I hope you all had a great weekend.  I can’t believe how warm it is….I’m not sure I like this kind of weather at Thanksgiving.  Being from western Pennsylvania, we usually are wearing our snow suits Trick or Treating, so by Thanksgiving, we have our sleds out.  No matter how long I live here, I just can’t get used to a warm November.

What can I say about THAT game…..Troy got hurt after the first series?  Our defense didn’t show up to play….bad calls….our offence was out to lunch…I could go on and on.  My son and husband were at the game…so it was fun trying to find them in the crowd…needless to say, I didn’t.  It was more like a game of Where’s Wado.  Too bad they didn’t win, but we might be meeting the Bengals again (let’s keep our fingers crossed) ….hopefully we will win next time.

We will be having our annual Thanksgiving “mini – feast” with our 8th grade prayer partners on Wednesday, November 25th.  I sent a note home in the Friday folders to explain what we do.  If you have time to make a small loaf of bread (any kind and when I say “make” I mean from a box or Giant’s bakery) it would be greatly appreciated.  We also need juice, napkins, and cups.

Conferences are on Wednesday, December 9^th.  I will be sending home the conference papers this week.  Look for them n your child’s folder…it is a bright pink/orange paper…you can’t miss it.  Remember, if this time is no longer convenient, please let me know as soon as possible and I will make sure I find you another time that is more suitable.  Students will not have school that day because of conferences but remember the Christmas Pageant is that evening.  Please have your child to my room (dressed in their Sunday’s Best) at 6:30.

This will be my last update before Thanksgiving…did I just say that?  Next week, we only have two full days, so dialogue journals won’t go home next Monday and we won’t have new spelling words either.  After Thanksgiving…it is all downhill as far as keeping everyone’s mind on schoolwork at least until after Christmas.  I know I said this before but how can I compete with someone who gives out toys?  We will try our best, but it is always a struggle.  But you know me….we will work up until the end!

By now you received the Then and Now project paper.  My daughter did a project such as this when she was younger and I still have it….it is a precious keepsake.  Samantha is now in college and she still remembers talking to my mother (she is 89) about how things were when she was young.  If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me.  This project goes with the “At Play, Long Ago and Today” unit.  Because of us taking more time with each unit, we aren’t at this story yet, however, most of us visit family during the Thanksgiving holiday and I felt this would be a more convenient time to complete this project than to wait until we were actually at the story.  It give the students a chance to talk to a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend about things they wouldn’t normally talk about.  Parents and children alike loved this project last year…it was one of our favorites….I hope it becomes one of yours too.

We will continue to read and discuss our story “The Great Ballgame.”  During this unit, we will be reviewing proper nouns, -cle ending, and beginning, middle and end of a story.  We will learn about bats too.

We finished up graphing and are now working with money.  Just in time for the holidays….maybe your child can help you count the change you have…if your purse is like mine at this time..there  isn’t much change, but we do like to start small in second grade.    We started by reviewing the value of each coin and will move on to counting coins.  Eventually we start to give change.  I don’t know how long this will take.  It depends on how quickly we understand these concepts.  Please practice with your child at home.

We continue our discussion or the Laws of Love during Religion class.  Most of the children knew the first five Laws of Love, by the end of this chapter; the students should know all 10.  We have school mass on Friday at 8:30. 

As many of you know, our preschool was a project that was near and dear to our former principal, Mrs. Joyce Haug.  After our school mass on Friday, there will be a small ceremony in the courtyard and our preschool will be dedicated to her.  Refreshments for the adults will be served in the cafeteria following the ceremony.   Please try and join us for this wonderful and joyous occasion.

I am happy to report that our animal power point is complete.  Thank you again, Mrs. Ciccioccippi.   We will be burning this to a DVD and all the students will be receiving one.

I will also be sending home a note in this coming Friday Folder about collecting money for both the Animal Project and postage for our Gingerbread exchange.  I am asking that all students bring in $2.00 to cover these costs. 

Speaking of which, please send your gingerbread man in as soon as possible.  The ones I have received are adorable!   Thank you so much for you help with this.  I can’t wait to see what we will receive.

The children should have come home and told you that we went to the computer lab to work on First in Math.  If you are having problems connecting, please let me know and I can help you.  The link is listed below. 

Next Tuesday, November 24th is our free turkey dinner.  The students really enjoy this lunch (and so do I.)  This is free so everyone can enjoy this yummy lunch!

That is about all…..I wish you all the best and happiest of holidays.  Enjoy your family and friends…don’t sweat the small stuff….cranberry sauce does not come out of your grandmother’s antique tablecloth, but the look on your grandmother’s face when your child spills it……..priceless.  Always remember…things are replaceable…family is not.  Enjoy the holiday!

God Bless,

Angela Badaczewski

Special schedule:

Monday - Phys. Ed.

Tuesday - Library

Wednesday - Art and computer

Thursday - Music and Spanish

Friday - No specials