A SMILE

A SMILE costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who give it. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he cannot be made richer by it. A SMILE creates happiness in the home, promotes good will in business and is the cornerstone of friendship. It can perk up the weary, bring cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. When people are too tired to give you a smile, give them one of yours. No one needs to smile so much as he who has none to give. (Note: A smile uses fewer facial muscles than a frown or scowl and exercises certain facial muscles to make the face more attractive.

CONTESTS

Participating in contests is an excellent means of enrichment and of relating education to the real world. In addition, students improve their thinking, writing, and design skills, and enjoy being recognized for their talents. Congratulations to Tyler Skelton of Grade 7 who was a winner in the essay contest sponsored by the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh. Tyler received Honorable Mention and $50 for his essay “How do we use chemistry in our daily lives.” Great job! We are proud of our winners in the 2^nd annual Earth Week essay contest sponsored by Brevillier Village. Their essays were on the topic “Why should we celebrate Earth Day?” Students won gift cards to Best Buy.

7^th-8^th grade division:

1^st place – Meghan McCurdy – Gr. 7

2^nd place – Ian Brady – Gr. 8A

3^rd place – Isabella Pacinelli – Gr. 7

Honorable Mention:

Sara Szczesny – Gr. 8

Jacob VanSlyke – Gr. 8

5^th – 6^th grade division:

1^st place – Tanner Schau – Gr. 5

Honorable Mention:

Ellie Born – Gr. 5

Ketara Hinman – Gr. 5

Sr. Mary, CDS

TOO BUSY TO PRAY?

“If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy.” From morning till night our hours are filled with meals, meetings, driving places, phone calls, shopping, and on and on. Once in a while we stop, sit back, and catch our breath. We think about the bigger picture and our basic life direction. We think of Our Lord, and His place in our activity. Too many people are discouraged and guilt-ridden when they cannot spend longer stretches in prayer, but the pressures and duties of our lives do not allow for many times like that. Our Lord wants our hearts and spirits. “Meditation in motion,” or praying at odd moments that fit into our busy lives, can suffice to give Him what He wants, which is for us to speak our hearts to Him. This involves getting “prayer space” while driving to work, pausing for a cup of coffee, looking out a favorite window, etc., and talking to Our Lord about the day, your plans, problems, hopes, and worries. Talk to Him as to an intimate friend. Look to Him, stay upbeat in spirit, and give Him a chance to whisper something in reply. Remember: “He is at our side always until the end of time.”

CALENDAR:

5/7 -     Grade 8 retreat

5/11 -   Grade 8 class trip

5/15 -  May Crowning – everyone is invited.

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Sr. Martha, CDS

 

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Can you believe this weather? That’s the question the first grade meteorologists are asking themselves. During the month of April, they will be learning all about the weather. They will learn about temperature and how to read a thermometer. They will also learn about the Water Cycle and the processes of evaporation and condensation. They will create a Weather Booklet listing important information regarding our daily weather – the daily high temperature, the times of the sunrise and sunset, and what the overall daily weather was. Watch out, Tom Atkins, there are some new meteorologists in town!

Mrs. Norton

 

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The students of Grade 4 have started learning how to play a new game. The game is called “Set”, and is a visual perception game based on attributes. The object is to find a “set” of three cards which satisfies the four attributes of Color, Shape, Number, and Shading on all three cards. Each of the four attributes must be all the same or all different on each card when looked at individually. The students did very well and were extremely excited learning how to play this game. Interested students and parents are encouraged to visit the following website where they can log in for a daily puzzle; there is also a “Set” board game called “Set Cubed”.

(www.setgame.com)

Mrs. Brennan

 

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Grade 3 finished a special program designed for this age level called Life Skills Training. The topics we discussed were: self-esteem, decision-making, smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, stress, communication skills, social skills, and assertiveness using refusal skills. Through games, projects, and acting things out, the students learned skills that made them stronger people. Being a good friend and finding a good friend are hard if they don’t communicate their feelings. Now we also learned two ways to reduce stress with relaxation techniques. So when you see our classroom traffic light, remember to daily STOP-THINK-GO! The goal was to show them how to feel good about themselves in order to make healthy decisions for the rest of their lives.

Mrs. Case

ACCOLADES to our 7th and 8th graders who were on the third quarter honor roll

GRADE 7

Sarah Babay
Kevin Bello
Tucker Fabin
John Groshek
Alexis Hitchcock
Peyton Kedzierski
Karoline Kienholz
Meghan McCurdy
Annamarie Osiecki

GRADE 8

Kathryn Anderson
Madeline Breski
Rebecca Campbell
Mark Gorski
Jacob VanSlyke
Evan Warner
Morgan Wawrzyniak

GRADE 8A

Domenica Babo
Ian Brady
Sarah Brennan
Jayme Cooper
Kyle Fitzgerald
Kevin Kruszewski

DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

February was National Children's Dental Health Month. Each year the third grade receives educational materials from the Pennsylvania Dental Association. After the lessons are presented, the children drew posters to illustrate good dental health. Congratulations to Claire Razanauskas from Grade 3 for winning both at the classroom and Erie County level. Next the district winners are sent to the Dental Association's Central Office in Harrisburg where the state winners will be selected.

Mrs. Case

CALENDAR

April 21 - Sacrament of Reconciliation Gr. 2
April 24 - Open House & Registration 6:30 – 8:00 PM
April 25 - Wizard of Oz – Gr. 7 & 8 Mercyhurst Prep
April 27 - Free Day

FRENCH FRIES BECOME COUCH POTATOES

Today you pay close attention to your health, your diet and your exercise. These are important both for you and your children. The public voice for food and health policy presents evidence that children with diets that are high in cholesterol and fat increase the likelihood of health problems later in life. But it is not all their fault, nor is it necessarily yours.

Television and internet has become the opiate of children.
Kids just are not encouraged to walk or even ride a bike.
Dinner, often is a stop at a fast food place with, "Do you want fries with that?"

Consequently, it is no wonder that a recent Prevention Index Study shows that children weighed an average of 11.4 lbs. more now than in 1973. Many children are overweight. "We're churning out unhealthy kids, who may tragically become unhealthy adults." We know that moderate exercise for adults will reap important benefits. Children will improve their risk factors by the same measure. Since children learn best from their parents, you must model good exercise for them. Walk or jog together often. Beware of thinking, "Well, my child is outside all the time." Good start, but check the activity. The other half is diet. Keep lots of fruits around and make them accessible and inviting. If we want to limit the number of couch potatoes in the next generation, we have to look first to the French fries we have today.

CLASSROOM NEWS

Sacrifice – a giving up of one thing for another. As the students in Grade 8 studied the Passion of our Lord they discussed the ultimate sacrifice Christ made to save mankind. With Jesus as their example, the students also offered sacrifices during the season of Lent. Each day a student read a new sacrifice to offer to the Lord. Some sacrifices were: Make your siblings bed today; clean your room; call Grandma and tell her you love her; give Dad a hug and tell him you love him. Even though these were small offerings, the students did realize how easy these were compared to Jesus' sacrifice. Kudos to the students who went a step further and succeeded in completing a big sacrifice – No Screen Week. Katie Anderson, Madeline Breski, Morgan Wawrzyniak, Rebecca Campbell and Evan Warner took the challenge of no TV, no computer and no cell phone for one week. They found other activities to do to keep themselves busy. Congratulations, Happy Easter!

Mrs. Blaszczyk

Grade 6 read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry for their March Book-it assignment. The story is about a ten year old girl and her family's experiences during World War II in Copenhagen, Denmark. Because the theme of the story was bravery, each student had to make a collage depicting brave individuals or deeds. As the projects were presented to the class, it was obvious that some of those most often recognized for their bravery are firefighters, police, and our military.

Mrs. Pacinelli

We have been watching outside very closely and have been finding some beautiful changes around our school and homes! The sun has been getting warmer and we have noticed birds singing outside our window! The trees have been filling with beautiful blossoms. Pink, red, purple and yellow flowers have been blooming all over. Spring has sprung! During the month of April preschool has been talking about and celebrating the beginning of spring. We have been able to walk outside and see the signs of spring all around us. In our classroom we have been talking about the plants and flowers we have been observing and learning what they need to grow. As part of our science lesson we will be doing some planting of our own and use what we have learned. With hard work and nurturing we're sure to see exciting results! Happy spring from Preschool!!

Mrs. Brady

Grade 3A just completed our guided reading of Charlotte's Web. Along the way we learned many new vocabulary words (often explained by Charlotte). We saw a certain interaction among the animals and learned many family names: chicken: rooster, hen, chick; sheep: ram, ewe, lamb; cattle: bull, cow, calf and many more As a culminating event, we viewed the film with live characters. We saw sheep being sheared, followed the rat down his hole, and got a glimpse of that ominous smoke house! Now in our social studies, we'll go "On the Farm". Our farm products map will give us a quick overview of the different products grown in different parts of our country. We'll see the value of the different types of farmers throughout our land and just what is required to feed us. Finally, in our health, we'll see the various food groups and what is best for us nutritionally. Any connections? Certainly, and for us this year it all started with a caring spider named Charlotte!

Sr. Rita, CDS

Gr. 4A has been learning about the use and effects of drugs and alcohol. The health kit includes a lot of great facts and information to help the students understand the dangers. They listen to a person named X who gives many different scenarios and situations dealing with peer pressure and much more. X acts as different children in each story. The students were also very surprised to find out that second hand smoke is just as dangerous as using drugs or smoking on their own. The Here's Looking At You Kit is a great resource and I do hope the Grade 4A students learn a lot!

Mrs. Sigler

A Powerhouse of Prayer

Someone once said, “With faith all things are possible.” Did you know that you have a built-in support system, a powerhouse of prayer, behind you? Each day the children list various intentions on the board for which the class prays. Special intentions, such as ill parents or relatives, are announced over the PA, and the entire school unites in remembering these requests.The students take this practice very seriously and are diligent in praying for all needs. We have often seen how powerful the prayers of St. James children are!

Competition and Comparison

Competition is certainly part of our lives in these United States. Unfortunately it often becomes more of a focus than any healthy value it can teach. Witness athletics – one easily sees the overkill of competitive sports in many cases.

We rely on comparisons to help us better understand something according to a standard set by professionals. We then have a measure of success or lack thereof. Comparing helps us target strengths and weaknesses, and we are than able to set a plan in motion for better results in the future. So to a degree a healthy competition and comparison are necessary. It all needs to be put into proper perspective.

Tests have always been a measuring tool in schools.There are two purposes to a test: (1) to assess what the learner has understood, and (2) to help the teacher to plan for future lessons and to remedy where necessary. Tests are one method of helping us understand the learner and the material learned. What I would emphasize here is that tests are only one way to accomplish these goals. In schools there are multiple successful techniques to demonstrate that children are learning and that the materials are appropriate for the learners.

The Future is Now!

Our two new computer carts each with twenty-four laptop computers open a new and exciting way for our students to explore the world of technology. The carts are wheeled into the classroom where each student takes a laptop and begins to work on programs that will enhance learning. Currently classes are working with “Interactive Math Journey” and “Middle School Language Arts”. Classes have used laptops to do the “First in Math” competition, research the Constitution and War of 1812 and to take virtual tours of the Washington Monument and Statue of Liberty. This is only the beginning. There are literally hundreds of possibilities for use in the future – creating charts and tables, Power Point Presentations, and databases. At St. James – “All Systems Are Go”!

Sr. Martha, C.D.S.

Special Thanks

Mrs. Trish Thompson organizes our labels and box tops.

Mrs. Pat Kruszewski grandmother of the Kruszewski children works in our kitchen every Tuesday.

Mrs. Pam Majczyk helps in our cafeteria and works in the library every Monday.

Mrs. Betty Caveretta – children attended St. James School works in the kitchen every week.

Mr. Tony Lastowski washes dishes every Thursday and Friday.

Mr. & Mrs. Mario and Patty Scutella grandparents of the Scutella and Telega children work in our kitchen every Friday.

Classroom News

            San Francisco – This has been the latest destination in social studies for Grade 3A.  First, we studied the geography and features.  Thick fog rolls in off the San Francisco Bay.  When the fog lifts, we see the Golden Gate Bridge.  There are 43 hills and many “crooked streets.”  Chinatown, Mission Dolores, and cable cars are interesting features.

            Looking into the past we see how the Spanish missionaries worked with the Native Americans.  With the “Gold Rush”, the population exploded.  Finally, in 1850, Congress named California our 31^st state.

            Today, San Francisco continues to grow (13^th largest city in U.S.) many people – many cultures.  People need to remember their special past and work together.  This is the lesson we all need to learn as well.

                                                Sr. Rita, CDS

            Welcome to our new year of 2012!  Grade 4A will continue to brush up on skills such as multiplication, poetry, writing, and much more.  Remember to pull out those multiplication flash cards.  With the start of the new year, I hope that all the students are ready to work hard and be positive!  Happy New Year!

                                                Mrs. Sigler

            During the cold months of winter, the first graders are busy sharpening their English grammar skills by studying the different parts of speech – nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs.  They have become experts in “nounology”.  They are able to classify nouns by person, place, animal, or thing.  They know the difference between proper and common, as well as singular and plural.  They can also locate nouns in sentences.  But the nouns they have the most fun with are the compound words.  They have been hard at work making a list of compound words whenever they find one during their daily work.  To sum up their study of compound words, they will be making a picture of a silly compound.  For example:  butterfly – a picture of a stick of butter with wings!  I can’t wait to see what they’ll come up with!

                                                Mrs. Norton

            A big thank you goes out to Mrs. Zellefrow from Gr. 3.  She came into the classroom to present a lesson Christmas Around the World.  First, she read the book Jingle Bells by Iza Trapani.  Everyone enjoyed learning about different Christmas celebrations around the world.  Next, the class divided into three groups and went to a station on Mexico, Philippines, or Puerto Rico.  At each station, the students had an information sheet to read about Christmas traditions in this area and then answered some questions.  Next, they each got to make an art lesson that reflected the culture of that country.  When they finished the lesson the group switched to another station.  Everyone went home with three different information packets and art lessons to remember how Christmas is celebrated there.

            Gr. 3 received a supplementary Novel Unit on Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.  In the past, many people have read this timeless treasure about true friendship and still get excited years later when they talk about it.  Now it is our turn to enjoy this classic book.  As a class, we all will read from our books.  There are a variety of ways to teach reading, writing, and the love of literature.  While we brainstorm ideas, classify, categorize, evaluate, compare and contrast, use literary elements on story maps, and explore a variety of vocabulary words, we can deepen our understanding of this masterpiece.  Mrs. Case transformed our classroom science center and a bulletin board into a farm setting.  We have jumbo farm animals and a big imagination to entertain others with dramatic activities centered on this wonderful book, Charlotte’s Web.

                                                Mrs. Case

            Happy New Year!  Have you made your resolutions for 2012?  Gr. 8 has made resolutions for the rest of the school year.  Each student has posted their “power of holding firmly to a purpose” on a bulletin board in the classroom.  One resolution states that the student will be more organized.  Another declares a determination not to procrastinate.  A third vows to improve their grades.  Whatever your resolutions may be we hope you and the 8^th grade can faithfully maintain them all year.  Good Luck!

                                                Mrs. Blaszczyk

 

            “When the Saints Go Marching in” started off the celebration of All Saints by Gr. 7 on Nov. 1.  The students made pennants, decorated them with the name of a favorite Saint and marched around the classroom.  On the days preceding the celebration each student in the class gave a Saint talk.  On this day Kelly Krysiak talked on St. Bernadette, Emily Hollenbeck told us about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Adam Zielinski helped us learn more about St. Joseph.  Then the Litany of the Saints was read by Isabella Pacinelli and Karoline Kienholz with the students responding to the invocations.  The hymn “For All the Saints” was sung at the closing.  With Mass in the morning at 10:00 AM and the classroom celebration at 1:45 PM, it was a beautiful way to honor the Saints on this Holy Day of Obligation.  All you holy saints of God, pray for us!

                                                Sr. Martha, CDS

            Gr. 4A has really been using their brains in Health Class.  We are learning about our nervous system and the parts of our brain.  The students were interested to find out that the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, has many jobs including thinking, moving and using our senses.  The cerebellum helps us with our balance.  Finally, there is our brain stem.  This is the part of our brain that is connected to our spinal cord.  It is in this area of the brain, the hypothalamus, that our growth is controlled.  Each student was amazed at how many jobs our brain really does have!  We learned that it is the control center of our body.  So hopefully grade 4A will put their “thinking caps” on and continue to make their brains work hard.

                                                Mrs. Sigler

            Gr. 8 just completed reading Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt, together in class.  To culminate this reading assignment the class performed skits they created in groups.  Each skit was about a scene in the story.  Through their presentations the students made their characters come to life.  The students, working cooperatively, were also improving their public speaking skills.  The budding actresses and actors performed their show for schoolmates in hopes of encouraging others to read the novel as well.  Bravo Grade 8!

                                                Mrs. Blaszczyk

            Time sure is flying by as we soar through Fall.  The Kindergarten children are meeting a new set of Letter People, the 5 consonants that are associated with parts of clothing.  B has beautiful buttons, Z has zipping zippers, S has super socks, P has pointy patches, and V has a violet velvet vest; along with our next vowel E who exercises.  As they become more familiar with the letter sounds, they will be able to put A and E in the middle to make the sounds “catch” for reading one syllable words like hat, bat, sat, fat, mat, men, pen, hen, den, etc…

            The children are anticipating the celebration of thankfulness as they become either a Pilgrim or Indian for the day and reenact the very first Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for each and every one of the children!  Don’t forget to have them entertain you with Thanksgiving songs and poems at home.

                                                Mrs. Cox

            November is a month of being thankful.  Grade 2 is thankful for our families, friends, school, and many other things.  We are working on our writing.  We wrote paragraphs of our favorite season for the month of October.  In this month of being thankful we are going to write what we are most thankful for.  Grade 2 would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                Mrs. Keinath

            On Thursday, October 20^th, the sixth grade students attended the Erie Philharmonic Youth Concert at the Warner Theater.  As we were seated in the theater, some of the students that had never been there before were in awe at the beauty of the place.

            The program began with the singing of our National Anthem by all of the students.  Then Daniel Meyer, the music director, introduced himself.  He ushered the entire orchestra off stage and one at a time brought out the families of instruments in an orchestra and showed and described each one.  Then that group of instruments would play a brief selection for us.

            When this was completed, the entire orchestra treated the crowd to three pieces composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky.  The highlight of the show was when a fourteen-year-old boy from Pittsburgh played a solo on the piano.  What a gifted musician he was!

            If you ever get the opportunity to see this fine orchestra, I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as we all did.

 

                                                Mrs. Pacinelli

WE ARE EDUCATORS

We are educated professionals who work with kids every day and often see your child in a different light than you do. If we give you advice, don’t fight it. Take it, and digest it in the same way you would consider advice from a doctor or lawyer. We have become used to some parents who just don’t want to hear anything negative about their child, but sometimes if you’re willing to take early warning advice to heart, it can help you head off an issue that could become much greater in the future.

Trust us. At times when we tell parents that their child has been a behavior problem, we can almost see the hairs rise on their backs. They are ready to fight and defend their child, and it is exhausting. One of our biggest pet peeves is when we tell a mom something her son did and she turns, looks at him and asks, “Is that true?” Well, of course it’s true. We just told you. And please don’t ask whether a classmate can confirm what happened or whether another teacher might have been present. It only demeans teachers and weakens the partnership between teacher and parent. We need you to understand!

S.J.S. BOOKWORMS

A famous maxim states, “A good book is the best of friends.” At St. James we have many “bookworms” – children who love to read. To emphasize its importance reading is promoted in many ways.

Besides an impressive library, each classroom is well-stocked with a mini-library of paperbacks. Grades 1-6 participate in Book-It. Each student has a monthly reading goal and upon meeting it, receives a coupon for a free pizza treat at Pizza Hut. Grades 5-6-7 are eager to be challenged by the computer program, “Accelerated Reader”. Upon completion of a book the student takes a test on it on the Accelerated Reader. The student achieves points based on comprehension and the book’s reading level. Students are eager to increase their points and make new book friends in the process.

Recently we were treated by a group of SJS students who gave book reports.

• Gr. 4 - Garrett Glowacki – Rabbit Hill
• Gr. 4A - Mary Swigonski – Miss Hickory
• Gr. 5 – Mitchell Razanauskas – Dear Mr.;Henshaw
• Gr. 6 – Alissa VanSlyke – Sarah Plain & Tall
• Gr. 7 – Sarah Babay – Wheel on the School
• Gr. 8 – Madeline Breski – Dicey’s Song
• Gr. 8A – Kevin Kruszewski – Maniac Magee

VALUABLE SKILL

CPR for adults and children is a valuable skill for everyone to know. On October 7 our faculty attended a very informative in-service given by Mrs. Karen Link, a specialist with the American Red Cross. She is the mother of Andrew, one of our former students. Her vivacious and well-organized presentation allowed our teachers to assess and respond to various emergency situations using CPR. The teachers were also instructed in the use of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) which we have in our school gym. The purpose of the machine is to reset the heart after trauma and return it to a regular heartbeat. Choking issues are also life threatening and were addressed as well. Knowing the signs of a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or unconscious choking enables our faculty to respond immediately. Hopefully, our teachers will never need to use these life-saving skills, but if the need arises, they have been prepared well, and are ready to act. We are grateful to Mrs. Link for her expertise and experience in helping us to “put it all together” for saving lives. God Bless You and thank you for an enriching day.
Sr. Martha CDS

CLASSROOM NEWS

The first graders have spent the first month of school studying the five senses. They have learned how important our senses are to our every day lives and how they help us learn. They played a version of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” for seeing, learned some sign language for hearing, guessed mystery scents for smelling, sampled sweet, sour, salty, and bitter foods for tasting, and figured out mystery items by feeling for touching. They also learned about famous American, Helen Keller, who accomplished the impossible feat of learning to speak even though she was both blind and deaf. So now that they’ve completed their studies, things make “sense”!
Mrs. Norton

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So you think America’s Got Talent? Think again! Grade 5 has all the talent in the world. We have bakers, singers, builders, gymnasts, guitar players, magicians, writers, actors, poets and even more. All these talents were shared recently during a classroom talent show. After reading our story, “Talent Show,” the students were asked to share their talents with their classmates. We truly enjoyed learning what talented classmates we have. We’ve Got Talent!!
Mrs. Astemborski

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The students in Grade 6 are deep into their study of Ancient History in Social Studies. We discussed items we could put away in a time capsule to give people living in the future information about what life is like now.

As time capsules arrived in Grade 6, the students began to present them to the class. What a wide variety of contents there were! We had samples of students’ handwriting, news articles, photographs, ballet shoes, and art work. We also had favorite CDs and DVDs from this era, paraphernalia from sports’ teams, and ticket stubs from events attended.

There was definitely enough variety in our time capsules to give any historian in the future a good sample of life in this era.
Mrs. Pacinelli

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Grade 4A has been very busy working on poetry in our classroom. Each month we will learn a new type of poetry and compose a poem. The students have completed their first poem called a couplet. This is a short, two lined poem that rhymes. After writing their poems, the students then illustrated them. We will learn a new type of poem each month and at the end of the year, compile them into a booklet. We look forward to sharing them both in our classroom and with you. Happy Fall.
Mrs. Sigler

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- Recipe for a successful reader –

Mix Together:

• 1/2 hour of special reading time each day
• Some colorful age appropriate books and magazines
• A few fun reading games or puzzles

Fold In:

• one enthusiastic child and one special reading buddy (parent, grandparent, older sibling, etc.)

Place all together in a quiet comfortable location and enjoy the reward of a child who loves to read!
Mrs. Keinath

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The students of Grade 4 are beginning a unit of study on the Northeast region of the United States. The students will complete an outline map of the region labeling states, cities, and important bodies of water. They will explore the geography, climate, and resources of the region, as well as, identify the importance of this region as it pertains to history and the colonies gaining their independence from England.
Mrs. Brennan

GREAT SPEAKER

 

Grades 3 and 3A enjoyed it when Tom DiVecchio from WJET came to speak to them about weather.  Did you know that his primary purpose as a meteorologist is not to just predict the daily weather but to protect lives and property?  They learned the difference between a tornado watch and warning so they can know how to act during both situations.

When you see the third graders looking up into the clouds, it is not just having fun finding different shapes in the cloud patterns.  Now they can also use the type of clouds to get a basic idea of the kind of weather to expect.

It is a fact that more lives are taken from flooding than lightning and tornados.  Many people think some areas are unfloodable.  We have seen on TV many areas are finding unusual weather patterns.  Mr. DiVecchio encourages all of us to be prepared at school, home, and places of employment as well.  Practice safety drills and keep informed with a battery powered weather radio.

Mrs. Case

BE CATHOLIC!

 

“It is not enough to know about Jesus; one must know Jesus.”  So many people today label themselves “Catholic”, but fail to BE CATHOLIC.  At St. James we strive to develop a Faith community through daily opportunities for prayer, Bible enthronement, the rosary, liturgical services, and student-led Masses.  However, the Faith life begins at home.  Sunday Mass for the family is imperative for children to grow and develop in the Catholic Faith.  The Eucharist is the focal point of our Faith.  Worship at Mass on Sundays.  BE CATHOLIC!

Sr. Mary, CDS

We are most grateful for our mothers who volunteered to supervise during the lunch hour.

Mrs. Natalie Meyer

Mrs. Pam Majczyk

Mrs. Chris Kruszewski

Mrs. Mary Beth Brady

Mrs. Mary Ellen Campbell

Mrs. Jill Breski

Mrs. Kim VanSlyke

Mrs. Vicki O’Neal

Mrs. Mary Chase

The meeting of Grade 8 Big Buddies and Grade 1 Little Buddies is well underway.  The very excited 1^st Grade students met with the anxious 8^th Grade students and exchanged names and birthdays.  8^th Graders read a story to their Buddies at the second meeting.  And at a subsequent meeting the students enjoyed watching a story and doing an activity about John Chapman.  Many more learning encounters will take place throughout the school year.  The enjoyment and admiration from the Little Buddies is likewise felt by the Big Buddies too!

Mrs. Blaszczyk

Grades 3 and 3A are in competition in First in Math – we’re neck and neck right now!  We’ve also begun the Book-It program so we’re reading and working on our math skills in earnest.  Our main focus, however, is our preparation for our First Holy Communion.  We ask our families to be our example as we prepare, and our continued support once we’ve received Our Lord.  We look forward to Holy Mass and Holy Communion with our families every Sunday!

Sr. Rita, CDS

The Panther Pantry, our school store, will soon be opening for business.  Our Panther Pantry has a wide range of school supplies at very reasonable prices.  Filler paper, pens, pencils (regular and primary), notebooks, erasers, book covers, markers, crayons, and glue – just to name a few.  The Panther Pantry is open every morning before school begins.  Our eighth grade clerks are very friendly and knowledgeable.  So if you are in need of supplies, don’t forget your school store.  Our prices can’t be beat!

Mrs. Norton

Using the theme “Shaping a Safer School Climate”, Gr. 7 students recently finished their “No Bullying” Classes.  Each student made a booklet and added information as each idea was discussed.  Some of the goals were:  to learn the basic rights that apply to every child, learn how to use discussion to resolve minor conflicts, and to list some techniques that show how to deal with anger.  The main thing, of course, is that the students put all of this knowledge into practice.  And to this end the 7th graders put their names on two pledges that state they will not participate in any form of bullying and will try to work for a safe environment for all to work in.  “No Bullying” in our school is more than just a logo.  We want to make it a reality.

Sr. Martha, CDS

Searching for ancestors can be a fascinating study as Gr. 7 students found out when they worked on their family tree.  Tyler Skelton said that his great grandparents helped build the Eastside Y.M.C.A. here in Erie.  Meghan McCurdy’s family dates back to Civil War times as her great great great great grandfather was assistant general to Ulysses S. Grant.  Her father, grandfather, and brother have Grant as a middle name.  Katie Bernatowicz has deer and angel figurines that were made by her great grandma.  Angel Telega learned about the terrible flu epidemic in 1918 because her grandmother’s relative died at age 3 of this dreaded illness.  Art Cooper Jr., great grandfather of Morgan Rospierski, formed the Findley Lake Water Skiers Club in the early 1940’s.  Her great grandmother, Mary Cooper, proved to be very proficient in the sport.  Peyton Kedzierski’s great grandmother, Louise Bellucci Cantoni, a native of Erie and graduate of Academy High School, distinguished herself by writing books for the Daughters of St. Paul.  Among them are:  The Girl in the Stable, St. Germaine, and Leaving Matters to God.  Unfortunately she died young in 1980.  What legacies these students uncovered as they worked to finish their Family Trees!  What interesting stories will each of them leave to their descendants?

Sr. Martha, CDS

“Here’s a little apple tree.  I look up and I can see big red apples, ripe and sweet!  Big red apples, good to eat!”  Three and Four year old preschool has been making many discoveries about apples through active exploration and interaction.  We have learned songs about apples, played games with apples, painted apple trees, found a star inside of an apple and created delicious foods from apples!  We even had the opportunity to hear the true story of a very important man who planted apple trees throughout the state of Pennsylvania – Johnny Appleseed.  It has been a wonderful learning experience that has had our preschoolers developing a love for apples and all they have to offer.

Mrs. Brady

 

YOUR CHILD IS IN AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL!

 

St. James School has Middle States Accreditation.  What is accreditation?

The accredited school meets rigorous standards.  Standards are applied to each

school during the accreditation process.

Accredited schools are trusted to deliver on promises made and are committed

to continuous improvement.

The accredited school is devoted to a mission, it knows itself, and it operates

from an examined vision of services to students, family, and the community.

The school accepts objective evaluation and cares enough about what it does

to seek validation by a recognized authority.

The school is self-correcting and continuously plans for its future.  It demonstrates

a continuing capacity to increase quality, student learning, and instructional

effectiveness.

In May of 2011 we submitted a three year progress report to the Middle States Commission.  This is the response we received –

The school is highly commended for providing a welcoming, challenging environment

in which students have opportunities to become independent, responsible learners.

The reader applauds the faculty for utilizing a variety of teaching techniques to meet

the needs of individual learners and a divergent population.  There are numerous

activities for students to develop leadership skills, artistic, musical, and athletic

talents, as well as to participate in academic competitions.  The families and students

are very fortunate to be part of such a dynamic community.

Thank you for a fine report that provides the reader with a very positive concept of

St. James School.  Your accomplishments are praiseworthy and indicate that the

faculty and administration are committed to improvement.  Best wishes for

continued success!

 

 

 

September 19-23 was “Walk the Track Week” here at school.  With many days of pleasant weather the students had ample opportunities to take in some exercise and enjoy the scenery.  Since the eighth grade students have been studying how to express ideas in a picturesque and vivid way using figurative language, one of their assignments was to write a few sentences on the theme, “Reflections on Walking the Track”.  Here are a few ideas they came up with:

“Walking the track is like walking in a

peaceful meadow.”

Domenica Babo Gr. 8A

“The wind was as gentle as someone

blowing a candle out.”

Alicia Olson Gr. 8A

“The flowers were as colorful as a

rainbow.”

Jayme Cooper Gr. 8A

A healthy walk around the track and beautiful creative writing – not a bad combination!

Sr. Martha, CDS

The children who attend our Title 1 reading and math classes are always hard at work!  They are currently working on the classroom skills that their teachers feel need the most emphasis and support.  At home, please continue to support literacy by providing opportunities for your child to read much and often!  Try to expose them to many types of literature such as, mysteries, fiction, biographies, science-fiction and poetry.  When you open a book with your children, you are opening the world for them!  You are making them think and wonder and want to know more.  You are helping them to do well in school and someday find a good job.   Best of all, you are enjoying time together as a family.  Also, please don’t forget to practice math skills at home, too.  Children always need extra practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.  The more they practice their facts the easier it will be for them to use them and apply them with all math skills from grades K-8.  Good practices make good students!

Mrs. Forish

In Science the 8th graders have been learning the scientific method and the importance of brainstorming, troubleshooting, and teamwork. To practice these skills, they worked in teams of three to build a spaghetti tower. Using uncooked spaghetti (steel girders), mini-marshmallows (mortar), and 2.5 cm pieces of masking tape, the challenge was to build the tallest spaghetti tower for the least expensive cost per centimeter. Each piece of “equipment” cost $1.00 each.

Congratulations to the team of Mark Gorski, Chris Dietz, and Jacob Chimera who built a 65 cm tower for $.52 per cm. There were some engineering marvels and signs of future architects.

Sr. Mary, CDS

Grade 3A loves to read and to be read to! First we heard Jackie Robinson and his show of courage. Next, ONE SMILE highlighted a young girl who saw a man who had no smile so she gave him one. He in turn helped a lady with a flat tire. One by one, the smile is passed on. Do you realize the power of ONE SMILE? Thirdly, we delighted in MICHAEL’S GOLDEN RULES. Written by the mother and sister of Michael Jordan, this book (with an introduction by M.J.) recalls a younger Michael enjoying his first love – baseball. His uncle shares his “10 Golden Rules” not just for sports, but for life: winning attitude; do your best; learn from mistakes; pay attention to the coach at ALL times; practice, practice, practice; have fun… We can apply these too. Finally, Sister Colette sent us a BIG BOOK – it is FILLED with stories – we can’t wait to get into it!!!

Sr. Rita, CDS

The students of Grade 4 are excited as we begin this new school year. As a class, they will be experiencing many “firsts” together. This is the first year that they are allowed to use a pen for all subjects (except for Math), and this is their first year using notebooks to take down their own notes.

Throughout the year, the students will be encouraged to become more independent, and will learn the study skills necessary to be successful as they approach middle school. We look forward to a year of learning, growing, and experiencing many successes together!

Mrs. Brennan

Grade 6 is off to a good start this year. The students have entered their first year of Middle School and the bar has been raised. Students have been asked to become more responsible and independent in the learning process.

On the first day of school, the students wrote in their journals about why I should be happy to have them as students. I apparently have a class of good listeners, readers, and students who love to learn. Hopefully the students will remember these wonderful qualities about themselves all year long.

We are also beginning to learn a little Spanish (un poco Espanol) this year. So far we have mastered greeting each other, and how to say the Sign of the Cross and the Pledge to the Flag.

Hopefully we will all have a very enjoyable and productive year.

Mrs. Pacinelli

What an exciting year for the eighth graders. They are in the final year of their grade school journey. One leg of that journey involves service, S.I.G.N., Service in God’s Name. Many students have already accumulated service hours at the Saint James festival and helping to open up our school. The students are required to earn twenty service hours at St. James. Many activities throughout the school year will offer students a chance to serve. Some have already received 20 or more hours, but they are encouraged to do all they can. God luck 8th graders.

Mrs. Blaszczyk

PLEASE HELP

Save aluminum cans and send them to school. From the proceeds we pay for school bus field trips.

Look for this label on many products. Send to school as we can get cash for them.

May we ask that you continue to same Campbell product labels that appear on many products?

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOL

With you we share an important goal: to provide for your children an education devoted to academic excellence and committed to Catholic values and ideals.

Our school staff recognizes the sacrifices you have made to send your child to a Catholic school. You have shown your determination to give your child a Catholic Christian outlook on learning and life.

Now may we ask even more of you? We urge you to share with us your time, your talent, and your prayers. We are in need of cafeteria helpers. Any number of hours that you can give will be appreciated. Call the school and tell us that you will help. The need is great, and you will find your own life enriched as you share in the life of our school community.

CELL PHONE POLICY

Each morning before classes begin the children bring to the school office their cell phones. They pick them up at 2:45. The children are not to keep cell phones in the classroom. Consequences if they do! We will keep the cell phone for 3 days. Second offense - $10.00 to get it back.

F.R.O.G. takes on a whole new meaning for Grade 3. It stands for Fully Rely On God. We all need to remind ourselves that with God all things are possible. So as you enter our room a variety of frogs in many shapes and colors greet you. Also, we added a science center to display a variety of educational hands-on activities. Our theme for this quarter is weather. With all the unusual weather events in the world, it is helpful to learn about what makes the weather. Understanding who, what, when, where, and why saves lives and provides a future of hope. The science center will change themes each quarter. Working with ecology, space, and geology will make our tree house the best place to investigate as we expand our knowledge.

Also, Grades 3 and 3A are working on a weather project. Each child will present it in class and later put them on display for others to learn about what we did. We are following the state standards for weather by:

* Observing, describing, and recording daily weather conditions over a period of time

* Discussing seasonal weather changes

* Identifying cloud types and relating them to weather

* Constructing simple weather instruments and using them to measure weather conditions

* Describing climatic zones of the earth.

Mrs. Case

Welcome Back! Grade 2 is excited for a new school year with lots of learning. We have been busy with getting to know each other and school rules. Grade 2 is ready for a wonderful year.

Please remember, and this is for everyone, to bring in any used printer ink cartridges. We recycle these and this is a competition between all the grades. So who can bring in the most we shall see.

Mrs. Keinath

We are proud to announce that for the second consecutive year Jacob VanSlyke of Grade 8 is the diocesan golf champion! Jacob shot a 39 the first day and a 37 the 2nd day. He won all three of the parochial tournaments this year.

In the championship game, two of the four players in the finals were from St. James. Ben Ladaika of Grade 8 came in 3rd. Great job, golfers! We applaud their coach, Mr. Tom Blais.

Sr. Mary, CDS

Welcome to our new school year. Grade 4A has been working on some new things in our classroom. This year the students get to use pens to write with. They also are learning how to take notes. This also is a year of becoming much more responsible and independent. Please try to encourage your child to complete his/her own homework and also to be well prepared for school each day. Finally, encourage your child to strive for nice cursive writing. I am very excited for our new year.

Mrs. Sigler

Welcome to Fifth Grade! This school year we welcome five new students to our classroom: Andriana Post, Erin Fleming, Rebekah Hollenbeck, Sophia Plyler, and Ketara Hinman! This is a time for change for many of our students, not just our new classmates. It is the first time the students get to have different teachers for main subjects. Mrs. Pacinelli, teacher of grade 6, teaches English and Social Studies to grade 5 while Mrs. Astemborski teaches Mathematics, Science and Health to grade 6. It is the firs time the children get to change clothes for gym classes. They can purchase green St. James shorts from Mrs. Schaaf. They will wear them with a green, gold, or white St. James shirt.

Fifth grade is also the students’ first experience with Accelerated Reader. Our school has a set of over 200 titles in our Accelerated Reader program. Once a student reads one of those books, they are able to take a multiple choice test about that book. If they pass the test, they receive a certain amount of points (the more difficult the book, the more points it is worth). Our back board is sued to keep track of how many tests are taken and passed. We will also continue the “First in Math” computer program. These are just a few of the “new” adventures the fifth grade students are encountering this school year. Welcome!

Mrs. Astemborski

JAZZ, BLUES AND RHYTHM

The opening was “Mission Impossible” and the closing was “New South Africa.” In between were wonderful melodies played by the Cathedral Prep band that entertained us on Tuesday, May 10. Directed by Mr. Jacob Malec eighteen young men with lots of rhythm and talent shared their love of music with us. If you like jazz and blues then you had to be delighted with the pieces that were played. Some of the songs featured the jazz ensemble and others the percussion ensemble. Some of the students played solo numbers on their saxophones, drums, guitars, marimbas and vibraphones.The program was not only enjoyable but educational as Mr. Malec explained some of the instruments and how they are played and the sounds they produce. There is no question about this one – everyone enjoyed “all that jazz.”

Sr. Martha, CDS

WELCOME TO WELLSVILLE

This Spring a group of Harborcreek students arrived at St.James School to present the Wellsville Program to grades K – 3. The Wellsville Program incorporates the ideas of good health along with feeling good about yourself and others. The concepts of “Eat healthy stuff”, “Move around enough”, and “Believe in you and me” were presented through a wide range of activities such as skits, songs, exercises, and books in the first session. The second session focused on “Doing the right thing”, “Including Others”, and “No Bullying”. The students also learned how to deal with feelings – anger, embarrassment, etc. It is an excellent program that is enjoyed by the students. At the end of the program the students are given a pledge to sign that embodies the lessons of Wellsville. It is a step in making our world a healthier and happy place!

Mrs. Norton

ALL ABOUT BIRDS

As a unit in their Life Science class, 7^th graders spent April studying birds. They learned some common bird calls by listening to a CD, kept a bird-watching chart, and drew birds of Pennsylvania. In May they will go bird-watching at Presque Isle.

Special thanks to Mrs. Lisa Danko, a Gannon biology professor, entomologist and ornithologist, for her presentation on May 3 entitled “All About Birds.” Mrs. Danko used Powerpoint to show ways to identify birds and some of their specific characteristics. She shared many fascinating ideas about birds. Flamingos once flourished in North America, but are now extinct here due to human abuse. Chickadees are very friendly birds and will eat seed out of your hand. An extinct Argentine bird had and 11 foot body, a wingspan of 25 ft., and feathers that were 6 ft. long.

We are grateful to Mrs. Danko for sharing her knowledge and helping us to appreciate our feathered friends.

Sr. Mary, CDS

APRIL SHOWERS

4 year old preschool showered me with interest and excitement while participating in a hands-on science experiment during the month of April. “April showers bring May flowers” is a phrase we are all familiar with, but we were surprised to see the showers taking place inside of the classroom!

After filling a baking pan with ice we held it over warm vapor provided by a kettle of hot water. After the pan sat above the vapor for a bit of time, we saw some changes beginning to occur. Drops of water began to form on the bottom of the pan and, before long, the drops began to fall! It was raining in preschool!

Preschool learned that when warm water vapor is suddenly cooled it will cause water drops to fall to the ground. This is a process similar to what happens on a rainy day, which we are very familiar with! So, although we did not need umbrellas, we did have rain in preschool!

Mrs. Brady

ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum

Where can you be a Crime Lab Detective? A customer or a checkout person? A star on stage? An aerodynamics or aquatic engineer? Or meet Recycle Michael? ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum and Grades 3 and 3A did that and experienced much more such as: a cave, a train, magnets, aquariums, a bubble machine. In their own words: “I like the plasma ball because when I touched it, it looked like purple electricity going in my hand.” Recycle Michael” would pitch bottles in the trash can. The trash bags were a “Challenge” to lift! The bubble machine made some feel as if they were “floating.” The Store was a popular place too, buying and selling.

For those who loved a “challenge” and liked to “solve mysteries”, being a Crime Lab Detective was the best. First, they heard “the breaking news.” The crime was a break-in theft. There was a full scale crime scene. Clues were noted. Next students went to the Interrogation Kiosk to listen to statements made to the police.Six lab stations helped analyze fingerprints, DNA, tread marks, hair, thread, and handwriting; students went back to the crime scene to check things out. Finally, after deciding who was the guilty party, they could check at the Solution Kiosk!

The most popular exhibit, however, was the water table. Water running downward at a slight angle with removable slots to channel the water’s flow proved the most inviting. They could build mazes and obstacles and channel the water so ducks and boats could race.One student wanted to force the water to flow backwards (not quite!) Thinking out loud, one said, “If I do it this way, such and such will happen.” And, observing another child’s innovative pattern said, “How did you do that?” Another said, “I just like the feel and smell of the water!”

Finally, through this delightful expERIEnce, much was learned.

Sr. Rita, CDS

ONLINE SAFETY PRESENTATION

The presentation was a real eye-opener – powerful and practical. The speaker was Senior Supervisor Special Agent Elaine Surma who was the assistant to Gov. Tom Corbett while he was state attorney general. She continues to work in the PA District Attorney’s office and specializes in computer crimes, especially those involving juveniles. Spec. Agent Surma’s presentation was given to 7^th and 8^th graders on May 9, and they are still talking about it. She detailed cybercrimes, identity theft and stated that copying music from I-tunes is no different from stealing CD’s off the shelf. She warned of online predators and told of two PA girls – Christina, a 6^th grader went with an online “friend” and was killed. Alicia – 8^th grade – met her online “friend” and was tortured. Gabrielle – 8^th grade – is in juvenile detention for making an online threat to girls who harassed her.

Students came away with new knowledge of the dangers of social media. Many said they intend to change their online conduct, and a few said they are deleting their Facebook page. Perhaps Spec. Agent Surma saved someone from much trouble. We thank her for a very timely and important message.

Sr. Mary, CDS

WINNERS ALL

Hats off to fourth grader, Rebekah Ladaika, who won first place in the Chemists’ Celebrate Earth Day Poster Contest. Rebekah won in her division (Grades 3-5) and her poster will now move on to Nationals. The criteria for this contest included writing an original poem (40 words or less) highlighting a form of energy (i.e. wind, solar, hydroelectric, thermal, etc.) and then illustrating the poem. Many of our students entered this contest. All students’ entries were outstanding, and we are especially proud of Rebekah. Congratulations!

Mrs. Brennan

Many students from grades 5-8 entered a recent Earth Day contest sponsored by Brevellier Village in Harborcreek. The students were to write an essay of 300 words or less about our environment and how we can protect it. The essays were judged by residents of Conrad House at Brevellier Village and winning essays were displayed there during the Easter holiday. Congratulations to Kaitlyn Sekscinski and Carley Popoff from Gr. 5. Kaitlyn took 1^st place honors and won a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble. Carley took 2^nd place and won a $15 gift card from Barnes and Noble. Congratulations to all who entered and a special recognition to our winners, Kaitlyn and Carley.

Mrs. Astemborski

Six sixth-graders participated in the Know and Serve Religion Contest this year. This is a Diocesan Contest on Religion facts from the sixth grade text book. It also consists of the class taking part in a service project of their choice.

The team consisted of Sarah Babay, Karoline Kienholz, John Groshek, Kevin Bello, Morgan Rospierski, and Annamarie Osiecki. Starting in September this group got together at least three days a week to go over material from our Religion book.

For our service project, we began writing letters to some of the senior citizens in the parish. We also made Easter baskets and delivered them to these people. We received several letters in return telling us how much our correspondences have meant to them.

Our first round of the contest was held at St. James Place on April 6^th against St. Luke’s and Holy Family. Our team won answering 47 out of 50 questions correctly.Then we moved on to the final round at St. Mark’s Center on April 19^th. We competed against St. Mary’s, Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael’s. We also came out the winners answering 48 out of 50 questions correctly.

Congratulations to our team. They put a lot of time and hard work into this challenge and it paid off for them.

Mrs. Pacinelli

GREAT SPEAKER

Mr. Christopher Kohler, alumnus of SJS wears many hats – employer, employee, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son. He has now added another – a true motivational speaker. Grades 7-7A enjoyed hearing his presentation on April 12. His message inspired the students to think seriously about their priorities and responsibilities. Reflecting on his own happy days at St. James he urged the students to respect their teachers, do their homework and above all put God first in their lives. He shared some of his own timely words of wisdom. “Character is how you perform an act when nobody’s watching.” “Faith is a belief not based on proof.” “You gain respect by giving respect.” He finished by telling the students how grateful he was for his own education here at St. James and how someday they too would look back and see how fortunate they were to attend this school. Thank you, Mr. Kohler. We were inspired!

Sr. Martha, CDS

If your child has come home telling you that they crawled inside a huge silver bubble at school, they are correct. STARLAB, a mobile planetarium owned buy the Diocese of Erie, was at our school these past two weeks. Each year STARLAB visits our different schools around the diocese. Classes enter a huge silver “bubble” inflated by a fan. Once inside we are able to view the stars and recognize their patterns in the sky. The students learn about several constellations including Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Leo, Gemini, and Orion. Some classes also shared the Indian Constellation stories with their classmates. Each student was given a story to memorize and share while inside STARLAB using the American Indian Cylinder. Others shared the Greek myths that are less common with their classmates and pointed out their shapes on the Greek Myth Cylinder. Every year the students ask “Are we going to have STARLAB this year?” and “When is STARLAB coming?” Everyone enjoys this wonderful learning tool. Hopefully, once they get outside on a clear evening they will be able to recognize some of the more familiar constellations and maybe even share a story or two.

Mrs. Astemborski

Now that the weather is getting better and the students are able to go outside and play more, we are learning how to keep safe. Many people help to protect us and keep us safe. However, the person most responsible for your safety is you. We all need to make decisions with safety in mind and learn to be a peacemaker by talking it over to resolve conflicts. Discussion in class included how to stay safe while riding a bus, in a car, and walking. Be smart and think safety around strangers and bullies. Don’t wait for an accident to happen. Learn how to protect you and your family at home from fire, electricity, and poisons. Playing sports can be so much fun when you wear proper safety gear. Knowing and doing the right things are not always easy in an emergency. The more you learn and prepare, the easier it is to act in a safe way.

In math class, we have been busy working with fractions and decimals. Natural curiosity is such a wonderful gift to use when finding how what we learn can be used in everyday life.

Mrs. Case

Would you like a part? This is the question Grade 3A students are asking one another. They have composed their very own plays: complete with characters, setting, stage directions, props, and dialog. Some have used famous storylines such as The Hare and the Tortoise. Others have taken history: The Titanic. Some have ventured into comedy and others have taken real-life situations. We need to work on projecting our voices and speaking very clearly, but we have some budding artists here.

Sr. Rita, CDS

Congratulations to Gina Majczyk who placed first in the Palmer Handwriting Competition. Gina received a certificate and a medal for her beautiful handwriting. Her work will now be submitted to the National competition. Good luck to Gina!

Kudos to Lizzy Merski who won 2^nd place in the Brevellier Village Earth Day Essay Contest. Lizzy received a $10.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble for her essay, “Love Your Earth.”

Mrs. Blaszczyk

IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY

We would like to take this opportunity to let you know your family may qualify for a scholarship to help defray the cost of your child’s preschool tuition. These funds have been donated by area businesses through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, and are administered through the Barber National Institute. Scholarship request of $1000.00 or less will be accepted on an ongoing basis for the 2011-2012 school year until grant funds have been exhausted. Applying for a scholarship is quick and easy. We have applications in the school office. Scholarships may be awarded for tuition to any pre-kindergarten program in Pennsylvania. The student must be a resident of Pennsylvania who is a least three years of age. Income eligibility will be determined from the State’s household income limit calculations and the Accounting Department.

Can you believe this weather?  That’s the question the first grade meteorologists are asking themselves.  During the month of April, they will be learning all about the weather.  They will learn about temperature and how to read a thermometer.  They will also learn about the Water Cycle and the processes of evaporation and condensation.  They will create a Weather Booklet listing important information regarding our daily weather – the daily high temperature, the times of the sunrise and sunset, and what the overall daily weather was.  Watch out, Tom DiVecchio, there are some new meteorologists in town!

Mrs. Norton

Grade 2 and 2a did an excellent job on their State Projects.  They got to choose what state they wanted to do.  While doing this project they learned the capitals and other cities in their state.  They also learned if their state had any rivers or lakes.  They had to research the different symbols of each state like the bird, flower, or tree.  The students had to present their state to the class and share the interesting facts they found.  They all did a wonderful job.  We will continue learning about America and the famous places found throughout our country.

Mrs. Keinath

It was “Famous American” days in Gr. 7A from March 11 – 18.  The students each prepared a talk on a person of their choice and presented it to the class.  Anyone want chocolate?  Jayme Cooper dressed as a chocolate bar, told us of the life and times of Milton Hershey.  The candy bar was first introduced in February of 1900 and by 1915 sales were booming.  Everyone was smiling as Jayme treated us all to a chocolate bar.  No one could mistake who Ian Brady was going to talk about as he stood in front of the class in Mickey Mouse ears.  He told us that Walt Disney had a short life that changed the world.  Mr. Disney had an inspiring message for everyone, “Give it your best and never stop trying.”  Domenica Babo told us of the amazing gymnastic abilities of Shawn Johnson.  She helped Team USA win the silver medal in the Olympics and won a gold medal for her floor routine.  All of the students had interesting stories of great Americans and their accomplishments.  What an inspiration for all of us!

Sr. Martha, CDS

It was strictly “business” all day for Grade 7 – 7A on March 30, when they benefited from Junior Achievement classes.  The topic was “JA America Works,” a middle grades program that encourages students to explore the ways in which business and economics were significant factors in the development of the United States.  Students examine the impact entrepreneurs and their inventions and innovations have had on the nation’s development.  Through hands-on activities students are introduced to key aspects of the U.S. economy related to immigration, agriculture, natural resources, transportation and industrialization.

We were privileged to have as the educator Kim Lytle, Erie Diocesan director of curriculum and personnel – and a Master Teacher.  Student reactions were unanimous.  James Born said it was an “awesome day!” and he hopes to do it again next year.  Sarah Brennan thought it was admirable that Miss Lytle takes time from her many responsibilities to volunteer to teach Jr. Achievement.  Jayme Cooper was glad to be more knowledgeable to join in family discussions on the economy.  Ben Ladaika summed it up, “It was a perfect day!”  Special thanks to Miss Lytle and Junior Achievement for such a worthwhile program.

Sr. Mary, CDS

On Saturday, April 9^th, our second grade students received the sacrament of Reconciliation.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful service.  The children were well prepared and sang and responded to the prayers beautifully.  John Campbell did our reading.  Now they are on their way to receiving the next sacrament of the Eucharist.

Mrs. Sigler

“April showers bring May flowers”! With April’s arrival, preschool is excited in anticipation of warmer weather and spring plants coming to life around us. We have been talking about the three important things a plant needs to grow: sun, soil and water. To reinforce this concept the three year olds have planted grass in the classroom and are watching it grow a little bit each day. It is thrilling to watch a seed grow into a plant in only a week! The children check their plants each day they arrive to check on its progress and give it a drink. Soon they will have cups full of grass – a wonderful sign of spring!

Next week we will start our Mother’s Day projects and will put our knowledge of growing plants to the test. We can’t wait to see the results! Happy spring!

Mrs. Brady

Everywhere you look you see and hear “March Madness”.  The NCAA basketball teams may have a lot of athletic prowess, but our St. James students can boast of artistic excellence.  In these past couple of weeks they have really put up some quality points.  The entrance to the children’s area at the Blasco Library had many lovely pieces of artwork displayed during the month of March.  All grade levels were included.  At the Mercyhurst Prep Art Show several of our students had their works chosen and were hanging in the corridor of the school.  Many of our artists came away with ribbons at the Villa Maria High School Art Show also.  Our art teacher, Mrs. Kathy Schaaf, uses many techniques with the students.  Some of them are:  oil pastels, tissue collage, crayon resist, tempras, watercolors, newspaper/graphite cartoon collage, and colored pencils.  She is a big reason why they perform so well.  We are grateful for her expertise and care in mounting all the artwork.  Points “in the paint” for all our artists and teachers!

Sr. Martha, CDS

The season of Lent has often been referred to as the "Church's" springtime. This is a good metaphor for we can see the miracle that happens in creation each spring as the barren trees burst into new life and plants and flowers spring up and bud forth with joy of life renewed. We can see that a change has taken place, and on the outside it appears that it was an easy transition. However, it involves the seeds being planted, the seeds dying, and then springing to new life. For us too, change is hard work. Becoming new again takes effort and purpose. Changing habits, actions, and behaviors is hard work involving effort and choice.

Lent is a good time to make these changes. It is a time when we reflect on "Christ Crucified." We reflect on the price that was paid for our Redemption. Modern culture calls us to materialism and selfishness. We are bombarded with "things" that are guaranteed to secure our happiness. We will have joy and happiness only when we sacrifice. This is our time of the year for special prayer, penance, and helping others. It is the springtime for business of the soul. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9.