Some quick reminders....

Field Trip

Our year-end field trip is upon us.  Fifth graders will be going to the bowling alley on Wednesday, June 4.  We will leave school at 11:30 and return at 2:45.  Lunch will be provided (pizza and soda).  Students may wear appropriate free dress, including socks.  A few students have not turned in their permission forms- if you have not seen one please ask your child to see it.

Awards

The End of Year Awards Ceremony is this Thursday, June 5 at 7:00 pm in the church.  These awards include subject awards, altar servers, etc.  The 3rd Trimester Awards Assembly is Friday at 10:45 am in the church.  These awards include honor roll, accelerated reader, etc.

I will send an invitation to the award ceremony you should go to if your child is receiving an award.  These invitations will go out Tuesday.

Last Days of School

In these last days of school we are still learning, of course.  Students are working on assembling their Language Arts portfolio to send home (some samples are placed in their assessment box).  Also, we are continuing studies of Religion and Science.  The students are also helping inventory and care for books, cleaning of their desks and cubbies, etc.  I also give them some time for board games and signing yearbooks.  I have instructed the students to be thoughtful and respectful when signing yearbooks.

The last day of school is Friday June 6.  School ends at noon and there is no extended care.  Please make arrangements for your child to be picked up from school promptly at noon.

OLPH offers summer school.  Please stop by the office for more information.  Students going into sixth grade would receive instruction in Religion, Reading and Math from Ms. Garcia.

Mrs. Becerra

Third Trimester Project Last Minute Help

Here are some samples of products from eighth grade third trimester projects.  There were also some very nice posters (forgot to take pictures) which are posted on the hallway bulletin board.  Feel free to come upstairs to see their fine work as well.  I also had a student lead her class in an activity, and another demonstrate model rocketry.  A few students have brought guest speakers- one about model rocketry and another about the respiratory system.  Thank you for these educational and interesting presentations!!

If your child is unsure how to put together their project, use these as examples.  To see the details of the assignment and the grade sheet, open the new pages I added to the right.  Also, this information is available as an attachment on Gradelink.

I apologize for this help being last minute, but last minute is when help is typically needed.  As a parent, I absolutely understand this.  

Again, great job eighth graders- last presentations for your class are tomorrow.  Good luck to sixth and seventh graders- your presentations start tomorrow!!

Mrs. Becerra

May Newsletter

I have been remiss in blogging- my apologies.

May Crowning

May Crowning is Thursday, May 8 at 8:30am in the church.  This is a beautiful tradition the entire school is involved in.  Please join us if you can.

Students may bring flowers to present to the Virgin Mary.  This is an excellent way to participate in this liturgy and I encourage it!

Field Trip

This Friday May 9 we are going on the Los Angeles trip to the California Science Center.  Thank you to those of you who have already turned in permission slips and $12- if your child hasn't done this yet, please have him/her do so by tomorrow (Thursday, May 8).  Out of the money, $1 helps pay for parking, $1 helps tip the bus driver, and the rest is given back to the child for lunch.

Students must wear comfortable tennis shoes, jeans, and a school shirt (polo, spirit shirt, or class shirt).  They should also bring a sweater- weather in Los Angeles may be cooler than here.  They may also bring a small pack for books, cards, blanket, etc.  Any of these items are the student's responsibility.  Students may not bring electronic devices.

We MUST meet here at the school at 6:45am on Friday- the bus needs to leave at 7:00am.  We should be back at the school at 5:00pm.

Thank you to those who are chaperones for this trip- remember you also should wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

If anyone needs hours, please contact me to be part of a phone tree for this trip.  I could use help contacting parents when we are about 30 minutes away from the school to make it easier to coordinate student pick up.

Mothers Day

The Mothers Day Prayer Service is Monday, May12 at 9:00am in the church.  Mothers, and those of you who take on the role of mother in a child's life, will be honored at this service.  All are welcome to attend.

Third Trimester Project

Lastly, the students have been assigned a project in science.  They each have been assigned a topic, and they must write a 2-4 page typed research report, as well as present a creative way to teach the class about their topic.  Each student has a form that explains this in detail.  This form is attached to the assignment on Gradelink if you have not seen this.  Presentations are scheduled for Monday May 19 through Friday May 23 (eighth grade has theirs a week earlier).

2 Jesus Carries His Cross (Stations of the Cross)

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Busted Halo Virtual Station 1

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Quick note

In case you missed last night's meeting, the next Maintenance Day has been rescheduled to March 15 due to the predictions of rain.  Remember to work and log in your 3 hours if you haven't done so already.

The trimester ended yesterday, and sign/return forms have gone home for some subjects.  I am working on the rest.

Mardi Gras is next Tuesday, and students can wear Mardi Gras colors.  It is not free dress, so if they can't wear purple, green, or gold (yellow is fine) then they must wear their uniform.  Lunch will be provided that day during the Mardi Gras feast.

More to come later.  Thank you for all the you and your family do for the school!

Mrs. Becerra

February 17 Update

Science Heads Up- All grades will be assigned a project in science for the third trimester.  I will give the students the assignment and rubric in early March.   These will be posted on the blog as well.  Presentations will be in mid-May, so there will be plenty of time for students to prepare for this.

The end of the trimester is February 27.  I will be sending home grade sheet sign and returns along with latest tests and science fair grade sheets.

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 4.  A flyer was sent home letting families know about the required funds for this.  Please send in the money as soon as possible- this is for the students' Mardi Gras Feast.  Remember your child will not need to bring lunch that day- there will be plenty of food.

5th grade specific news (Field Trip):

Fifth grade is going to the Date Festival on Friday, February 21.  We will be walking from the school to the fair, leaving at 9:30am and returning at about 12:15pm.  The students will eat a snack before they leave and be back in time for lunch, so please make sure the students bring their snack and lunch or keep their school hot lunch reservation as usual.

If your child has not given you the permission slip for this field trip, please ask for it.  Permission slips should be returned by Thursday, February 20.  The permission slip does not have a space asking for chaperones, however I do need 2-4 chaperones.  Please contact me directly by speaking to me before/after school or emailing me if you would like to chaperone.

The purpose of the field trip is to view the art projects at the fair- each student was given the opportunity to submit a construction paper art piece in the style of Matisse and to contribute to the class quilt.  These are currently on display in the junior exhibit venue.  If you are going to the fair, go see them!  They are a little hard to find- the individual projects are tucked away in a corner on the far side, and the quilt is hanging up above eye level in a different area- but they are there!

On the field trip, the students are not allowed to shop, buy snacks, or go on rides at the festival.  However, I would like them to bring $5 for a drink.  There is at least one vendor who offers classes a special for lemonades, and I know on such a warm day after walking around the kids will be thirsty.  The drink will be the only thing they are allowed to buy.