopefully in the near future they begin to think outside the box and begin to do things because it makes us feel good about ourselves when we do for others.  So, when your child does a ‘good deed’ be sure to sign the slip for them to bring back to school. (please see if they can come up with the deed on their own)

November 1st of course is ‘All Saints’ Day.  We are working to learn more about the saints and each child has the name of a saint to learn about and share with the class.  We will be working on the saints the whole month of November.  Children are to find out enough information about their saint that they can speak to the class about the saint.  They should have it printed out on paper, but are going to be encouraged not to read from the paper, so they will have to know the information that is on the paper.  They can refer to the paper.  Students in grade 3 should be able to speak about their saint for one minute. Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 should be able to speak for 2 minutes.  My hope is that  all the students will learn about all the saints through the talks that their fellow classmates give.  Students that can not find enough information, please let me know as I have several books with information about saints in them.

Classroom News –

Smencils- We will begin selling these smelly pencils this week. Each pencil is a $1.00. Students may purchase these starting Tuesday. We are asking that your child bring exact change for the number of pencils he/she wishes to purchase.

I would like to thank all the parents who contributed to our Halloween party.  We all had a great time.  Due to the high number of third graders absent on Friday, we will be having another Halloween/ Fall party.  We will wait to be sure that our numbers level out before this is scheduled.

Also, due to the high number of absences last week, I am extending our deadline for our Surprise Baby Basket for Mr. Fisher.  If you would like to contribute one item for the basket and have not done so, please send in your donation by Wednesday.  (This is optional.)

Banking Day is Friday.

Secret Word Phrase-Echolocation!

Thank you parents for all your work towards our Halloween Party.  The food and treats were wonderful and the games were great!  Students had fun playing BINGO and wrapping each other up in toilet paper.

Reading – This week we are reading Jane Goodall’s 10 Ways to Help Save Wildlife. Comprehension test will be on Thursday.

Spelling – Our words this week are:  example, level, human, quarrel, scramble, evil, oxygen, wooden, double, travel, cancel, chuckle, fossil, toboggan, veteran, chisel, suburban, single, sudden, and beagle.  Challenge words are:  obstacle, kindergarten, abdomen, pummel, and enlighten.  Test will be Friday.

Grammar – The grammar lesson this week is on Main and Helping Verbs. In a verb phrase, the main verb names the action and the helping verb helps tell the time of the action ( as in past, present or future).

Math – We are beginning Chapter 24 – Measurement.

Science – We are beginning Chapter 4 – Plants.  Students will be able to fill in their study guides as we read and study the chapter.

Social Studies -This week we will study pages 65-75 in the textbook.

Religion – Any student who is having trouble finding adequate information on the saint that they chose to do their report on, please e-mail me and I will be glad to copy some information for them  to use.  www.dianathompson222@hotmail.com

November 1st of course is ‘All Saints’ Day.  We are working to learn more about the saints and each child has the name of a saint to learn about and share with the class.  We will be working on the saints the whole month of November.  Children are to find out enough information about their saint that they can speak to the class about the saint.  They should have it printed out on paper, but are going to be encouraged not to read from the paper, so they will have to know the information that is on the paper.  They can refer to the paper.  Students in grade 3 should be able to speak about their saint for one minute. Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 should be able to speak for 2 minutes.  My hope is that  all the students will learn about all the saints through the talks that their fellow classmates give.  Students that can not find enough information, please let me know as I have several books with information about saints in them.

Classroom News -

Report cards go home today.  Please sign and return as soon as you can.

Fifth grade will be walking to RLB on Wednesday for their cholesterol check as part of the Healthy Heart Program.  Please do not feed your child breakfast that morning.  Healthy snacks and a juice will be provided afterwards.

Smencils are available for $1.  These smelly pencils are now being sold.  Please try to bring in the exact change.

Secret Phrase – I love to read!

Reading -Students will be reading  this week So You Want to be President . The test will be on Thursday.

Grammar -Students will be learning and working with Plural Possessive Nouns. Test will be on Thursday.

Spelling – Test Friday

return, courage, surface, purpose, first, turkey, heard, early, turtle, birthday, journal, courtesy, nourish, purse, furniture, search, curtain, burrow, hamburger, survey, turquoise, absurd, furthermore, flourish, nourishment

Writing -The students wrote wonderful Halloween stories. I will be sending these home soon for you to enjoy. This week we will be researching a president and writing a short paper on them.

Math -Students will be continuing to multiply larger numbers. We will be moving to numbers like 75 x 16.

Social Studies-Students will continue to study the Geography of our state.

Science- Students will continue presenting their body system posters.  They did a wonderful job!  I am very proud of their work.

Religion-

Any student who is having trouble finding adequate information on the saint that they chose to do their report on, please e-mail me and I will be glad to copy some information for them  to use. dianathompson222@hotmail.com

Children are being given a “Good Deed” slip.  These slips are for things they do for others with out being asked to do so or with out pay.  It can not be something that they are expected to do or part of their regular chore list.  Hopefully in the near future they begin to think outside the box and begin to do things because it makes us feel good about ourselves when we do for others.  So, when your child does a ‘good deed’ be sure to sign the slip for them to bring back to school. (please see if they can come up with the deed on their own)

November 1st of course is ‘All Saints’ Day.  We are working to learn more about the saints and each child has the name of a saint to learn about and share with the class.  We will be working on the saints the whole month of November.  Children are to find out enough information about their saint that they can speak to the class about the saint.  They should have it printed out on paper, but are going to be encouraged not to read from the paper, so they will have to know the information that is on the paper.  They can refer to the paper.  Students in grade 3 should be able to speak about their saint for one minute. Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 should be able to speak for 2 minutes.  My hope is that  all the students will learn about all the saints through the talks that their fellow classmates give.  Students that can not find enough information, please let me know as I have several books with information about saints in them.

Classroom News –

Smencils- We will begin selling this smelly pencils this week. Each pencil is a $1.00. Students may purchase these starting Tuesday. We are asking that your child bring exact change for the number of pencils that they wish to purchase.

Thank you Parents for a wonderful Halloween Party. The students and I had a blast!

If anyone would like to send in cleaning supplies for our classroom it would be greatly appreciated. (Clorox Wipes, Lysol Spray, etc.)

Banking Day is Friday.

Secret Phrase: White House

Wow, what a great Halloween Party.  Thank you, parents, for the wonderful snacks, drinks, and games.  It was a super day.  We all had a great time thanks to your efforts and kindness. 

Reading Language Arts

  This week’s story is  ”Who Works Here”.  We will review the characters, setting, and genre.  Our focus this week will, again, be to state the main idea.  You can practice this by asking your child to tell you about his/her library book in only 1 sentence (without details). In First Grade we learn to restate the question when answering a short answer type question.  We practice this orally in class.  You can help your child by asking him/her a question and having him/her restate the question in his/her answer.

Question:  What would you like for breakfast?

Answer:  I would like eggs and bacon for breakfast.

We will continue to practice the definition of nouns and proper nouns. 

                             A proper noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or animal.

  FORMULA THREE 

We will be spelling words with long i this week.  Remember to have your child practice the silent e rule.  A good drill exercise is to look for words with silent e at the end in magazines, newspapers, library books, recipe books, etc.  Have your child try to read these words to you by using the silent e rule.  We will also continue to spell frequently used sight words.  Remember to practice and drill with these words in your child’s white reading folder. 

 Math

We will begin a unit on graphing and patterns.  You can help your child to practice naming the repeating part of a pattern by using stuff around the house to make a pattern, then have them figure out the repeating part.  For example:  fork, knife, spoon…..repeat the pattern.  Have fun with this activity and allow your child to challenge you to repeating a pattern he/she creates.  We will continue to use our mental math strategies to answer addition problems as a drill exercise. 

Science

We will continue filling out our Habitat Booklets and prepare for an assessment on Wednesday.  Please watch your child’s green folder for the Habitat Booklet.  You can help your child prepare for the assessment by asking them questions on the information found in the booklet. 

Important Dates

Choir will be Thursday at 3:15

There will not be Mass on Friday.

Secret Word – Science

First Graders were able to share the writings about their animals with other students throughout our school.  The teachers that heard their stories were very impressed.  I am very proud of our class.  They are learning to be authors. 

Reading Language Arts

We will begin a new unit in our reading series called, Communities.  This week’s story is  ”The Farmer In The Hat”.  We will review the characters, setting, and genre.  Our focus this week will, again, be to state the main idea.  You can practice this by asking your child to tell you about his/her library book in only 1 sentence (without details). We will begin writing the main idea in a complete sentence for homework on Thursday night–watch your child’s Reading Folder homework sheet for details.

Our grammar focus will be proper nouns. 

                             A proper noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or animal.

  FORMULA THREE 

We will be spelling words with long vowel sounds proven with e at the end of the word. 

Our rule to practice this week is as follows:

           E at the end of a word is silent.  It jumps back over 1 consonant and makes the vowel long. 

 Math

We will complete our unit of mental math.  There will be a Unit Assessment on Wednesday.  Please continue to practice these mental math strategies with your child to make them confident about the skill.  We will begin a unit on graphing and patterns. 

            When adding with 1 just move to the number beside the other addend.

             When adding with 2 just skip from the other addend.

             Look for doubles that you can add quickly in your head.

            When adding with 10 just change the digit in the tens place.

Science

We will finish our unit on habitats.

Important Dates

Choir will be Thursday at 3:15

Mass on Friday at 8:15    You are invited to join us in worship and prayer.

School Halloween Party – Friday at 1:00.

From now until October 31, My Coke Rewards is matching every point you donate to our school.  That means every point donated is worth double and helps us get items our school needs.  Here’s how to donate points to help our school:      enjoy a drink and get the code off of the packaging or under the cap, go to mycokerewards.com and enter codes to get points, choose “Donate to Your School” and look for our school zip code and click “Donate Points Now”.  Just enjoy your favorite drink, enter codes and help our school get the rewards we need for our kids.

Secret Word – Party

It is already the last week of October! We are approaching cold and flu season, so we must all take some simple precautions. Please be certain not to send your child to school if he or she is fevered or has excessive coughing or sneezing. At school, we will continue to wash hands and use Germ-x frequently, as well as sanitize desks daily.

Reading/Language Arts: Our weekly story is The Bremen Town Musicians. This is a story about working together. The spelling words for this story are words and their plurals. Remember these rules: if the base word ends with e, just add s. If the base word ends with ch, add es. If the base word ends in y, change the y to i and add es. This week’s words are: note, notes, lunch, lunches, story, stories, tune, tunes, switch, switches, baby, babies, crumbs, supplies, centuries, buddies, watches, peaches, ladies, families.

Math: We had an assessment on our plane shapes on Friday. This week we will work with geometric solids, such as cubes, spheres, rectangular prisms. We will continue to practice adding and subtracting with regrouping each day. We will also have a new set of math facts to memorize this week.

Science: We will be studying a pumpkin this week. We will examine the pumpkin inside and out, and will record information about it in a journal.

Religion: We will learn about All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Classroom News: Thanks to the parents who have provided our classroom with snacks. If anyone would like to send in snacks, we could always use “one piece” snacks!

Also, the Home-School Association has a selection of scented pencils that the students may purchase for $1.00.

I hope to see all of you at the Halloween Party on Friday afternoon.