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 COMPARSION

            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.

            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