EVENTS
- Barnes and Noble Fundraiser: Tomorrow, 12/11, from 10am-4pm at the Barnes and Noble locations in Webster and Pittsford, you can do some Christmas shopping AND benefit SAA! At checkout, use the code 12620175 and our school will receive a percentage of the sale. Books, music, calendars, cards, toys – all of it counts! If you’re unable to get to either of these locations tomorrow, you can also order online from 12/11-12/16 using the same promotion code at checkout. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
- Holiday Cookie Sale: Baker Street Bakery cut-out Christmas cookies are back! Starting on Monday, 12/13, these oversized, delicious cookies will be sold at dismissal for $4 each. Your child also brought home an order form recently that can be used if he or she is a bus rider or you want to ensure to get some cookies before they run out.
- Mass: Our class will attend daily Mass on Tuesday, 12/14, at 9:15am. If your child’s vest is not being stored here at school, please be sure it comes to school that day. And, of course, you’re all invited to join us at Mass if you’re available! ?
- Holiday Fun:
o Monday, 12/20: K-2 Christmas concert and dressing up in concert clothes; grades 3-5 dress down as elves in fun holiday colors. The Christmas concert for grades K-2 is in the St. Ambrose Church. Doors open at 6pm. Students should report to their teachers between 6 and 6:15pm in the church. The concert begins promptly at 6:30pm.
o Tuesday, 12/21: Grades 3-5 Christmas concert and dressing up in concert clothes; grades K-2 dress down as elves in fun holiday colors. The Christmas concert for grades 3-5 is in the St. Ambrose Church. Doors open at 6pm. Students should report to their teachers between 6 and 6:15pm in the church. The concert begins promptly at 6:30pm.
o Wednesday, 12/22: Early dismissal at 12:15pm. Students can wear ugly holiday sweaters with their uniform pants. A visit from Santa is anticipated!
- Character Assembly: On Wednesday, 12/22, we’ll celebrate our next character assembly. This month we’re practicing being dedicated. If we’re dedicated, we have infectious enthusiasm. We always have a positive attitude, finish all of our assignments, work even when we don’t want to, make plans to reach our goals, offer solutions when we see problems, and help others when they need it. Those who exhibit this character trait will be awarded a certificate on the 22nd.
- Christmas Break: Our Christmas break begins at 12:15pm on Wednesday, 12/22. We return from break on Monday, 01/03.
GENERAL
- Cold Weather and Clothing: Just a friendly reminder that each child should wear a winter coat, hat (or hood that stays up), gloves/mittens, and winter boots when needed. If the feels-like temperature outside is less than 30-degrees, we have indoor recess. But if it’s 40-45 degrees, for example, we still go outside and will need clothing to keep us warm. Additionally, some of our kids are cold in our classroom. Per the school’s uniform policy, they can’t wear winter coats or non-St. Ambrose hoodies/sweatshirts in class. They may, however, wear long-sleeved black t-shirts under the St. Ambrose short-sleeved polos. If your child is complaining of being cold at school, please consider purchasing a St. Ambrose fleece jacket for her, since these can we worn in class. Please remember, too, that winter boots (once they start being worn) cannot be worn during the school day so it’s important that kids bring with them a change of shoes.
- Math Practice Pages: Due to my absence on Monday, I did not hand out a Homework BINGO assignment. Instead, remaining rounding practice pages were sent home with students to complete and return by today. If your child still needs to complete this work, please send it back with him or her next week.
- Pop the Top Drive: Our pop can tab drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester is blowing up! 1st grade is currently in the lead with over 4,000 tabs collected, and 2nd grade is close behind. Pop can tabs can be donated until January 7th, so please send in any tabs that might be collected during this holiday season. The winning class wins an ice cream party!
CURRICULUM
- ELA: We have wrapped up our reading of Peter Pan, we’re finishing our beautiful lapbooks on this novel, and then we’re viewing the Disney film and writing a comparison of the film and the novel. Next week we’re tackling spelling words that include the oa or ow vowel teams, and we’re beginning to look at reading questions from past NY State tests to practice finding main ideas and supporting details.
- Math: We continue to touch on rounding to the nearest hundred to benefit some of us who need extra practice with this skill. We’ve also moved on to our first round of division! Our class is making good headway with multiplication facts speed drills, as well.
- Science: Our investigations into weather continue with a closer look at storm clouds and global climates.
- Social Studies: As we finish our work with global geography and our balloon globes, we’re also completing a Christmas Around the World project. Next week, as your child how this special holiday is celebrated in Australia, Egypt, Germany, Mexico, Italy, or Russia!
- Religion: We’ve been celebrating many feast days this week, including those of St. Nicholas, St. Ambrose, and St. Juan Diego. Next week we’ll also learn more about Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Christmas miracle of the poinsettia in Mexico. Our school’s traveling nativity set continues and we’ll spend some extra time with the figure of Joseph next week.
