November 9, 2023

Dear Parents,

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. I know I did. I got some things taken care of that needed done. I also got to read a book for fun. I went to Panther Field and watched the football game. We have 11 St. Malalchy alumni on this team. That is a large amount. These boys all left an impact in the classroom for me, so I am not surprised they are leaving an impact on this team I am super proud of all of them. I plan on going to the Dome on Saturday to cheer them on. I would not miss it for the world. I hope to see some of you there.

Language Arts

This week we read a story called The Diary from Here to There. It is a story about a family living in Mexico and the Father loses his job and there were no other jobs available. The family had to move. They moved to Los Angeles, California. The Diary was kept by the only daughter in the family. It talks about the days of their move and staying with family and being separated from their father. It really is a good story. We learned about compound and complex sentences in gammar, our spelling list and decoding this week were focused on /r/ controlled vowel sounds. We talked about the prefixes under- and over-. We discussed words that have these in them and made words with partners. We also reviewed Point of View and Literary Elements in their composition notebooks. We added Make and Confirm Predictions into the compesition book for this week. I shared a story about my predictions for a book I was reading and what turned out to be correct and what turned out not correct. Tomorrow we will be reading the story as a large group and taking the selection test and the end of week test. Again, I plan on reading these to them to slow them down. I pray we see a change in scores.

Math

This week we are still working on BizTown Math. We are writing checks, filling out deposit slips and keeping a check register with all the transactions we make. This is real life learning. I have show them what my checks, deposit slips, and check register looks like. (all blank of course) I have taken the photos of these and shown them on my TV and that is how I taught them to fill them out properly. I know some have asked to see your banking items. That is great! We will continue this math up until we go to BizTown on the 21st.

Social Studies

We are working on chapter 5 in our book which is over the People of the Northeast. We started by talking about the Narragansett Native Americans that live in Rhode Island. They learned about how they lived long ago. What they live in, how they got food, what their society was like and government. They are working on a worksheet to talk about all these things. We also learned the State and Capitals song by Macho Nacho. This is a song we sing to learn all the 50 states and capitals. We will sing this song most every day before we begin class. I am very sorry. They will be singing it all the time and they will want to get it a home. It is found on Youtube. Just search States and Capitals by Macho Nacho and Musical Stew. You will find it. It had a neat video to watch while they sing it, that moves across the states to the places as they are sung. Again sorry, it will most likely drive you crazy.

Religion

The students are learning the Ten Commandments. They need to memorize these commandments. They will be tested by Ms. Surma starting on Monday. Start asking your students to name them and tell you about them.

Pep Rally

On Friday we are going to the High School for the Pep Rally. YAY!! I am so glad they have included us and we are going to be a part of History in the making. It is going to be a chaotic afternoon but we are going to make it happen. Please be sure to send a coat and maybe mittens/hat with your child tomorrow. I don't want anyone to be cold and we will be outside close to an hour total. Please be sure to wear red and black tomorrow to support the Panthers. I will talk to the students about staying together and acting appropriately because they represent St. Malachy and we have many alumni on the team. We also want to make them proud.

Spirit Day

Friday is a Spirit Day. It is also Panther Spirit Day! Be sure to wear your Panther Gear! Anything red or black will do. All black or all red works too. The high is to be about 50 so a great day for sweats or a hat. Especially a panther hat. The money goes to our Pay it Forward Program. Just to let you know, we used that money to give to our bus driver who drives from St. Malachy to Public school every day twice a day because his new grandson is in ICU. We also gave to the speech aid that shows up every week to help with Speech kids due to the sudden death of her daughter. We use the money for good so please please bring those dollars in.

Cuddle-Up and Read

I have a fun Cuddle-up and Read day each year during the week of Thanksgiving. This will be held on Monday the 20th this year. We spend the whole reading period doing nothing but reading a book for fun. I will give you more details in next weeks blog on what is acceptable to bring with them. I just wanted you to know it's coming and a reminder to myself. It's my favorite day! I actually sit and read with them.

Veteran's Day Program

Our Veteran's Day program will be shorter than normal due to the fact that we need to get over to the High School for the Pep Rally. The program will begin at 1:00 and will be done by 1:30 or 1:40. We do not want anyone to feel unappreciated because we definitely love our Veterans and are very thankful for all they do, but we want to be able to cheer on our Panthers too.

BizTown

Just a reminder that the field trip to Biztown is Tuesday, November 21st. On that day your child will need to bring as sack lunch and a drink. Water bottles, Gatorade and Juice pouches are acceptable. They really don't have a ton of time to eat and drink so something small works best. They will not be carrying their water bottles around with them either. I know that is normal for the school day but it will not be normal when we are at BizTown. Again, they will not have much time to eat because they have to get to the bank to deposit money and maybe use the time to shop. Just like a normal person's lunch hour, right!!

I hope all of you can go to the game at the Dome or listen on the radio. Chad Rieck does an excellent job calling the game. He may be emotional since he has a kid on the team but he is still the best. It makes the game "real" to us all. I am traveling to the Dome on Saturday and will be back Saturday night. I may see about stopping off in Ames to visit Molly for a late lunch! That would make it a perfect weekend. Enjoy whatever you do.

God Bless,

Mrs. Sickels