Merry Christmas!!!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!  Time certainly does fly when you are having fun!  This past week has been  quite memorable.  It began with a spectacular presentation on Christmas in Sweden from our very own Mama Ann.  She read us a story about Christmas in Sweden and showed us how celebrations light up in Sweden.  It was an experience we won't soon forget!

The fun continued on Tuesday when the Third Grade Class went to see the Old Globe's Production of Dr. Suess' "How The Grinch Stole Christmas".   What an amazing experience!  Thank you, Parents!  This was an outstanding field trip and I know the class thoroughly enjoyed the play.  We all left singing and ended our Grinchy experience with treats from the Steele Family and a little story hour from Mrs.  FitzCluster.

Tuesday's excitement ended with an amazing author visit from "Fuddles" creator, author and illustrator, Mr. Franz Fischer.  The entire Junior Yard listened to Mr. Fischer read one of his stories and to his process of creating a short story and the inspiration behind his work.  It was a great time had by all!

Holy cow, what a busy week!  It was a great week of fun that ended with smiles all around.  

This coming week is promising to be just as busy as the Third Grade class prepares for their contribution to this year's SMA Christmas Pageant.  Be sure to attend Tuesday night's performance for a great holiday show with plenty of laughter and singing.  

Wednesday is our last day of school and this year the Junior Yard is throwing one big Christmas party with a Polar Express theme.  I can hardly wait to watch this new holiday classic with my fabulous Third Grade Class.  It should be fun as the students are able to attend school wearing their cozy, winter pajamas, sip on hot cocoa and munch on yummy popcorn while watching a movie.  Yes, it sounds good to me!

With so much activity this week, a consistent schedule is hard to plan for.  Therefore, I will not be posting a Curriculum Update, but please know, the class and I will be working hard as we study Religion, Math and Reading each day.  Thank you for your understanding!

Lastly, I wish to thank all of  you for your generosity in helping me to celebrate my birthday this year.  What amazing treats to add sparkle and shine to my daily outfits.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!  My absolute favorite gift was the heartfelt wishes expressed in the birthday card from all of you.  In all of my years of teaching, (this is year 17- yikes!) I have never received a card that has meant so much to me.  I feel so blessed.  Thank you, again.  You made my day!!!!!

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.  May the love and the spirit of the season be with you and your loved ones as we celebrate the birth of our Jesus.  Take care and God bless!!!!

Merrily Yours,

Ms. Eileen Griffin

Your Third Grade Teacher

P.S.  Thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn

Who Likes Christmas? We Like Christmas!!!!

Dear Third Grade Parents,

Can you believe it?!?  Our field trip week has arrived at last!!!  This Tuesday the third grade class will take a trip to Whoville and revisit the tale of Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!  I can hardly wait to see the reactions of our class.  They are going to love it!  Thank you, parents for making this happen.  You have truly given your child a real holiday treat they won't soon forget.

In addition to our field trip on Tuesday, Stella Maris Academy will also play host to author Frans Vischer.  The class has been studying his Mr. Fuddles books in our school library with Mrs. Caughey.   A flyer was sent home last week with book purchasing information.   Please refer to the flyer for ordering information if you are interested in purchasing a book to have autographed by Mr. Vischer.  An autographed book always makes a great gift.  This author event will take place Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 P.M. in The Gathering Hall.

As I am sure you can imagine, the Christmas spirit has taken hold of the third grade class schedule and much of what I had hoped to accomplish last week has been pushed back to this week.  Please excuse the repetition, but know your third graders are still working hard to become the best third grade class they can possibly be.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Curriculum Update for the Week of December 9, 2013:

Religion:  Advent Penance Service for grades 3-5 on Monday morning;  Please review prayers; Continue chapter 8- The Marks of the Church; The Popes, Bishops are the successors of the Apostles

Reading:  Continue to read and discuss the novel, Who Is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas?;  Complete comprehension activities

Math:  Reading and using graphs with multi digit numbers; Using graphs to solve time and measurement problems;  Using graphs to represent and organize data

English/Language Arts:  Continue contractions as verbs;  Writing:  "How Can I Be A Hero?";  Spelling test on Friday

Social Studies:  Continue unit of Christmas Around the World:  Sweden, Germany and Mexico

***** A BIG thank you to Mr. Goldman for coming in and talking with the class about the holiday and traditions of Chanukah.  The class had a fantastic time listening to a story about the history and traditions of Chanukah.  We were even given the opportunity to play the dreidel game!  Thank you, Mr. Goldman!!!!

Science:  Continue to study the parts of a plant and how they grow and develop

Art Literacy:  Continue to study and write about the art work of Grandma Moses

*****  Another BIG thank you to Mrs. Daly for coming in each month to present some fantastic art work to our eager third graders.  The projects and presentations are always so much fun. Thank you, Mrs. Daly!!!!!  We appreciate all of the time you so willingly give us.

Well, I hope all of you had a fantastic weekend and enjoyed some indoor family time on Saturday as we all tried to stay dry during our BIG winter rain storm.  Enjoy the rest of  your Sunday evening!

One last thing,  be sure to come by the third grade classroom to see our class Christmas tree.  Thanks to Mrs. Goldman, the students were able to create their own Christmas ornaments to help decorate our tree.  It looks fantastic.  Thank you Mrs. Goldman!!!

Last, but certainly not least, have a fantastic week and thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy an amazing place to learn. Take care and God bless!

Sincerely,
Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas...

Dear Third Grade Parents,

This really is the most wonderful time of the year!  I love the preparation and anticipation leading up to the celebration of Jesus' birth.  It really is a gift I am happy to share with my students as we count down the days of the Advent season.  It truly is a time of miracles in faith.

As the third graders and I move forward with our academic lessons, I am expecting our fair share of holiday interruptions.  Please bare with us as we do our absolute best to cover all of the topics listed in this week's Curriculum Update.  Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Curriculum Update for the Week of December 2, 2013:

Religion:  Begin Chapter 8- The Marks of the Church; Jesus chooses the Apostles to lead the Church;  Various Advent activities

Math:  Read and Create pictographs and bar graphs;  Read and create bar graphs with multi-digit numbers; Use graphs to solve time and measurement problems;  Focus on mathematical practices

Reading:  Whole group novel study of Who is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas? - Read discuss chapters 1-11 and complete comprehension activities

Social Studies:  Begin unit on Christmas around the World, beginning with Israel, India, and Sweden

Science:  Continue Chapter 3- plants and how they use leaves to make food;  How plants use roots and stems to grow

Language Arts/Vocabulary Workshop:  Begin unit 3 of Vocabulary Workshop- Completing the sentence and matching the meaning;  Grammar- contractions and contractions as verbs;  Spelling test this Friday


I am looking forward to the next two and half weeks as the third graders and I  prepare for the Christmas holiday. It's such a magical time of fun and innocence.  I love it!

Please be on the look out for the Old Globe field trip permission slips.  They will be handed out tomorrow.

Have a fantastic week.  Thank you for all you do to make Stella Maris Academy a fantastic place to learn!  Take care and God bless.

Sincerely,

Ms. Eileen Griffin
Your Third Grade Teacher