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THE FAMILY CONNECTION |
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Seton Grade School - 808 E. Lucas Street, Algona, IA
50511 - (515) 295-3509 - April 2008 |
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THE FAMILY CONNECTION |
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Seton Grade School - 808 E. Lucas Street, Algona, IA
50511 - (515) 295-3509 - April 2008 |
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Dear Parents,
The Easter remembrance reminds us that we celebrate not only the Resurrection of Jesus, but the beginnings of resurrection in each of us: fragile life cared for, tears wiped away, the lonely are visited, forgiveness is extended, the hungry are fed, and peace is established. This is Easter's promise and joy!
We pray that we will notice and plant the seeds of Resurrection wherever we go.
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If you know anyone interested in volunteering at the elementary or high school level, there will be a Virtus class offered on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, from 6:30 - 9:30 in the ICN room at Bishop Garrigan High School. Virtus training is required for anyone working with or volunteering with our students.
Each April the school staff begins the lengthy process of placing students in classroom learning groups for next year. Teachers make the placements based on academic as well as social reasons. Much time and effort are spent to ensure that each student is placed where he/she will learn best. Seton has a very strong teaching staff who do an excellent job, with your support and cooperation, of educating your child(ren).
Most students adjust to whatever placement is made. It is not possible to place your child with all of his/her friends. We value parent input and are always willing to meet with you regarding your child. You know your child very well and may have information that would make a significant difference in his/her learning and placement. If you would like to make this information known to us, please stop by the office and ask Carol or Christy for a student placement form. These are to be returned to the office by MAY 1, 2008. Please read the form carefully.
The staff and I want to thank you for trusting us to consider the best possible situation for your child(ren) as we form learning groups for next year.
The program for the four-year-olds is just around the corner. Mark your calendar for Monday, April 7, 2008, at 6:30pm. Students will be performing in the Rochleau Center, and Mrs. Salz, Mrs. Kollasch, and Mrs. Hall extend an invitation to everyone to enjoy some of the songs students have learned this year.
As spring approaches, the shorts once again are worn to school. Please check the length of the shorts...for boys and girls...walking length. No mid-thigh shorts are permitted. The length of the shorts is one way to see how much your child(ren) has/have grown this year. If you do not want to purchase different shorts, students may always wear their slacks/trousers to school. Students will be asked not to wear shorts that are out of dress code.
First Communion:
St. Michael's - March 30, 10:30am
St. John the Baptist - April 6, 10:30am
St. Benedict - April 19, 6:30pm
Wesley - April 20, 8:30am
Livermore - April 20, 10:30am
Sts. Peter and Paul - April 27
St. Joe Bode - May 4, 8:00am
St. Cecelia's - May 4, 10:30am
Confirmation:
All Area Parishes - April 28, 6:30pm
Grandparents' Day has been scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2008. The morning will begin with mass at 8:35am with grades Prep - 8, followed by a reception in the Rochleau Center and a tour with grandchildren. There will be RSVP invitations coming home with students in April.
This coincides with Grandparents' Day at Bishop Garrigan H.S. which is scheduled to begin with lunch and a program from 11:15 - 1:00pm. Hope to see you there!
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS LIGHT THE WAY |
Invest in particular talents and interests shown by your child. Make sure he or she has the resources to bring a talent to its full potential, but be careful about pushing so far. Pursuing a very restricted range of activities can sometimes lead to burnout.
While children and teens have some ideas about what interests them, there are many things they haven't yet tried, and they are not yet ready to make clear decisions about what they will do for the rest of their lives. While you are nurturing your child's interest in a particular area, be sure to encourage him/her to engage in other activities as well.
Brainstorm with your children about ways to use their talents and interests to "give back" to others. It can sometimes take a little creativity, but talents are meant to be shared, so where there is strength, there is also an opportunity for giving.
The fifth grade students are beginning our unit on Iowa and its history. They will be hard at work discovering all about the great state we live in. Some of the topics we will be studying this year are prehistoric Iowa, waterways, natural resources, pioneer life, Iowa becoming a state, immigration, and recreational points of interest. We will be doing this with all kinds of interesting activities and lessons. Ask a fifth grader about what we are learning about Iowa!
- Kristie Hough
Over the past twenty years, video and computer games have become more fast-paced, realistic, and stimulating. These games have the same addictive potential as drugs, alcohol, and gambling. Studies by researches and family therapists have conformed this. Here are some tips on how to help your child avoid getting hooked:
Do not allow your child to have a computer in their room.
Allow them to play these games no more than 30 minutes a day.
If your child becomes sneaky, noncompliant, or defiant about this limit, remove this privilege.
Children birth to 6 years should spend no time playing these games, watching videos, or viewing television.
So called "educational" games, videos, and shows are no substitute for the real live learning activities, invoilving movement, problem solving, and human relationships.
The fifth annual Sixth Grade Math Bee, sponsored by the Prairie Lakes AEA 8, was held at the Pocahontas Elementary Gym on Saturday, March 15, 2008. The Seton team won second place honors and was awarded a trophy and medallions. Members of the Seton math team included Sabrina Book, Kara Eischen, Jake Hamilton, Brittany Kirsch, and Chris Loss. Mary Foth coaches the math team.
Twelve teams from eleven school districts participated in the competition. The contest consisted of five individual rounds and one group round. The six rounds tested the following concepts: Patterns and Fractions, Number Sense and Estimation, Ratio/Proportion/Percent, Geometry and Measurement, Probability and Statistics, and Problem Solving.
The State 6th Grade Math Contest will be held in Fort Dodge on May 9, 2008.
- Mary Foth
Kindergarten has been busy studying the letters of the alphabet and learning to read. We take home kindergarten readers that have the stories that have been covered in our reading class. We love to read to our families and hope they like to listen to us.
Learning to read at just the right speed, and using expression in our voices, are skills that we study and practice.
We are also practicing what to do if we come to a word that we don't recognize. We can look at the letters and sound them out, we can read to the end of the sentence, or we can use the pictures to help decode the word. If all these things don't work, then we are encouraged to ask an adult for help.
We are also getting excited about planning the school mass when it's our turn in April for Mrs. Lind's class and in May for Mrs. Hinshaw's class.
- Linda Lind
Our Lenten observances here at Seton included the three "pillars" of lent: fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.
Young people have been encouraged to fast from more than favorite food items: teachers have suggested fasting from excessive talking, unkind remarks, etc., as part of their work with students.
Prayer has been a regular part of each school day, along with Stations of the Cross in the church on Fridays.
Alms have been taken up at the two masses we participate in during Lent. Our Lenten almsgiving has provided $502.68, which was given to the local food pantry. Since much of this money has come from parents as well as students, we thank you on behalf of all who benefit from the services of the food pantry.
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