January 2024

         Welcome 2024! And Welcome Back to 3L as we start the new year with a new math unit, new stories in our reading series, and new chapters in both Religion and Social Studies! The month is full of promise and excitement as we prepare for our first ever iReady testing, ski club adventures and fun in and out of our classes in both the tradition of Catholic Schools week and in the form of playing in the first snowfall of the season . 
           Religion  Our unit on church life continues, we are now learning about how our parish is like a community that prays, works and lives together as part of God's family. Using both the weekly bulletin and the Saint Christopher Parish website, we are exploring the way our priests and deacons as well as how others serve the needs of our parish and  the various ministries of the church (how our parish cares for one another). We will bless our classroom for the new year with a special prayer (ask your child what "20 C+M+B 24 means!)

As an extension of our ongoing lessons in social justice and Catholic Social Teaching, we will take some time before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day learning about the man and his dream, creating peace poems and illustrations to our commitment to a free, peaceful world without fear or prejudice. The children were alive with the Spirit as they watched Dr. King share "I Have a Dream" civil rights speech on Washington's Lincoln Memorial,. 
          Math brings us to the last of our multiplication and division units on facts to the 9’s tables. I have never seen a more eager bunch of children as we recite together the facts, then race to get the assignments done, quickly and with such accuracy. I am so proud as they develop such confidence in these ever so important skills.

        In Reading, we will finish the unit on persuasive essay, and begin a study on the story Nature's Patchwork Quilt, learning about adaptations and biodiversity in various parts of the world. We are going to be talking about realistic fiction and learn how some unlikely characters can be heroes in the next story, Below Deck: A Titanic Story, as young Grace and Catherine board the ship, not knowing the adventure that awaits them. It's sure to be a thrilling read!

          Language Arts we will continute to explore how subjects and predicates work together to form different kinds of sentences, from statements to questions and commands, using the proper pronunciation marks. We are practicing contractions and making sure that the apostrophe in this case is used in place of a letter to make the word shorter. 

         In Social Studies, we kick off our Lessons in Economics by listening to the story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, which gave us the ways that we can still give, even if we have limited resources. We talked about the difference between a want and a need, and explored the ways we can benefit from an opportunity cost. 

         The last week of January also brings National Catholic Schools Week, and we will be having lots of activities that celebrate our uniqueness as a catholic school, including writing letters to religious, thanking them for their efforts, themed dress down days (think spirit wear and color wars, 80s day and pajamas!), and special surprises and treats along the way. Stay tuned for photos from such a fun week! 
         As always, I am asking God for blessings on such a dynamic group of children. I wish you health and happiness as the month of January unfolds. Prayers for a safe and sound year. 

 IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
January 1-Hot Lunch Ordering Begins
January 3-School Begins 
January 4-NO AFTER CARE
January 9-Grades 3 and 4 Field Trip to Gillette Stadium 

January 12-Second Marking Period Ends
January 15-Hot Lunch Ordering Ends
January 15-NO SCHOOL-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 18-Grades 3-5 Mass (9:45am, ALL ARE WELCOME!)
January 19-Report Cards Issued
January 25 (tentative) Monsignor Kelley returns to visit 3L and 3S

January 26 (tentative)-Mother & Son Bowling *place and time TBA*
January 29-February 2 Catholic Schools Week
January 29-ALL SCHOOL MASS (9:45am ALL ARE WELCOME!) 
January 30-January 31-Saint Christopher Academy "Noon to Noon Day of Giving"