Thursday Newsletter
September 29, 2011FROM THE DESK OF MS. HESED
Here we are at the middle of the first quarter; there are 7 more similar time spans ahead of us. Each will be progressively more challenging academically until we reach May when the teachers begin to let up – just a bit.
Parents of 1st – 8th graders:
By the time, you are reading this newsletter you will also be aware that your child’s mid-quarter progress report is available for viewing on-line through Fast Direct. For parents of 1st and 2nd graders, please click on the A+ and see your child’s 1st quarter progress report. Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call or emessage your child’s teacher. This first session has been academically easy, much of the academics have been intended for the teacher to assess just how much your child retained from last school year. (The summer homework was intended to assist that retention process. The use it or lose it philosophy!). Likewise, during these first few weeks the emphasis was on getting to know one another and becoming comfortable with one another and with the routines of a new classroom. Brain research indicates that when all are comfortable and routines are in place, the real learning can begin to take place.
Parents of 3rd through 8th graders, many of you of know this already, if so be patient while I reiterate for our new families. At progress report and report card times, you can view your child’s academic progress in two formats on Fast Direct. The traditional progress report (mid-quarter) and the report card (end of quarter) holds a single grade, behavior evaluation and teacher comments. The single grade is not terribly informative but allows you that summary assessment. It’s the behavior evaluation and teacher’s comments that really matter. My dad always looked first at our effort and conduct grades before moving onto our academic grades. Effort and conduct impact your child’s learning AND, more importantly perhaps, his or her classmate’s learning. My dad could live with a C if there was an A in effort and would not accept even an A- if there was anything less than an A in effort and an A in conduct.
The other format for viewing grades is the one you have been viewing all quarter long – the teacher’s grade book. This view lets you know the result of each assignment for that grading period. I imagine that there are some among us who breathe a huge sigh of relief that our parents were never able to read our teacher’s grade book – TMI! But aren’t you glad that now that you are the parent you have access to all that information.
I hope that you will take the time to view your child’s progress via both formats and to speak with your child about mid-quarter grades, behaviors and teacher’s comments.
I have read them all; I recommend hot fudge sundaes this weekend (with just a few exceptions – save their celebrations for November when the next set of formal evaluations come out!).
Parents of preschool through Kindergartners:
No written reports for you at this time. However, I hope that you are committed to reading the communications from your children’s teachers. Their weekly newsletters keep you informed of all that has happened and is yet to happen.
The emphasis this first session is only slightly on cognitive learning; the time spent at school this first session is heavily invested in the social and emotional transition into the new school year. I hope you have had the opportunity to speak with your child’s teachers about your child’s comfortable transition whether that be at 3:00 in person or via SMOS-school.org email or Fast Direct emessage or over the phone.
I can see the difference over this past month even as I watch the children walk down the hall on their way to and from Spanish and PE. The children are less scattered, their lines indicate their focus and attention; their quiet indicates their realization and respect for others present. It seems trivial, why does it matter how they walk through the halls? The attentive walking is indicative of the attentive, focused learning that happens in the classroom. The realization that there are others present is indicative of an attitude of respect for the learning environment and the other person. I never cease to be amazed at how the teachers of our youngest children understand that learning is not simply about acquiring the knowledge of the alphabet and numbers but about developing a ready mind for learning, and this they accomplish through everything they do from how they walk to Spanish class to how they play during free choice time.
Of course, the children break all of that wonderful quiet focus when they meet their buddies in the hallway and want to give a hi-five or a hug! But even that is essential to the young child knowing that he or she is safe and cared for by those giant, older kids.
Our Annual Pet Blessing and Celebration of St. Francis of Assisi
The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is actually October 4, but we will bless our pets in his name on Friday, October 7. We will gather outside the front steps of the old building. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, parishioners are encouraged to bring their pets: dogs, cats, snakes, mice – all in their appropriate cages or on their appropriate leashes. The animals get a little anxious when there are so many other 4 legged creatures and SO many curious and excited 2 legged creatures. In the manner of St. Francis we will bless these animals as holy and sacred remembering that like humans they have been carefully and lovingly created by God, and that we are called to be good stewards of all God’s creation.
If you are unable to bring your pet, a picture or drawing will be just fine.
The pet blessing will be from 2:00 to 2:40 or so, allowing the children time to go back into their classrooms to pack up and prepare to leave for the day. See you next Friday with pets in tow.
October’s Biggest Events
October 7 Pet Blessing
October 14 No school, faculty is on retreat
October 20 PTA General Meeting, all are encouraged to attend (7:00 pm at school)
October 22 Walk-a-Thon; information to come home next week
October 28 Dragon’s Grove Pumpkin Fest, 3:00pm to 6:00pm (more info to follow)
October 31 Trunk or Treat, 2:00 pm; start buying those Halloween treats
November 1 No school, All Saints Day
November 4 end of the 1st quarter (it all flies by so quickly!)
I had not intended this year to include the monthly peeks into the calendar since parents have access to the calendar in so many places this year, but October was just too full and too festive to pass by.
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