Advent

The last two weeks of school have been filled with Advent activities.  Each morning the three first grade classes join together the hallway outside our room to pray and begin our day.  There is an advent wreath in the hall. We light the candles and listen to an Advent reflection read over the intercom.  The reflection centers around a biblical person, with a scriptural reference, and how that person played a great role in the life of Jesus. Such as the prophets, the Angel Gabrielle and John the Baptist, just to name a few.  After the prayer, we return to the room and place the picture of the person on a poster displayed on the classroom bulletin board.  Along with this, we each made our own Advent wreath to displayed on our desks.  These will be coming home next week.  Be sure to add the flame to the fourth candle on December 21 with your child.  School will be dismissed for Christmas break at that time.
We have focused on the life of St Nicholas and even had a visit from a representative of his.  And, to cap it off, we have been working very hard practicing for the Mass of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception where the first grade will do the liturgical parts.
When you take all that with long vowels and fractions, we are busy!
In the book bag you will find a letter from Six Flags about a reading program they sponsor.  If you chose to participate your child can earn a free ticket to Six Flags.  You have to fill out the book log provided by Six Flags because I have to mail those in on the due date of February 20th.  Please remember to continue to fill out the nightly book log for me as well. Although the letter from Six Flags says reading for home work can't not be counted, but I am going to allow the children to use the nightly reading homework for the Six Flags Reading Program, too. So, basically by doing the required nightly reading and logging it on the Six Flags form and turning it in by February 20, your child gets a free ticket to Six Flags.
Have you heard about Sally, our Elf on the Shelf?  Ask your child what she did today.
As a continued tradition, the children are asked to bring in baby items to donate to Birthright.  They will be presented at the alter on the last  Mass before the Christmas break.  Join in the true meaning of Christmas by donating new or clean gently used items for the mothers in need.  The items do not need to be wrapped.