As we transition into the second month of school, things are going smoothly in the classroom and students are meeting expectations and routines.  This is a very good group of students and I am blessed everyday to be their teacher.  And, no, that is not something I just say because I’m supposed to - I truly love and am thankful for being their teacher.  

ELA 

With the short week, we weren’t able to focus on grammar as much as I would like, however, we did get to do another writing assignment that can help me assess where they are, where they need to improve and where they need HELP to improve - in grammar, vocabulary, and more vivid & fluid writing.  It is something that needs to be practiced and that will be the focus for September.  Writing and writing well. 

Science

AI project due WEDNESDAY, September 10th.  We took a little time each day to work on the project and after going around with my checklist - everyone is doing really great work and I’m looking forward to their presentations.  

Math

Order of operations and “Fact Families” -  while most students have a pretty good grip on their math facts (times tables), turning that around and doing division based on these math facts is proving to be a little more challenging.  I have flashcards that we will be utilizing next week to increase speed and accuracy as we tackle larger and harder problems in the “Order of Operations” we are currently working on in math class. 

History 

We took our first major test today (Friday) over the first explorers to the new world (the Spanish and the French).  Those will be graded over the weekend and posted NLT Monday.  We will be covering the arrival of the English to the shores of what we now know as America starting next week.  It is a very interesting era of our history and I believe the students will enjoy it. 

Religion

Sacraments & completion of all 4 Mysteries of the Rosary.  I explained to the students that our “Daily Decade”, with 17 students praying together is about 1,000 total prayers per week.  Thus, as a class we’re over 4,000 “roses” that we have placed at the feet of Our Blessed Mother, Queen of the Rosary and Queen of Heaven and Earth.  Amazing.  

This Sunday, September 7th, Blessed Carlo Acutis will be canonized a Saint for the Catholic Church.  The “first millennial Saint’ who wasn’t a priest, didn’t have any books that he published, nor any major movement that he started -  his was a simple life of devotion to Mass, the poor, and the Eucharist.  We will be focusing on that event on Monday, but here are a few quotes from him: 

 “All people are born as originals but many die as photocopies.”

“Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.”

  “Our soul is like a hot air balloon. If by chance there is a mortal sin, the soul falls to the ground. Confession is like the fire underneath the balloon enabling the soul to rise again. . . It is important to go to confession often.”

“The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.”

St. Carlo is greatly needed right now in the lives of all of us, but most especially in young people who are being reduced to an algorithm to be manipulated.  In my class, and throughout the year, the students will understand their eternal  value to God, their value to Christ Himself, and that their worth, their happiness, and their true joy’s source is the Creator and His Son – our savior Jesus Christ.  Our identity must be deeply rooted in the Heart of God to whom we live, move, and have our being.  Amen. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

-FM