South Boston Catholic Academy

The children in grade 1B are enjoying following the Olympics in Vancouver! We had some olympics of our own in the classroom. The children worked in teams and helped each other to win the gold medal in all of the races. We had the”Downhill Addition Skiing Race!” Then, it was the “Bobsled Compound Word Race!” Next, was the “Snowboard Subtraction Race!” Check out the pictures. We had a “Skeleton Spelling Race” and the “Luge Race is next. Pictures will be added.

I hope everyone had a great and restful break! It’s good to be back!

We have started cursive in 2A! The students are extremely excited about this! They are working so hard to master this art! I keep reminding them, it’s like learning a new language, just keep practicing! In math, we have started subtraction with regrouping. This concept is very tricky to teach and hard to learn. Please be patient and have students continue to practice.

We have been talking about Lent in Religion. Students have some things they may be giving up, and some have things they are going to work harder on. We have also been talking about things they can do to show Jesus they are more loving a caring!

I will be starting a dinosaur unit next week and  it should go all the way to the beginning of April vacation! There will be a Dinosaur report and diorama at the end. I will give more details as the time approaches. This is always a very fun project for 2nd graders!

Thank-you to those who donated items for the recess yard! I believe it has made things less chaotic and students are more productive at recess!

Some dates for March:   

March 10 : Book Orders are due.

March 17: Evacuation Day- NO SCHOOL!

March 22-26 : Standardized Testing 

Ms. Johnson

K2B celebrated Valentine’s Day on the Friday before vacation.  The children enjoyed distributing valentines and the treat and goodie bag filled party.  Thank you to the parents who helped plan this party.  Friendship and sharing filled the air in K2B!

The 4th and 5th Grade Mini Math Projects came out great!!!  Take a look… Mrs. Reilly

Hi Everybody

I hope that you are all having a great month.  So far February has been wonderful and the children have been too.    The children are having a great time with the All About Me program.  Each child is sharing themselves with everybody and we are all learning about eachother.  I am giving each child the oppurtunity to show and tell themselves.  Most of them, even the quiet children love the spotlight and don’t stop sharing.  I love it.  I am writing down all of the things that they say.  I look forward to sharing them with you. 

Just a few Reminders!  The Valentine’s Day Party is on Fri. the 12th.  Please send in  signed and addressed Valentines.   It will give the children good practice writing their name.  They do not have to write the other childre’s name (you can if you want)The children will make a craft and pass out Valentines and eat goodies.  I am not sure if a Mystery Reader has already volunteered to come in.  Let me know if you woudl like to Mystery Read. 

See you all soon.

Kristin McArdle

One book report per month, students will be required to present a book report to the class. Each of these reports will be on a book the student has read during the month. It is expected that each report be given in a creative way!  This sheet outlines the specific information regarding monthly book reports.

• The book you choose to read should be appropriate for your reading level and a minimum of 100 pages in length.
• The book can’t be one you have read before or one we have read in class.
• If you are absent the day your book report is due, then it is due on the day you return to school.
• All presentations should be within the specified time limit. A minimum of 3 minutes is expected with the maximum of 5 minutes allowed. If your presentation is less than the minimum or more than the maximum there will be an automatic 10-point deduction off your final score.
• Each month you will need to choose a book from a new genre; one that you haven’t done before. The 4 genres from which you will be required to choose from are listed below.

Book Genres 

1.Biography or Autobiography

2.  Mystery

3.  Fiction  or Realistic Fiction

4.  Non-Fiction  

By the end of this year, you should have presented one book from each category (genre). If you repeat a genre, there will be an automatic 10-point deduction. For example, if you present a Harry Potter book from genre 3 and then share a different Harry Potter book next month, even though they are 2 different books, they are from the same category (genre) and 10 points will be deducted. 

Due Dates: 

1^st:   February 26^th         2^nd:  March 26^th

^3rd:  April 30^th                  4^th:  May 28^th

You may choose one of the following ideas for sharing your book.   If you want to use a different creative idea, you may ask your teacher for approval. The approval must be given before the due date. The most important thing is to be creative in your presentation. Each month you must choose a different creative idea. By the end of the year, you will have shared four different books in four different new and exciting ways.

Make sure that you put lots of time and effort into your presentation as it represents a large portion of your final score. You will be graded on the effort you have put into your creation!!!!

Creative Ideas

1.    Write a TV or radio commercial advertising the book.

2.     Prepare a skit about your book and perform it for the class.

3.     Design a book jacket (different from the one it already has) illustrating your three favorite scenes. Include a summary on the inside cover.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

4.     Build a diorama of your favorite scene or setting.

5.     Design a map of the area where the story takes place. Make sure to include a scale and legend.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

6.     Make an illustrated time line for a historical book.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

7.     Design a vacation or informational pamphlet about a location in the book.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

8.     Design an invitation to read the book.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

9.     Design a mobile, using pictures of characters or places in the story.  (Must have at least five different attachments.)

10.   Pretend you are a book critic for a local newspaper or TV station and share your review of the book.

   11.   Dress up like a character in the book and describe the role that character plays in the book. (Make sure to include props and other things to help us recognize your character.)

12.   Compose a song about your book, an event in the book, or one of the characters and sing or play it for the class.

13.   Write a journal entry from the point of view of one of the characters in the book (Pretend you are your favorite character from the book and write at least 5 entries.)

14.   Prepare and perform a puppet show.

15.   Make a collage about your book.

16.   Write a letter to one of the characters in the book, describing what you liked or did not like about what he/she did in the book (at least six paragraphs in length).

17.   Pretend you are an interviewer from the local news.  Write at least ten interview questions you would ask one of the characters in the book and what you think their answers might be (full and complete answers).

18.   Create a “Wanted” poster for a character from the book.  (Fully colored on large art paper.  No computer images.)

19.   Write a news article on the book; answer Who?  What?  When?  Where?  How?  Why?  Pretend you are a newscaster and give us the information in a live news broadcast.

20.   Create a comic strip.  (Draw and fully color a comic strip using characters from your book. No computer images. Must be at least 7 frames.)

Next Meeting: Tuesday 2/9/10.

Next visit to Harbor Lights: Thursday 2/25/10

The next SBCA tag day will be Thursday February 25th, the week we return from vacation. More info to come!