Wecome to a brand new school year!   The focus of our first unit in Religion is

God Gives Us Life and Love.  We will come to know God as the Giver of Gifts and Jesus as God's best.  We will learn that Jesus lives in His Church and that Baptism initiates us into Jesus' way of life and into His Church.  We will also celebrate God's gifts by using them for others. 

This year the children will be learning to do cursive handwriting.  The first letters that we will learn are:  i, t, u, w, e, l and b.

I always ask the children not to write any cursive letters or words until I have taught them the right formations.  Once they have learned the wrong way, it is very hard to reteach them the correct formations.

During the first weeks of school, I will be assessing the children in order to appropriately meet their capabilities. 

 At the beginning of school, I will also be helping them to learn the process of journaling and creative writing.

To start the year I will be reviewing math skills and assessing all the children especially in the area of math facts (flashcards).  Our flashcard program is individualized so the children will move at their own pace.  After beginning assessments, the children will receive flashcards according to their level of success.  In the following weeks the children will be given a math flashcard assessment each week.

 Math homework:  The children have flashcard study each night and when they have math papers for homework, it will be listed in the assignment book.  Please check the assignment book each night for given homework.   Since immediate feedback is extremely important, correct the assignment with your child, then always initial every assigment at the top of each side of the paper.   This will indicate that your child has successfully completed assigned material.  I will collect these the next day, so be sure the paper is placed into the school section of the homework binder.  Your child will then file the homework each morning before school starts.

Feel free to call me at the school if you have any questions about this process.

Welcome to our 2008-2009 school year.  I am excited to meet the children and continue the learning process with them.  I am delighted to be able to work with you as parents.  You are a vital part of Lial and Lial is a better school because  of your involvment in your child's education.

 I will be seeing you as parents at the Parent Orientation on Monday, August 25 at 7:30 and then the children I will meet at Orientation  between 9-12:00 on Tuesday, August 26.   As noted on the supply list, please be sure every item your child brings is marked in permanent ink with his/her initials:  eg. every crayon, every marker, every pencil, every individual item needs to be marked.  Please note that name labels are not good because they gum up the pencil sharpeners.  God bless and be seeing you soon.