Dear Kindergarten Families,

Thank you so much for the all the generous Christmas gifts and good wishes. I pray that you and your families enjoy a happy, healthy, holy Christmas season and new year.
May the blessings of this holy season be with you throughout the coming year.

God bless you.

January 2007 Homework Calendar

1/1 Happy New Year! Think of something new that you want to learn this year. Write and draw about it.
1/2 Pray the Our Father and the Hail Mary with your family.
1/3 Read a favorite story with a partner. Retell the story in your own words to your partner.
1/4 Practice saying your phone number, address, and birthday.
1/5 What are the school's Mission Statement and SLE's?
1/6 Play "Go Fish".
1/7 Epiphany of the Lord. Pray for those who do not know or love Jesus.
1/8 School resumes. Bring the December 2006 homework calendar to school.
1/9 Practice writing your full name (first, middle, and last names).
1/10 Review all letters of the alphabet (upper and lower case letters) and their sounds.
1/11 Make up a story using some of the sight words. You may have help writing some sentences. Draw a picture.
1/12 Sound out and write four words that begin with the letter of the week.
1/13 Review the days of the week and the months of the year. Our songs might help.
1/14 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Pray for all families.
1/15 Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday. Make up a prayer for peace and say it with your family.
1/16 Practice tying shoelaces. Count as high as you can.
1/17 Practice writing all the sight words. Use your favorite colors.
1/18 Write the upper case and lower case letters in your favorite colors.
1/19 Read a favorite book. Draw and write about your favorite part.
1/20 Practice running, skipping, jumping, throwing, and catching.
1/21 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Pray for peace and healing.
1/22 List ten things that are triangular. You may get help.
1/23 Write as many color words as you can Use markers, colored pencils, etc.
1/24 Tell Jesus why you love Him. Write and draw.
1/25 Make a cheerful card for someone sho is sick, sad, hurt or lonely.
1/26 Read a story about winter.
1/27 Play a board game with a partner. What are the rules?
1/28 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Catholic Schools Week begins.
1/29 Write a "Thank You" note to your family for sending you to OLM School.
1/30 Practice some of the songs we do in class.
1/31 Do a good deed for someone else. What SLE is that?

Kindergarten News 12/18/06

Bravo!
The kindergartners did a great job leading in meditations on angels and shepherds last week. Thanks to all for your help and support.

This Week's Events
Tuesday, December 19th, kindergartners read with their seventh grade buddies.
Thursday, December 21st, Free dress! Minimum day!
There will be a Christmas assembly for the whole school right after morning prayer in the auditorium. It will last about 45 minutes to an hour. Later, the kindergartners will enjoy a Christmas snack.
Remember, there will be no lunch service and no extended care on Thursday. Dismissal for students in the enrichment program will be at 12:30 pm. At that time OLM school will close for the Christmas vacation. Classes will resume Monday, January 8th, 2007.

Themes and Topics
We will continue our look at Christmas traditions and stories.
The letter of the week is Ll.
The sight word is go. we will be reviewing both sight word lists.

Thanks
"Thank You" to all who worked so hard on the enchilada sale. Your prayers and support will help make the playground project a reality. Thanks to all who continue to help and support us day after day in and out of the classroom. You are an inspiration and a blessing!

Homework Calendar
You will find the January 2007 homework calendar in your child's folder and on my blog. Please turn in the December 2006 homework calendar on Monday, January 8th, when classes resume.

Merry Christmas!
I wish all of you a most blessed Christmas.
May the peace and love of the first Christmas remain with you and your loved ones always!
God bless you!

An Early but Urgent Plea!
I will need drivers to take students (and their car seats) back to school after the school Mass at the end of Catholic Schools Week (Friday, February 2, 2007). Please let me know if you will be available to sit with the kindergartners during Mass and/or drive that morning. I am asking you now because the whole school will need drivers.

God bless you and have a Blessed Christmas!

School-Wide Learning Expectations

Mission Statement:
Our Lady of Mercy School enlightens the mind while enriching the soul.

Students graduating from Our Lady of Mercy School should be:

1.Active faith-filled people who:
a. know the basic teachings of the Catholic Church
b. live the Gospel Message through service
c. participate in the faith life of the Church by celebrating the liturgical seasons and
Catholic traditions

2.Effective communicators who:
a. read, write, and speak with understanding
b. listen attentively
c. respond respectfully

3.Responsible citizens who:
a. share their time, talents, and treasures with their community
b. exercise personal responsibility and stewardship for the environment

4.Successful learners who:
a. demonstrate a strong foundation in basic subjects
b. use current technology and research skills
c. practice effective problem solving
d. understand learning is a life-long process

Kindergarten Newsletter 12/11/06

Tuesday, December 12th, is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Thanks to all who share their time talents and treasures with us in and out of the classroom. You are a blessing to us.

This Week
The letter of the week is Jj.
The sight word is do.
We will continue to work with number/numeral recognition.
We will also work on Advent and Christmas activities.

Kindergartners Lead Morning Prayer
Remember, on Wenesday, December 13th, the kindergarten girls will lead the school in a meditation on angels during morning prayer.
On Thursday, December 14th, the kindergarten boys will lead the school in a meditation on shepherds.
Please keep the children's costumes simple.

Christmas Program
Students from various grade levels are participating in OLM's annual Christmas Program on Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in St. Patrick's Church on Yosemite Ave. All are welcome.

Sight Words
Please continue to review the sight words with your child frequently.
List 1: yes, the, like, a, I, see, can, you, be, we
List 2: did, go, on, no, yes, me, said, in, do, up

OLM's SLE's
Do you know the school-wide learning expectations and the subheadings? How about the school's Mission Statement? Continue to practice these with your child/children.

Advent Works of Mercy
We continue to see the outpouring of the Holy Spirit through your generosity.
* Our financial contributions to the American Cancer Society continue to grow. We will keep collecting money for this organization all year long.
*The sack lunch program for St. Vincent dePaul continues this week. The kindergartners are asked to bring in one more lunch this Advent (on Friday, December 15th). Last week our class filled four shopping bags with sack lunches.

Pray for peace and healing!

God bless you and have a great week!

Kindergarten Newsletter 12/04/06

Advent
We continue to collect funds for the American Cancer Society and bring the money to morning prayer each Friday during Advent.

Our goal to bring in extra lunches for the St. Vincent dePaul Society is going well. We will continue to collect lunches for the St. Vincent dePaul Society for the next two Fridays (12/8 and 12/15). Each student will bring home a lunch bag to fill. Please make sure your child prepares a lunch, fills the bag, and returns the bag to me first thing Friday morning as the lunches are delivered very early.

Thank you for bringing in canned foods for the food drive. We continue to accept donations.

This Week
The letter of the week is Bb.
the sight word is yes.
We continue with our Advent and Christmas projects.

Uniform Notes
Winter weather is here! Girls are allowed to wear Dennis Uniform pants (navy blue cords) from December through February as these are the coldest months of the year. However, girls must wear their jumpers on Mass days. Girls must also wear shorts under their jumpers. they will be allowed to play on the playground equipment if they are wearing shorts under their jumpers. This is for warmth and modesty.

As always, ONLY OLM sweatshirts or Dennis Uniform sweaters are allowed in the classroom. Some students are not in compliance with OLM's uniform policies.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Friday, December 8th, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. As it is a holy day of obligation, Mass will be celebrated in the auditorium that morning at 8:15. Please join us.

Kindergartners Lead at Morning Prayer
On December 13th, the kindergarten girls will lead the school in a meditation on Angels. They should wear an appropriate costume for their part.
On December 14th, the kindergarten boys will lead the school in a meditation on the shepherds. They are to dress accordingly for their part.
These are NOT free dress days.

Please continue to pray for peace.

Please Note!
we are learning the Guardian Angel Prayer this month. The children are to color the picture on the reverse side of this week's newsletter and say the prayer at home with their families.

God bless you!