Special Programs in the future:

Prayer Partner Program - The First Graders in our classroom have a very unique and special program entitled “ Prayer Partner Program.” In September each child pulls the name of a prominent person from various ministries and professions – Church, military, sports, TV personalities, government, etc. The children correspond with these special “friends” throughout the year. Their Prayer Partners write back, send photos of themselves, and many visit our class. The letters and photos are displayed in a prominent place in our classroom. Some of these important persons are Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Governor Tom Corbett, Congressman Todd Platts, Flora Posteraro from the Harrisburg TV station, District Justice Tom Placey, Joe Calhoun, meteorologist from Lancaster TV station.

Goals of this program:

1. Children learn to appreciate in a deeper way the importance of prayer.

2. Children recognize the role their Prayer Partners play in their lives and the contributions they make to everyone.

3. Assist the students with their Language Arts skills.

Alphabet World Prayer Program - With the aid of a large wall map, globe, and floor map, the children learn about countries and cities around the world. These places of interest are in alphabetical order. The students locate these places on the maps and globe, and learn several interesting facts about each one.

Goals of this program:

1. Offer daily prayer for the people in these countries and cities.

2. Help children become more aware of these people and their needs

3. Assist students with Social Studies and Geography.

 Upcoming field trip for both First Grade classes to Paulus Orchards.

Social Studies: Lessons on Community Helpers, Johnny Appleseed, Christopher Columbus, the Thanksgiving story.

Science: Hands-On Experiments, Plants and Living Things, Rocks, Seasons, and Weather

November: Children will do a show on the Thanksgiving story for their parents.  Show will be followed by a feast for the children.  More details to follow later.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for November 21, 2011 and November 22, 2011.  Sign-up sheets are available at Back-to-School Night.

 October is the month of the Rosary.  We will be saying one decade of the Rosary every day and offer special prayer for parents.  October 7th is the feast of the Queen of the Rosary so you may wish to do something special with your children at home. I will also show the class the video "The Day the Sun Danced", the story of Mary's apparitions at Fatima.

"Sammy's Pumpkin Patch" - set up in classroom between October 5th & 6th.  Children may bring in small pumpkins and/or gourds to help decorate the patch.

Field trip to Paulus Orchards: - October 17th - Children will wear gym clothes, shorts or sweats depending on the weather.  They must wear their gold shirts.

Book-It Program:  This program, sponsored by Pizza Hut, runs from October through March.  Special forms will be sent home for the children to complete.  At the end of each month, these forms need to be returned to school and the children will receive a coupon for a free pan pizza at Pizza Hut.

Tests and Science and Social Studies packets will usually (there may be exceptions) be sent home for parents to view and sign every Wednesday.  Please always return these by Friday of the same week.  Occasionally the tests will be hung up in the classroom so they will be sent home a little later.

October lessons:  Religion:  Rosary, Creation of Adam & Eve, Sacrament of Baptism, Importance of prayer and how God spoke to His people, feastdays in October.  Children will learn how to baptize a baby.

Math:  Addition & Subtraction to 6, simple Word Problems, counting by 2's, and the calendar.

Phonics:  All Short Vowels, Initial & Final Consonants, Poems

English:  Proper & Common Nouns, Compound Words, Contractions, Writing simple sentences, Compositions, Abbreviations.

Reading:  Stories & related vocabulary words and skills.

Service Project:  All classes at Good Shepherd School have special service projects throughout the school year.  Ours is to assist Lourdeshouse, a diocesan home in need of baby items.  Children are invited to bring in baby clothes (new or slightly used), and other items - bottles, diapers, formula, etc., to be given to the mothers in need.  We will do this from November 1 to December 14.  At this time all items will be taken to Lourdeshouse to be distributed to those in need.  Thank you in advance for your help.

All Saints' Prayer Service - The children in both First Grade classes will lead a special Prayer Service in honor of the Saints on November 4th at 9:00 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. Grandparents' Day will be held in conjunction with this special event.

Thanksgiving Day show for parents will be held in our classroom on November 17th at 10:30 a.m.  Show will be followed by a feast just for the children.

 November Academics:  Religion:  Kinds of prayer, November 1st as a Holyday, November as the month of the Holy Souls, importance of the Our Father, Advent, and the New Roman Missal.

Math:  Addition & Subtraction to 12, Even & odd Numbers, Fact families, Word problems, Telling time to the hour and half hour.

Reading:  Stories in new Anthology and related skills including Consonant Clusters.

English:  More Telling & Asking Sentences, Abbreviations, Contractions, Homonyms, Proper & Common Nouns.

Phonics:  Continue Short Vowels; introduce Long Vowels.

Social Studies:  Thanksgiving theme.

Science:  Weather & the seasons.

Reminder:  Parent-Teacher Conferences - November 21 & 22.

Prayer Partner visitors:  October 20 Congressman Todd Platts visited us; October 29 Mr. Jeff Palkovic came and did a magic show.  November 29 Mr. Ed Marsico will come;  Mrs. Flora Posteraro is coming on December 9.

Secret Santa Shop for our First Graders in Room 140 - Wednesday, December 7 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Christmas pageant was a huge success.  Children did a great job!

Next big event!  Patriotic Medley Show and Inauguration Ceremony - February 16, 2012.  Children performed their program for the SeniorLuncheon at Good Shepherd Church on February 15, 2012.  Children's program was also televised thanks to the kindness of Mr. Chuck Rhodes from Channel 27.

Prayer Partners continue to visit our class.  February 6th - Dr. Mark Totaro;  March 6th - Gov. Tom Corbett;

March 8th - District Att. Ed Marsico; April 16th - Mr Joe Calhoun from Channel 8; Dr. Thomas Powell will visit on April 27th.