Learning to love God and each other as we grow in wisdom, virtue and knowledge this school year!


We are almost into May and the school year is winding down fast as we approach all the fun activities that May brings. Here in fourth grade we are still using every opportunity possible to keep learning and growing. This week we will take two NWEA tests, our literature test and our math test. It is also Field Day this Friday, with an 11:00 dismissal. To see your child's Field Day colors, look at the list Dr. Dabek posted in this week's Seeker. We are finished with our Laudato si unit in religion, except for the week-long ecological practice that each child has committed to. Every parent should have signed this document, but if not please look for it on Monday evening. We are also finishing the last two commandments, Thou Shall Not Covet. The students are coming up with excellent skits that show how to let go of jealousy and envy of what others have and concentrate on the gifts in their own lives. Starting Wednesday, we will say a decade of the rosary every day in May, a month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In Social Studies we are beginning to share our Western States reports. These are not due until next week on Thursday, May 9, but about a third of the students have completed their report and are ready to present. Our test on last week’s vocabulary and spelling words is Tuesday, April 30 and they will have new words on Tuesday as well. In Reading we are almost to the end of One Crazy Summer, we should finish it early next week. We have two more Emotional Intelligence Classroom activity sessions with Ms. Katie and Ms. Halie, this Tuesday afternoon and next. The students are learning a lot about how to regulate their actions and emotions! In Science the students will work on their solar system projects in class, and bring them home to put together. We are coloring and cutting out the planets in class. and we are reading about the moon this week as well. In English we are continuing to write about a world without the sun and we will have those completed by the end of this week.
Last Friday, all the teachers went to a workshop on a new program that will be introduced next year in Religion, based on the writings of Pope John Paul II, called Theology of the Body. It was excellent, but what struck me the most is the fact that each human being is unique, unreproducible and perfect in the eyes of God. I know that, but sometimes our world makes it hard to believe it. I hope to share this with the fourth grade students in a way that lets them see themselves for the gift that they are to our school, our community and our world.
Have a beautiful week!
Margaret Davidson