November 2006 Homework Calendar

Read and pray every day.

1. All Saints Day. Learn about your patron saint.
2. Review left and right; write numbers as high as you can.
3. Review your address, phone number and birthday.
4. Read a favorite story with a partner.
5. 31st Sunday in ordinary time. Go to Mass.
6. Practice writing your name and the sight words on lined paper (for primary
grades).
7. Write the ABC's (both upper case and lower case).
8. Play a memory game.
9. Practice lacing and tying shoe laces.
10. Read about Veterans Day.
11. Practice bouncing and catching a ball.
12. 32nd Sunday in ordinary time. Go to Mass.
13. Review the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.
14. Practice drawing the basic shapes (circle, square, oval, diamond, rectangle,
triangle). Use crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.
15. Practice reading and writing the sight words "the school way".
16. Practice reading and writing the color words "the school way".
17. Write your first middle and last names three times.
18. Practice hopping, skipping, jumping, running, etc.
19. 33rd Sunday in ordinary time. Go to Mass. This week, take a walk with
someone you love.
20. Discuss Thanksgiving and for what you are thankful.
21. Make a "Thank You" card for someone you love.
22. Do something helpful for your family.
23. Happy Thanksgiving!
24. Read a favorite book with a partner. Think of a different ending.
25. Help cheerfully at home.
26. Feast of Christ the King. Go to Mass.
27. Write a sentence using sight words. Draw a picture.
28. Look through a magazine or newspaper and circle any words you can read.
29. Play a game with family/or friends.
30. Practice tracing. Use six different shapes. Trace them with pencils, crayons,
marker, etc. onto paper.
December 1st: Turn in the November homework calendar.

Practice reading and writing the sight words every week as I will quizz you on them.
Word List (1) : yes, the, like, a, I, see, can, you, be, we

Word List (2): did, go, on, no, yes, me, said, in, do, up

Kindergarten Newsletter 10/30/06

Greetings Kindergarten Families!

Red Ribbon Week was a success last week. Students and staff got into the spirit of making healthy choices.

This week will be very busy!
Monday: report cards are due.
Tuesday: Students are allowed to wear costumes to school. Please refer to the letters sent home last Friday. The kindergarten party will be at their regularly scheduled snack time.
Wednesday: All Saints Day, it is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be celebrated in the auditorium at 8:15 am. All are welcome. October homework calendar is due.
Friday: Minimum Day. There is no lunch and no enrichment. Dismissal is at 12:30 pm.

Halloween Safety
Please check out the web site below for Halloween safety tips from the American Red Cross. www.redcross.org/serices/hss/tips/october/octtips.html.

Themes and Topics
The letter of the week is Ff.
The sight word is did.
We will learn about All Saints Day.
We will read and learn about scarecrows and do related projects.
Please note that you will find the next set of sight words (on blue card stock) in this week's folder. Please cut them apart and add them to the ring given to you at the beginning of the school year.

November Family Homework Project
In this week's folder you will find directions for a fun family homework project (dressing a turkey). Please return the completed project by Monday, Novembe 6th.

Conferences
Conferences will be held next week (11/6 through 11/9). Please keep in mind the conferences are scheduled every 15 minutes each afternoon. Please be prompt as our time is brief. These are minimum days for the students. Dismissal is at 12:30 pm. There will be no lunch service and no enrichment.

Veterns Day
OLM School will gather at morning prayer on Thursday (11/09) to honor our veterans. There will be a short program which will include prayer, patriotic songs, and photos.
There will be no school on Friday (11/10) in observance of Veterans Day.

Fall Program
The Fall Program is on Wednesday (11/15) at 6:30 pm at St. Patrick's Parish Hall. My class will sing some of their favoite songs. Please bring your child to the hall by 5:45 pm. I ask that your child wear something red for their performance.

God bless you and have a great week.

Halloween Costumes

Dear Parents,
Halloween is a time to reflect on the lives of all who have returned to our heavenly Father as it is the evening before a holy day (All Hallows’ Eve). More commonly, it is a time for costumes and trick-or-treat fun. OLM Students will be allowed to wear appropriate costumes to school on Tuesday (Halloween). There will be an assembly and costume judging in the morning.

When selecting a costume, please keep a few things in mind:
· Costumes must be comfortable and safe, as the children will wear them all day. Students will have regular class time and recess time.
· Costumes must be appropriate in theme…modest, no weapons, etc. Keep in mind the weather, also.
· Footwear must be safe. I recommend regular shoes.
· Please keep accessories to a minimum as we are not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken items.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
God bless you and…

Happy Halloween!

Kindergarten Newsletter 10/23/06

Welcome to Red Ribbon Week!
Tuesday: SOCK IT TO DRUGS DAY -- WEAR CRAZY SOCKS.
Thursday: Ericka Peterson from the department of health will address the students.
Friday: Free Dress -- wear red and white.

Dress Code Reminder
Mrs. Blackburn has brought it to our attention that a number of students are out of uniform.
Please remember that only OLM sweatshirts or navy blue uniform cardigans are allowed in class.
Boys' hair must not touch the collar. It should be at least 1/2 inch above the ears and above the eyebrows.
Girls must wear their hair pulled away from the face. A small bow (red, blue, or white) may be worn.
Only post earrings are allowed. No hoops or any danlge earrings are allowed at school. These policies are in place for the children's safety.

Free Dress
Please check the student handbook for appropriate free dress. Please, no short shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, boots or sandals. This is for the modesty and safety of the children.

Report Cards
The first report card will go out on Friday, October 27th. Please read, sign, and return your child's report card by Monday, October 30th. Conferences are in November.

Themes and Topics
This week our topics include:
Red Ribbon Week
Halloween
The Luminous and the Glorious Mysteries
The sight words are be and we.
The letter of the week is Hh.
When selecting something to share, students are not limited to the letter of the week. I encourage the children to bring in one item that pertains to any of our topics of discussion.

Halloween Carnival
OLM School's Halloween Carnival is Saturday, October 28th, from 5pm to 8pm. If you are interested in helping at the carnival, please mark the sign-up sheet just outside the classroom. If you have questions, please contact our room parents.

Halloween
On Tuesday, October 31st, students are allowed to wear a costume to school. There will be a parade of costumes and costume judging in the morning. Please note, your child's costume must be modest, theme appropriate, comfortable and safe to wear ALL DAY. More information will follow. If you have any questions, please see Mrs. Blackburn.

All Saints Day
Wednesday, November 1st, is All Saints Day. It is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be celebrated in the auditorium at 8:15 am. Please join us.

Homework Calendar
The October homework calendar is due on Wednesday November 1st. November homework calendars will go home next week.

November Book Fair
OLM's first book fair of the year will run from Monday, November 6th, through Friday, November 10th. Check it out in the library from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please continue to pray for peace and healing.
God bless you.

Kindergarten Newsletter 10/20/06

I hope you had a great three-day weekend. Welcome back to another busy week in kindergarten.

Field Trip Thank You
"Thank You" to all who provided snacks, drove and/or chaperoned our trip to the pumpkin patch last Tuesday. We had a great time and you helped make things go smoothly.
Please consider driving for us at the end of January 2007 as the whole school will celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Mass at St. Patrick's Church. Many drivers will be needed. More information will come in January.

Thanks
Thanks to those of you who brought in paper towels. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

New Quarter
Today we begin the second quarter of the school year. Report cards will go home Friday, October 27th. Time is flying!

Playground Makeover
Please plan to attend a meeting Wednesday Evening at 7:00pm in the school library. The discussion will cover such things as proposed fundraisers for a K-1 playground makeover.

Topics and Themes
The letter of the week is Gg.
The sight word is see.
We will continue to talk about spiders. We will also learn about bats and do related projects.
We will continue to learn about the Rosary as we focus on the Sorrowful Mysteries.
In math we will compare sets of objects and practice using tally marks.

Daily Writing Practice
Please practice penmanship (writing the school way) using lined paper for primary grades. This paper is available in grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, etc. the kindergartners need daily practice holding the pencil properly and forming the letters and numerals as instructed at school. This is a good opportunity to practice writing one's name, the sight words, etc.

Friday, October 20th, is a minimum day as the teachers have a WASC meeting. There will be no lunch service and no enrichment program.

Continue to visit this blog for newsletters and other updates.

God bless you and have a great week.

Kindergarten Newsletter 10/09/06

Thanks for all your help and support. At this time we need paper towels.

Field Trip Tomorrow
Tuesday, October 10th, both kindergarten classes will go to the Pumpkin Patch in Plainsburg. We will leave shortly after morning prayer and we will return to school by 11:00am. Students are allowed to wear appropriate free dress. This is an outdoor activity so walking shoes are recommended. Please bring your child's car seat to school Tuesday morning.

Dates to Remember
10/12 End of the first quarter
10/13 No school as the teachers attend an in-service in Visalia
10/20 Minimum Day; teacher meeting
10/23 Red Ribbon Week begins.
10/27 Report cards go home.
10/28 Halloween Carnival at OLM School (5pm - 8pm)
10/31 Halloween
11/01 All Saints' Day Mass at 8:15am at OLM School

Themes and Topics
The letter of the week is Ss.
The sight word is can.
In math we will work with tally marks and equalizing sets.
We will continue to learn about the Rosary with a focus on the Luminous Mysteries.
We will learn a few spider facts.

Uniforms
As of Monday, October 16th, students must wear their regular uniforms. Boys must wear the uniform navy blue corduroy pants with the uniform light blue shirt. Girls must wear the uniform jumper (with shorts underneath) and the uniform white shirt. See the handbook for details. Please mark your child's belongings clearly.

Keep Them Coming!
Please continue to bring in box tops, Campbell Soup labels, empty ink cartridges, old cell phones, etc. The donations benefit OLM School.

SLE's
Continue to learn the schoolwide learning expectations and their subheadings. The visiting WASC team will want to see that our students and their families are familiar with the SLE's.

Rosary
October is the month dedicated to the Rosary. Please help your child learn and pray the Rosary including this month's prayer The Hail, Holy Queen.

God bless you and have a great week.