PreSchool Mrs. Malone, Ms. Onkka
“Baby Jesus, baby Jesus, fast asleep, fast asleep…”
Christmas Day will soon be here and we can hardly wait!
Classes have been busy learning about Advent as we prepare for Jesus’ birthday on Christmas Day. The joy of the Christmas season is evident in each and every one of our preschoolers! Thank you again for sharing them with us.
As 2021 ends we would like to wish each of you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
| |
Kindergarten Mrs. Guinan, Mrs. Millar, Mrs. Vaughan
Throughout December, we have learned about the season of Advent. We prepared our hearts for Christmas by brainstorming gifts to give Jesus, and ways to be kind to others.
We are learning more and more sight words, and are very proud of what we can read! Use flash cards to practice sight words with your child and see how many he/she recognizes!
In math, we are counting numbers using tens and ones.
From our classrooms to your homes, we wish you lots of happiness and joy during this holiday season!
| |
First Grade Mrs. Kleffman, Mrs. Nigrin, Ms. HermsenIt has been a joy to watch your children prepare their hearts for the coming of the Infant Jesus. Thank you for all of the help you provided for our classroom Christmas parties. You are a gift to us!
In January, 1st grade students will be introduced to the Rocket Math program. You can find a link on the 1st grade News webpage to print out blank copies of the leveled tests. The goal for 1st grade students will be to get 30 consecutive correct in one minute and 15 seconds. This is a school-wide program that will assist the children in mastering their math facts. We encourage you to continue practicing facts regularly at home.
| |
Second Grade Ms. Hargens, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. TruscottThank you to the volunteers who helped plan the Christmas parties. The students and teachers appreciate your kindness. To help students prepare for third grade, they will receive a percentage score on tests only. Percentages will begin in January.Students worked hard on 2-digit subtraction with regrouping. Please continue to practice this skill over break. Second graders also worked on identifying the main idea and key details in stories. Ask your child if he/she can identify these while reading a story.
We wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and many blessings in the new year!
| |
Third Grade Ms. Ruelas, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. SchofieldThank you to the families of Jenna and Jordyn McKee, Bella Shoemaker, and Annabella Volpone for purchasing the SPREE Dress Down and Extra Recess for their classroom.
During the first semester, third grade students have enjoyed spending time with their seventh grade buddies. They have worked together on various activities, talking and laughing the entire time. The students are always excited to be with their new friends.
Thank you to the parents who helped organize and implement the games and activities for our Christmas Parties. Your creativity is greatly appreciated!
It has been a fast and wonderful first semester, and we are grateful for all you have done to make it a success.
We wish each and every family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
| |
Fourth Grade Mrs. Madison, Mrs. Thede, Mrs. CaitoIn science class we studied light, the visible spectrum, and the eye. The students enjoyed discovering color and light waves using concave and convex lenses, color paddles, and a prism. They also loved seeing how light enters the eye and what happens to the pupil and iris.
In fourth grade, we have been studying our Circle of Grace program. We discussed Internet terminology and various strategies to stay safe on the Internet. We will continue to reinforce Internet safety throughout the school year.
We wish you and your family all the joy and blessings of this holy Christmas season and in the coming year.
| |
Fifth Grade Ms. Salerno, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Stec
5th graders have had a busy Advent. They have been going through the writing process in English and writing about famous people from their state. In science, they have been learning about energy, matter, and different ecosystems. In social studies, students discovered the tension that led the colonists to declare their independence. We have also had some visitors! The School Sisters of Christ the King from Lincoln stopped by to thank the students for the letters and prayers students sent them during Vocation Awareness Week. Also, Mrs. Jones’s class welcomed a visit from Police Officer, Troy Hiller, who students have been praying for this school year. Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
| |
Sixth Grade Mrs. Wane, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Guinotte
Literature students will work on poetry in January. Look for their poetry notebooks to come home as they learn various ways to express themselves through work.
English students will participate in the classroom Spelling Bee and learn about verbs during the month of January. Students will continue to write and revievw grammar daily as their knowledge grows.
Science students will learn about minerals: how they are formed, identified, and retrieved.
Religion students will focus on sacraments, our way of life.
Math students will practice with mathematical and algebraic expressions.
Social Studies students will be wrapping up Module 4 - Ancient Egypt. Students will discuss the Middle and New Kingdoms, and how the geography of Egypt transformed over time.
| |
English Mr Leever
English 7 - Seventh grade students have studied units covering nouns, adjectives, verbs, and prepositions. They have written a personal narrative and a character analysis. In January, students will study adverbs, and begin writing an informative essay.
English 8 - Through the first semester, eighth grade students have studied nouns, verbs, adjectives, and have begun using in-text citations in their writing. In January, students will complete the adverb unit, and continue using in-text citations in longer writing assignments.
| |
Science Ms. Kolberg Seventh Grade: Seventh graders are learning about how the cell works. We finished photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and are working on mitosis. After break we will delve into genetics!
Eighth Grade: Things are heating up in 8th grade! We have been studying about thermal energy and the states of matter. After break we will continue working on understanding atoms.
| |
Math Mr. Polacek
This year went out with quite a bang in the Junior High Math Classes. The Algebra class finished a chapter over solving systems of equations, 7th grade Math class did some reviewing of fractions and decimals, and the Pre-Algebra class had their last chapter over many different topics of Geometry.
While those topics will be sorely missed, much like 2021, there are many newer and bigger Algebra topics right around the corner in 2022. The Algebra classes will start polynomials with a large dose of factoring and solving Quadratics to follow. The Pre-Algebra students will also delve into the Algebra world with a chapter on Linear Equations and Slope, and Percent Problems and Statistics await the Math students when they get back for the new year. All groups have grown leaps and bounds and continue to work on the ability to be meticulous mathletes in all we do!
| |
Religion Mr. Dunn
On December 9th in our Parish Center, students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade participated in a presentation by Heart of a Child Ministries. Students were informed how to build up a culture of love and life through dynamic Celebration of Life live ultrasound presentations. With the assistance of a medical doctor, pregnant volunteers, and speakers, students were able to view a live baby in the womb, witnessing the movement, and listen to the heartbeat of the baby. Students were also given the opportunity to ask questions about the development of the baby, and they had many questions! For further information and videos go to heartofachildministries.org.
| |
8th Grade Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Fosbender, Mrs. ZimmermanThe eighth grade teachers would like to wish you and your families a safe and blessed Christmas and New Year's!!!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. The eighth grade students will be having their Christmas celebration on Tuesday, December 21st. In the afternoon, we will be watching a movie and enjoying some tasty goodies!
Looking ahead: On Thursday, February 3rd, the 8th graders will be attending a city-wide 8th grade Mass at Cathedral. Parents are not able to attend because of space.
Boys will need to wear uniform pants with a long sleeve white dress shirt and navy tie (same thing they had to wear for graduation pictures). Girls will need to wear uniform skirts with a gray pullover SVdP uniform sweatshirt or a navy/red school sweater.
To finish off the field trip, buses will travel to Creighton University for lunch and fun in the student/fitness center.
| |
Art Mr. Pflaum
Classes are staying busy creating wonderful works of art as we wind down the semester. Here is a brief summary of each grade’s projects.
Kindergarten - The students have just completed a Nativity oil pastel resist painting.
First Grade - The 1st graders are in the final stages of their Winter Birch Tree paintings.
Second Grade - These artists have just completed their Meandering Line illustrations.
Third Grade - The 3rd graders have been introduced to abstract style of art with their Abstract Snowman drawings.
Fourth Grade - The students are exploring value and color in their paintings.
Fifth Grade - The 5th graders have received their glazed and fired crosses and are working on an optical illusion style drawing.
Sixth Grade - These ceramic artists are in the final stages of carving their Tiki sculptures.
Seventh Grade - The 7th graders are in the middle of their Pointillism illustrations.
Eighth grade - The students have competed their color scheme drawings and are working on their doodle grid illustrations.
| |
Computer Mrs. Kuhr
Kindergarten and 1st Grade - We have been working on practicing writing on the keyboard. Kindergarten was practicing typing one sentence, while 1st grade were working on typing a seasonal three sentence poem.
2nd Grade - They have been working on keyboarding using Typing Club but also their math and problem solving skills using Prodigy. This is a great online program that take math and gamify it. Math and coding go hand and hand. Coding uses a lot of different math skills when creating a program like geometry, algebra, and sequential thinking.
3rd Grade - The class has been introduced to block coding, creating music using online music editors, and now it's time to head on to Scratch. Student will begin to create their first program by programming a dance party.
4th Grade - We finished our Biomimicry project and the students had some great ideas for products inspired by nature. There were ideas that were out of the box, and the students did a great job creating their "prototypes."
5th Grade - Has been having fun learning how to create programs using one of our robots, Sphero BOLT. We are starting to create programs using functions to make a Sphero "pet."
6th Grade - We are almost done coding an Extreme Sports game on Scratch. They have been coding an obstacles game with a sports theme. I can't wait to see what they come up with.
8th Grade - They finished their Quest Game on Scratch and spent a couple of classes programming one of the robots, Sphero, in a game of BINGO. Next semester they will be in media class with Mrs. Kaiser.
Yearbook - If you have any pictures from the Halloween parties, please consider submitting them to the yearbook. We are also looking for any pictures from the music program.
| |
Educational Strategists Mrs. Heavey, Mrs. Price, Mrs. SullivanStudents can explore new topics about the world when they read nonfiction books. Learning about new places, people, events, and nature can be very engaging, especially to reluctant readers. Check out the link at the Reading Rockets website to learn more about how you can help your child explore the world.
https://www.readingrockets.org/books/nonfiction-for-kids
| |
Guidance Mrs. SkudlarekThis past month has flown by. Students have been focusing on working together in groups. Kindergarteners practiced listening, sharing, and taking turns. First graders worked together to complete a number puzzle and friendship rainbow. They discussed the importance of being a good listener, as well as being patient with their turn. Second graders have been discussing making good choices, to go along with working together. Third graders were assigned a partner and asked to write about the important qualities of their partner. We shared these in class and it was so great to watch the response of the students while someone else was reading kind things about them. In fourth grade we worked through identifying ways to avoid blaming others, and how to have a conversation about change. The focus in fifth grade was about applying group skills to our friendships, and what it means to be a good friend. It has been another fantastic first semester working with your children each day. I would like to wish each of you a wonderful Christmas and a happy start to 2022.
| |
HAL Mrs. MillerDecember has been another busy month! The 7th grade literature students finished their novel and created a quadrama of important events related to the story. The 8th grade class dipped their toes into the realm of William Shakespeare. Our last novel had allusions to Shakespeare, so we read and performed short scenes from The Tempest. Everyone had a fun time choosing a scene and acting out their parts. The 4th and 5th grade HAL Math classes are working with multiplying and dividing fractions. We are finding that sometimes when we multiply our answers are smaller, and when we divide they become larger! The 6th grade class is working on solving multi-step equations in a variety of ways. Although it may be tedious, checking answers is always helpful. Lastly, the 7th grade Algebra class is working on computation with polynomials. We will begin a unit on factoring when we return from Christmas break. Merry Christmas!
| |
Media Center Mrs. Kaiser
Illustrators are both artists and storytellers. Grades K-2 spent December talking about illustrator styles and drawing pictures inspired by various illustrators. Third grade created a brand new invention that rhymes with orange, inspired by the work of illustrator Adam Rex. Fourth and fifth grades wrapped up work on their research unit, practicing skills like writing in their own words and correctly citing a source. Seventh graders ended their semester with a look at how to evaluate information we see online and how to work together to build the digital world.
Thank you to the following students and their families who donated a book to the library in honor of their birthday: Joey Martin, Katharine Welsh, Teresa Welsh, Max Hrabovsky, Zelie Niehaus, Sophina Holmgren, James McGowan, Evelyn Turner, Henry Jeffreys, Madisyn Piper, Madelyn Schmit, Emma Luetkenhaus,Jake Nielsen, Teddy Strickland, and Benette Uber.
Best wishes to all SVDP students and their families for a blessed and restful Christmas!
| |
|
Music Mrs. LeMenseRoom 53 is beginning their ukulele unit. The rest of the 5th graders, 4th and 3rd grade have been practicing their note-naming pitches. Remember Every Good Boy Does Fine? F-A-C-E? The chrome books have been great tools to reinforce this skill.
Thank you to our 1st and 2nd grade students for their darling Christmas concert! Thanks, also, to our teachers - we could not have had a program without their help!
While we’re on the subject of Christmas...
Christmas Manger Scene Costumes
I am interested in commissioning a set of kid-sized costumes for use in the future.
I am not a seamstress, so I would welcome some guidance.
1 Mary costume
1 Joseph..
3 Kings…
3 Angels…
3 Shepherds…
1 donkey...
1 sheep…
| |
PE Ms. Pottebaum
The K-2 students worked on Hula Hoops tricks such as spinning, rolling, jumping rope, spinning it around their waist, arms, neck, and the favorite, walk the dog. They also worked on rolling a ball with one and two hands. They had to guard their team's pins and aim to roll to get the other team's pins down. The students concluded the month with balloons. They worked on hand-eye coordination, striking, tracking, and creativity. The students used their bodies, noodles and styrofoam paddles to keep the balloons up.
| |
PE Mr. BooneStudents in grades 3-5 worked on their throwing and catching skills. They reviewed the five critical elements of throwing and catching by doing such activities as Hula Hut Throw Down, Battleships, and Perfect Passer. Each activity required the students to use five critical elements by throwing different types of balls to either a person or a target.
Students in grades 6-8 participated in their flying disc, more commonly known as a frisbee, unit. During this unit, students were able to do activities that led up to a game of Ultimate Disc. Activities such as Uno Dos Tres, Hot Box, Goaltimate, Mini Disc, and Ultimate Disc, allowed students the chance to work on their forehand and backhand throws, as well as their one or two-handed catches.
Have a great break and we will see you all next year. The first unit back will be the tumbling and parkour unit. Be safe and active.
| |
Spanish 2nd-4th Mrs. McDermottStudents in 4th grade Spanish are practicing the months of the year by answering the question “Cuando es tu cumpleaños?” (When is your birthday?) with “Mi cumpleaños es ……” (My birthday is……). They are also practicing how to read and write any date in Spanish.
Students in 3rd grade Spanish are practicing the names of clothing and accessories. They are also reviewing the colors by drawing clothing on a paper doll and labeling the clothes with the name of the clothing and its color. Did you know that in Spanish, adjectives go after the noun? For example: la blusa azul (blusa=blouse, azul=blue)
Students in 2nd grade Spanish are practicing the names of 13 colors including gold (oro) and silver (plata). They are also learning how to count from 1 to 30.
| |
|
Spanish 5th-8th Mrs. Maenner¡Hola!
The 8th graders are nearing the end of the semester-long lesson over the verbs Ser and Estar! The plan is to be finished before the Christmas break!
7th graders are just beginning the unit over Gender in the Spanish language, and will be able to choose the correct articles and correct forms of adjectives to agree with masculine and feminine Spanish nouns.
6th graders are starting to learn fun facts about the Spanish speaking country, and our neighbor, Mexico!
Finally, the 5th graders just finished up with writing up and acting out small group skits in Spanish, and will be ready to dive into the Me Gusta... (I like...) lesson when we return after Christmas!
¡Adios and Feliz Navidad!
| |
|
|
|
|