Kindergarten News Sept. 23-27

We have been exploring every aspect of apples, from the beginning with each stage of their life cycle, to the difference Johnny Appleseed made by planting trees throughout our country, to the process of how apples make it from a farm to our tables. We celebrated all this new knowledge with a fun apple tasting party in our classroom. I encourage you to engage your child in conversations about which apples most of the students like. We are moving into the first Unit of our Wonders language arts curriculum. The essential question is "How can we get along with new friends?". We are also exploring category words that explore our emotions.

We wrapped up our study on apples and moving into exploring all their is to know about Pumpkins! Please allow your child to pick our a very unique and funky pumpkin. We will discuss the difference among the pumpkins then write about them during our writer workshop. Trader Joes often has some fun pumpkins! We are connecting this to our religion study by discussing how we are each unique and special in our own way, exactly how God intended us to be.

Next week we will introduce a discussion regarding our A.L.I.C.E preparation for on campus safety. Please check your child's back pack tomorrow for a letter with more details, along with a permission slip to go for a walk around the neighborhood surrounding Saint James.

I am so excited to see the smiling faces while we are leaning in Kindergarten! Each of your children are remarkable and add a lot of positive energy to our learning environment! I am so grateful to be their teacher!

Creating our tear paper art apples!

IMPORTANT DATES: School Calendar

Friday, 9/27 8:00 Mass- 4th Grade

Coming Up:

Wednesday, 10/2 Guardian Angel Day

Thursday, 10/3 8:00 Parent Council Meeting in Ministry Center- ALL are invited

Talent Show Participation Form Due

11:30 Annual Mothers Luncheon @ Tony Jacal

Friday, 10/4 8:00 Mass- 5th Grade & Rosary- Student Council

11:45 Blessing of the Animals

12:00 Dismissal & Nacho Friday

11:00-12:30 Recycled Uniform Sale

Saturday, 10/5 10:30-1:30 St. Francis Day Celebration, Diocese of San Diego

Sunday, 10/6 Blood Drive

A Note on Handbook Revisions

Parents, please read the updates and revisions to the 2019-2020 Parent/Student Handbook in the following sections: List of Faculty: 3.2, Weekly Envelope: 5.1, School Family Directory: 5.6, Morning Daycare: 10.1 and Uniform Guidelines: 13.1. The SJA website will be updated with the most recent version on Monday.

St. Francis Blessing of the Animals

Our annual Blessing of the Animals is next Friday, October 4th on the Feast of St. Francis. Families are invited to bring their kid-friendly, well-behaved pets at 11:45 a.m. to the blacktop for a special blessing. Students are welcome to bring photos of pets too. While this is a lovely tradition, we ask that all dogs are leashed and that other pets are contained for safety reasons. Please be respectful when Fr. Gerard leads us in prayer and is blessing the animals.

Halloween Carnival Talent Show, Friday October 25th, 10:00-11:30am

Students in 4th-8th grade with a talent for music, comedy, acting, dancing, martial arts, gymnastics, etc (surprise us!) please consider sharing your gifts at the annual Halloween Carnival Talent Show.

Students may apply to participate by reading these Guidelines and turning in a Participation Form no later than Thursday, October 3, 2018 at 3 pm.  Auditions will start on October 9th. Priority will be given to the first 15 acts who can demonstrate that they are prepared, so please turn in your form and start planning and rehearsing now!