Holy Week!

 

Welcome to Holy Week,

This week, your children will be focusing on the parable of "The Lost Sheep" to best prepare them for making their First Reconciliation.  Also, our class will be learning about the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jesus will be at the center of our week as we all prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for the gift of the resurrection and the blessing of Easter Sunday.

Please continue reading to stay up to date on what will be taking place inside our classroom and right here at ACS.

ELA

The students will be continuing their lessons from last week that focuses on the story of "The Goat on the Rug."  Last week was quite and busy and so, the second graders will be focusing on the skills and content from this story that they still need to complete.

Below you will find what skills the class will be focusing on:

• Phonics ~ tion and true based words, examples:  nation and nature
• Informative Writing ~ What is it like to live in your city?
• Target Skills:  Conclusions, Sequence of Events, Summarizing
• Your child will not have a spelling test this week!
• The second graders will not have any homework this week!

Math

The students will continue and will complete their lessons on measurement concepts.  Then, the students will move into concepts that focus on Geometry and Fractions.

Science

The students will continue learning about plants.  Concepts that will be taught will include the parts of a plant, the lifecycle of plants, identifying parts of plants that we eat, (examples:  carrots are roots, corn is a seed that we eat, cabbage is a leaf, asparagus is both a stem and a flower that many people enjoy eating, etc.)  The students will also experience a wide variety of hands on plant themed activities and some experiments too which will include embracing conservation ideas to best serve the beautiful gift God gave us...Earth.  Learning about plants and animals is so much fun and is very engaging to second graders.  What a gift!

Religion

The students will be focusing on the Passion of Christ as we enter Holy Week.  The students will also have lessons on "The Lost Sheep" to prepare them for the sacrament of First Reconciliation.

The students will pray throughout their school day and this includes at daily Pledge/Prayer, before lunch, and prior to dismissal.

The students will continue to pray, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace" prayer that was written by St. Francis of Assisi.

The second graders will continue praying for the intercession of St. Michael the Archangel per Father Chad's request.  All of the ACS students will be saying the prayer each time we attend Mass on Wednesday mornings.   The students have memorized the "Act of Contrition" and are prepared to say this prayer when they receive the holy sacrament of Reconciliation.   

Here are the Second Grade Specials:

Monday ~ Art at 12:10

Tuesday ~ P.E. at 2:25

                  Spanish at 12:00

Wednesday ~ Mass Day at 8:15 a.m. 

                        Spanish 9:40 and Music at 1:00

Thursday ~    P.E. at 2:25

Friday ~ No special area classes

Don't forget that your child has access to several academic computer sites to enhance their learning at home.

Here is a quick list to assist your child in their academic growth at home.

• RAZ kids ( Your child may utilize this site to complete their nightly reading homework.)
• IXL (Section S focuses on key second grade measurement concepts)
• Class Dojo!  This site can be accessed each day to allow your child to gain insights on their behavioral decisions from the day.  The students will earn points that then allow them to upgrade their site's avatar and the site will allow the students to view social/emotional developmental videos that were viewed in class from that specific day.  It's such an engaging behavioral tool and it motivates and empowers the students to give their very best efforts each day.
• So far in Class Dojo, your children have focused on the social/emotional skills of having a "Growth Mindset," how to be "Perseverant," how to be "Empathetic," what it means to show "Gratitude," and how they can tackle "Big Challenges" in life!  

Upcoming Events

• March 28, Palm Sunday: the beginning of Holy Week. Check out the new 2021 Holy Week flip book! It is full of resources, activities and prayers to help you enter more deeply into the mystery we celebrate in the days ahead. Vea el recurso digital en español aquí.  Special thanks to Catholic Charities Community Services for sponsoring this week's newsletter!
  
• March 29, Monday:  Community Courtyard Prayer led by the 3rd grade at 8:10am.  All are welcome.
  
• Holy Thursday,  April 1 - is a half day, dismissal at 12 pm. Field Day in the morning.  No aftercare.
• Field Day signup for volunteers (Mobile Serve) and Snack donation(sign up Genius) have been sent out.  Please volunteer on Field day - it's lots of fun!
• Good Friday, April 2 - No school, Live Stations of the Cross at 3pm.  Start at North parking.  Arrive around 2:45pm.
  
• Easter Break,  April 5 - April 11  No school.  Students return April 12.
• April 11, Sunday:  St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church has a Spring blood drive  The drive will run from 8am - 12:00pm. The Blood Mobiles will be in the south parking lot. Location is 32648 N. Cave Creek Rd. We hope you will be able to participate.  make an appointment
Save the Date:
• Dine Out Fundraiser, Tuesday, April 13 - Follow the link to the Chipotle Dinner Fundraiser flyer, from 4 - 8 pm at Chipotle on Carefree Highway near Sprouts. Flyer also attached.
• Evening Under the Stars, April 24 - Sponsor information was sent home with your student.  Many opportunities to volunteer.  Check the Mobile Serve app.
• Daddy-Daughter Dance, May 8 - more details and invitations to follow soon  
Catholic Identity Committee (CIC):
• Thank you for all the support for the Feast of the Annunciation.  It was a speacial day.

Homework

Your children will not have any homework this week.  Enjoy some extra family time during this very sacred Holy Week.  May you all also have a very blessed Easter and a beautiful Spring Break!