Hello Families! I hope everyone enjoyed the snow day as much as they could! I realize some of you still had to go to work.  I got some stuff done at home and some shoveling. I am good with the snow. It can be done now. 😁

Calendar Dates:

Feb. 14- Spirit Day and Valentine's Day

Feb. 17- No School/PD Day

Feb.19- Kindergarten Mass with help from 5th grade

Feb. 19- Field Trip to Carlos Acutis Veneration

Feb. 21- End of Trimester 2

Feb. 28- Book Reports Due

Mar. 1- STM Gala/ Auction

Field Trip- I have enough drivers now! Thank you! I am still missing some permission slips. Please return by Monday.  

Reading- This week's story is kind of lengthy, but also allows for great discussion. It is an informational story about the expansion west in the United States, but the way it is written is more like a cartoon/realistic fiction. We talked about the reasons why people moved west in the 1800s- free land and the gold rush being a couple of them. I showed them pictures of Independence Rock. This was a place people stopped and etched their name and the date of being there. We looked at photos online of the ruts that were in the ground due to the wagons and muddy trails. We focused on some of the hardships they faced on the trail...like diseases, bad weather, running out of food and/ or water. I do wish they had talked to them about the clothing they had to wear back then. Many of them traveled over 50o miles and walking beside the wagon was a big part of that. 

Grammar- We are working on quotation marks and the appropriate ways to punctuate direct quotes or phrases. 

Book Reports- Projects due on February 28! 

Religion- Our chapter focuses on joining the Catholic church  when you are older vs when you are a baby. It's great that I have Mary and Silas to ask questions to since they have joined in the past couple of years. On Tuesday, they each picked a saint to do some research on. They are taking notes on that saint's life. After that they are going to create some Google Slides on that person to share with the class. Picking a saint is part of the confirmation process. It gives them a specific saint to be their patron saint to pray to when they need help or guidance. 

Next Wednesday we will travel to St. Pius to see the first class relic of Blessed Carlos. He will be named a saint later this year in April. We will leave here at 10:45. They will need to pack a sack lunch and drink. We will eat up there before we return.  This day is offered to the Catholic schools to visit, but I believe it will be open to the public that weekend, if you're interested. 

Math- We are still finishing up the test with a few kids. This test is longer than the last ones have been. I did spend my snow day correcting those that finished already. We will begin division next week. This is usually a harder chapter with high frustration. I will do my best to lower or eliminate that frustration as best I can. 

Valentines- have your child bring their Valentines to school on Friday. We will celebrate it in the afternoon. 

Mass- next Wednesday the 5th graders will help the kindergarten class with mass. Please join us if you are able! 

Auction- I got the basket done for the auction- well almost. I will post a picture on my Facebook page when it is complete! Thank you for helping out! I am calling it A Cozy Night In Basket. It would great for any family to purchase! 

No School on Monday, Feb. 17. It is a professional development day! Enjoy the long weekend! 

Melodie Winkler got me our auction item. I will work on it next week with the kids. Thank you, Melodie! 

Ben Tracy- I hope you were able to listen to him on Wednesday night on the webinar! He was GREAT! It was extremely eye-opening on what social media is doing with kids and to kids.  They will be able to see him on Friday when he talks to them at school. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am hoping to be able to go to the funeral of my sister-in-law's dad in Humboldt, but the weather doesn't look like it will let me. Maybe things will change! 🙏🙏

God Bless, 

Miss Surma