Ingathering Continues this Week

Please remember you are invited to join us in Chapel this Tuesday as the Lower School has its first of many First – Fifth Grade Chapels.  We will have a lesson by Father Stan and a number of fifth graders will be in leadership roles, including reciting the prayers of the people and the scripture.  Our Chapel will be in the Sanctuary and we have plenty of room for you to join us!  Ingathering continues as we focus now on fresh produce for the Thanksgiving meals our St. Paul’s Church Pantry will provide for the needy.  Grade level blogs list the suggested produce to donate, should you be inclined. 

FOOD DRIVE RESULTS....DRUM ROLL...Grand Totals for the Food Drive:
We broke our all-time record from last year of over 21,000 items. This year we went to 27, 362. WOW!
Final Totals:
3rd Place was the Kindergarten classes with 6,514
2nd Place was the 8^th Gr Mrs. Glass with 6,692
1st Place was FATE/WALLER WITH 9,180!
1^st - 5th grade division, Mrs. Barber’s class took second place with 4,080
Highest collection in the Middle School following Mrs. Glass was Mrs. McMullen followed by Mrs. Reynolds

The generosity that was pouring in for the last two weeks was overwhelming.  I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.  May the joys of the season bless you and your family.

You may have already marked your calendars for the special programs and events in late November – December until the Christmas break, but I list them here as one more source of reminder.

Monday, November 28             No school for students- Professional In-Service Day for Faculty and Staff

Thursday, December 8                  7 PM Third – Fifth Grade Christmas Program

Thursday, December 15                9 AM     First – Second Grade Christmas Program

Friday, December 16                      9 – 11:30              Third – Fifth Grade Ice Skating at Line Creek Skate

A focus in conversations and work among faculty in the Lower School division of First – Fifth Grade are discussions around implementation of differentiation.  In a series of division meetings, faculty has shared many forms of differentiating instruction and learning activities being used in their classrooms.  It is agreed that getting to know each student’s learning personality and acumen, as well as establishing solid procedures and a productive learning community is crucial to a successful implementation of differentiated learning activities. 

Along with differentiated instruction and learning, we are participating in identifying minimum math proficiencies to be mastered by the end of each grade level.  Implementing the use of technology is also a focus.  iPads and laptops, SMARTBoards and SMART networking are being used by our students, especially in Third – Fifth. 

St. Paul's faculty continues to provide excellence in creative and academic endeavors for all our students.  We are proud of our efforts in planning, providing, monitoring and communicating our students' success!  Here are some highlights from the last few weeks:

First Graders have been performers as well as been an audience in the month of November to expand their repertoire of experiences and reinforce learning facts in science and reading. Bear Planet, a musical tradition at St. Paul’s, was performed by First Grade Sloth bears, Polar, Brown, Sun, Koala, Grizzlies and more last week.  First Graders, thanks to the Parent’s Guild Cultural Arts funding, traveled to a theater to see If You Give a Moose a Muffin, the childhood story they heard in kindergarten and again in first grade as independent readers.   

Second Grade takes the lead as readers and music directors in Lower School ECC and 1st-2nd Grade Chapels.  Second graders have studied insects during the month of October and early November.  Their creative sculptures of insects using modeling clay were displayed in the first floor commons.  ERcently they were concentrating on Thanksgiving blessings and gratitude.  See their Second Grade blog for more details of their learning activities over teh past few weeks.

Third Grade enjoyed their traditional Oregon Trail Day with bartering items, a new activity added by Mrs. Barber.  Thanks to our parents, this day was enjoyed by all.  It allowed the students to experience some of the clothing, tasks, crafts and foods of those who traveled across country in a covered wagon. Mrs. Barber’s class decorated a bulletin board with our American flag, the stars of which listed names of veterans her class researched through their families ancestry.  One of the stars listed my son who is a Blackhawk company commander stationed in El Paso, TX at this time.     

Fourth Graders concluded their second Book Club study at the end of last week.  Having had the pleasure of being a facilitator for a group, I believe we had another successful round of discussions.  Fourth grade is journaling about the book throughout the week and being quizzed on their comprehension of the story line, characters, and plot.  Science Club had students designing fictitious animals after the fourth graders Animal Expert powerpoints were presented to parents.  Fourth grade science included habitats, food chain, life cycle, ecology, geology, and conservation!  The were well prepared for their field trip to Earthworks at the beginning on November!

In addition to their studies progressing in class, fifth graders role model for our third and fourth graders in Chapels.  Mimi W. played a musical piece for All School Chapel on Friday the 18^th as Ethan L. had in late October.  Olivia S. sang for us all in Chapel in September. We are fortunate to have students who enjoy developing their talents in music and who are willing to add beautifully to the music we enjoy.  Fifth grade displayed their science projects during Parent Teacher Conferences in late October. It is already time for mid-quarter grades to be shared with students and parents. 

More will be shared in the upcoming weeks.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Lower School

Third graders plan a Get Well Soon message for classmate Vaughn Reardon
Throughout the week our third grade class has been preparing a box of goodies and a wave of caring for Vaughn Reardon, a classmate having surgery next week.  The students collaborated with Mrs. Beilharz, a developing skill practiced in many subjects and one at which they are becoming proficient! In this case, the subject was planning the types of goodies and cards that went into the box which was sent yesterday, with the expectation that it will reach Vaughn before his surgery.  There were generous and numerous contributions from families and classmates.  Thank you so much! This morning, the Third Grade's Wave of Get Well Soon was videoed in our commons along with individual's good wishes and "I miss yous".  Caring and sharing was very evident in the hearts and voices of our third graders this week. Look for our Wave of Get Well Soon video on the website or linked to the Third Grade blog.

Spending time in classrooms is impressive for a number of reasons.   The structure of the learning activities gives evidence of well planned lessons that take into consideration a myriad of suitable objectives, not the least of which is working responsibly and cooperatively. Highlights of the first four weeks include getting to know one another through writing and dialog, learning routines that set the stage for cooperative and productivity in classrooms.  First and second grade students have been evaluated for reading levels; they are almost experts now in guided and  independent learning in centers.  Second grade students are in the midst of studying marine mammals and have created architecutres of favorite venues from recycling materials. As third graders wrap up a science unit on sound, fifth graders are experimenting with electromagnetism.  Its fun to sit with third and fourth graders who are expanding their use of addition, subtraction, comparing numbers, and developing the concept of estimation.    Fourth and fifth graders are writing everyday with emphasis on personal narratives and developing style and voice.  Fourth and fifth graders are also concentrating on comprehension strategies to understand literature and non-fiction text more personally and deeply.  The first field trip of the year by the fifth graders focused on teamwork, communication, cooperation, life and work skills needed in a positive learning environment.

Every classroom is humming with activity, thinking, and making connections between the two.  The Lower School is a busy happy place! 
You may have seen these events on other grade level blogs, but with the intent of communicating often and various ways, the dates and descriptions are listed here, too!
Important Upcoming Events

Friday September 30^th – 12:00 PM dismissal for all students. Please note that the entire school, including ECC will be dismissed at 12:00 PM on Friday September 30^th. Extended Day child care services are available so please contact Christina Lennon directly if you will need child care on this day. Please be patient during carpool on this day, it will take twice as long to get all the children loaded safely, all teachers will be on carpool duty.

Christina Lennon can be reached at: 816.268.6536

Thursday October 6^th – ECC (T – K) Parent Brown Bag Lunch at 11:30 AM. This event will be held in the Garden Room located on the first floor of the church, just next to the Parish Hall. ECC parents are encouraged to bring a lunch and join Ms. Barnes and Mrs. Abio to see how things are going for your little ones at St. Paul’s. This time provides parents with an opportunity to hear directly from the head of school and to ask questions specific to the ECC division.

Friday October 7^th – 8:30 AM Pet Blessing. The Pet Blessing will take place on the upper field and this event also serves as our all school chapel on this day. All students participate in this event. Toddler, Preschool and Prekindergarten students are allowed to bring a favorite stuffed animal. Kindergarten – second grade students are allowed to bring an actual pet, with their parents assistance of course. Everyone is welcome to bring a photo of their pets. All pets will be blessed by Chaplain Nolan on this special day!

Friday, October 14th - Buddy Run 
Two sessions will be held for the Buddy Run.  The first will include the younger students being supported by their older buddies while running with them.  The second session will be for the older buddies to be cheered on by the younger students.  Everyone runs with their buddies, from a little lap on the upper field to a large lap for the older students.  For more information on how to support the Buddy Fun Run (fundraiser) go to the website. 

Thursday October 27^th – No School  because Parent/Teacher Conferences are being held– Extended Day child care is available, contact Christina Lennon to register.

Child care during your conferences will be available also through Extended Day on both days.

Friday October 28^th - – No School  because of Parent/Teacher Conferences –
Extended Day child care is available, contact Christina Lennon to register.