Dear Third Grade Parents,

I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving Break spending time with family and friends.  I know I sure did.  I am now looking forward to this special time of Advent as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Jesus.  This has always been a favorite time of year for me.  I cannot wait to share it with my third graders.

Please be sure to check this week's Curriculum Update to see all that we will be up to.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Curriculum Update for the Week of December 1, 2014:

Religion:  Advent introduction- preparing for the Son of God; Saints of Advent- Lucy, Nicholas and Mary; Begin chapter 10:  Jesus teaches his followers how to pray; praying by ourselves and with others;

Math:  Add and subtract time; Solve word problems involving time; Read and create pictographs; Read and create bar graphs with multi-digit numbers

Reading:  Continue in guided reading groups- Chasing Vermeer, The Courage of Sarah Noble, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Stone Fox

Social Studies:  Begin Chapter 4:  A changing way of life for Native Americans; Preserving the culture; Indian Island

Science:  Begin Chapter 5:  What is an ecosystem?;  Places for living things; Parts of an ecosystem; How living things get energy; food chains;

Language Arts:  Spelling unit 11;  Spelling Test on Friday;  Begin Advent writing piece- "How My Family Prepares for Jesus' Birthday

Music:  Continue to practice for Christmas pageant;  Practice recorders and learn new songs

Art:  Continue to work on self-portraits


This week should be a quiet week.  Tomorrow the third graders will be receiving the Sacrament of Penance.  We will be reviewing the steps of penance so each student feels prepared for this special sacrament.  Also, don't forget, this Friday is the first Friday of the month and there will be an all-school mass on Friday at 11:15.  Please feel free to come and join us as we celebrate the mass together as a school community!

Have a wonderful week.  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