3B NEWSLETTER
December 10, 2018
Dear 3A Families,
Happy 2nd week of Advent! Sr. Juanita shared lessons on the Advent wreath with the children and they also learned the meaning of each candle at last week’s prayer service. Perhaps you would like to use these lessons and prayers at home with your own advent wreaths.
At mass last Wednesday, Fr. Oakland’s homily was all about HOPE:
Week 1:
The first week of Advent is all about hope.
Think about hope as you hear Lamentations 3: 21-24: “But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
God’s mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in the Lord.”
One purple candle is lit.
Prayer: Gracious God, As the Advent season begins, we cry out to you. We come to you looking for hope. When everything else we rely on fails us, our only hope is in you. When we do not understand what has happened, we hope in you. We can hope for better days because we trust you. We know you and we know you are here with us no matter what we are facing. Some of us see only darkness this time of year. Some of us find life overwhelming. Some of us are filled with Advent joy. Wherever we find ourselves today, Loving God, remind us that our hope is in you. Be with us on this journey. Amen.
THIS WEEK: Week 2:
For the second week in Advent, we focus on peace.
In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
Two purple candles are lit.
Prayer: Prince of Peace, reveal yourself to us today. We need peace in our lives, our homes, our families, our church, and our whole world. Help us to slow down and seek out the peace you provide, so we may become peacemakers for ourselves and others. In your name, Prince of Peace, we pray. Amen.
I hope you all have a peaceful week!
Reminders
Homework this week: There will NOT be a regular spelling test/assignment or math homework this week or next in order to hopefully allow students adequate time this week to practice their Christmas poems and complete Prayer Partner cards. Hopefully, this will also allow your families a little extra time to enjoy the Advent season over the next two weeks.
Christmas Poems – Change of Date: Students will be sharing their memorized poem with the class on Thursday. This gives a few extra days for practice. They will be assessed on expression, voice, eye contact, and gestures.
Advent Reconciliation: Students will be going to reconciliation tomorrow, Tuesday. Children should be in perfect uniform on both Tuesday and Wednesday this week. I’m attaching an explanation of the Rite of Reconciliation and the examination of conscience that we have reviewed with the children in class in order to allow them to feel prepared and comfortable.
Winter Gear Photos: On Thursday, I will be taking photos of students in winter gear for a snow globe writing project. Students can bring in items to wear, such as a winter coat, gloves, scarf, and/or a hat for their photo. If they forget—no problem—I’ll have extras.
Report Cards: These were sent home with each child on Friday. Signed report card envelopes need to be returned by Friday this week.
Prayer Partner in Faith Family: Students were given the name of their Faith Family Prayer Partner on Friday. Each child should have brought home a slip with instructions on it. Please remind your child that their homemade card and prayer for their faith-family prayer partner
are due to me by Friday, December 14. If you child does not know who their prayer partner is, please tell them to see their Faith Family teacher.
The card should reflect time well spent and should include:
TO: (Your prayer partner’s name)
FROM: (Your name)
A prayer that you have written
Artwork that you have drawn
Anything else you’d like to include.
Nativity Play Costumes: Students need to bring their costumes on Friday, December 14. Your child’s costume should be in a bag labeled with their name on it.
Nativity Play: We will present our Nativity play on Tuesday, December 18. Our performance will be at 1:40 pm. All parents, grandparents and siblings under 5 are invited. Sorry, siblings at Holy Rosary will not be able to attend due to limited space.
Advent Outreach: The third grade has been asked to support the St. Vincent de Paul ministry in their Advent food drive. We will continue collecting money for our Safeway field trip on December 19, and we will use this money to purchase specific food items for the food drive planned by St. Vincent de Paul. Please send in all Safeway money donations by Tuesday, December 18.
Christmas Program: The Christmas program is Thursday, December 20, at 6:30pm in the church.
Curriculum
Math: We will work on problem solving with word problems this week. Students will create their own Christmas themed word problems.
Reading: Students will take the final Boxcar Children test this week. They will also present their Christmas poems in reading.
Religion: Reconciliation on Tuesday. We will also use our religion time to practice for our Nativity play.
Language Arts: Students will learn about similes and metaphors this week. We will then begin a new writing project where students pretend they are trapped in a snow globe.
Spelling: No spelling this week This week’s star: George S.
Next week’s star: none
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Mary Corrigan (and Mrs. Meland)