Mrs. Manuel’s Musings
February 2-February 6 Classroom News Each student has chosen a United States president to research and write about. They have been working very hard. Throughout the month of February, we will study more about the presidency. Our collage book reports are due this Friday, February 6. After they turn them in, they will present them to the class, and I will record this presentation on the iPad. Our science projects are coming along well. I know that you are looking forward to seeing them in the Student Showcase on Tuesday, February 10. Our Valentine’s Party will be on February 13 at 11:15 AM. I will send home a sheet with everyone’s name on it so that your child can get his/her valentines ready, but please do not send them to school until Friday, Feb. 13. This week we will have a spelling test over words that have the prefixes mis-, pre-, and dis- and a Wordly Wise test over unit 8. Save The Date Student Showcase: Tuesday, February 10, 6:00-7:000 PM, Parish Hall Father and Daughter Dance: Friday, February 13, 6:30-8:30 PM, Parish Hall February’s Events Attachments/Quick Links for Elementary School School Data: Teacher Webpages/Quick Links EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING Feb 4 Chapel Cross: Hailey Feb 6 Collage Book Report due Feb 10 Student Showcase, 6-7 PM, PS-Gr 8, PH Feb 11 PA Meeting, 9 AM Chapel Cross: Tyler Feb 12 Basketball Feb 13 Class Valentine Party 11:15 Early dismissal, Elem/MS 12 noon Teacher In-service Father/Daughter Dance, K-6, 6:30-8:30 PM, Parish Hall Feb 16 School Closed--Presidents’ Day Feb 17 School resumes Feb 18 Ash Wednesday Service at noon Cross: Trevor Feb 20 Jumprope for Heart, PS/Elem Feb 23 Jumprope for Heart, PS/Elem Feb. 25 Chapel Cross: Savannah Feb 25 and 26 Class Pictures, Specific day for classes to be assigned. Classroom News I hope everyone had a great holiday. Third grade has started the New Year by writing everything in cursive. Some of our students are very glad and some are not so glad. They should be doing all their work (except math) in cursive, including homework. For some, this may mean that it takes them a little longer. In addition to our spelling test, there will be a reading comprehension and vocabulary test over the story “Martina the Beautiful Cockroach”. We are finishing our science unit on animal growth and adaptations. The class will complete a study guide this week and the test will be on Monday, January 12. One of our writing projects this month is a research report on the life of a president. We will be working on this in class. A special homework project for the month of January into February is a Classic Book Report. Each student will choose a classic book to read and then will make a collage to show the main characters, setting and the main idea of the book. There will also be a written summary. The students will choose from the classic books that we have in the classroom and school library. Instructions will be coming home with your child. The book report will be due on Friday, February 6.
Field Trip Our next field trip will be on Thursday, February 19. The third and fourth grades will being going to Goucher College to see a play about Harriet Tubman. More details will be coming home later in the month. Elementary School Information Attachments/Quick Links for Elementary School School Data: Teacher Webpages/Quick Links EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING SIGN UP: To receive a text message in the event of inclement weather, a power outage, or other unforeseen emergency, parents need to fill out a new form EACH YEAR. Return the form by Nov 3 to the Business Office ([email protected]) via email attachment or print and return it to the school office. Jan 7 Re-enrollment forms go home Jan 8 4 pm G vs Rockbridge Basketball Game 5 pm BA vs Rockbridge Basketball Game 3:30-5:00 pm BB Practice-Blacktop Jan 12 3:30-5:00 pm BB Practice-Blacktop 4:00 pm G vs Calverton Basketball Game 5:00 pm BA vs School of Incarnation Basketball Game Jan 14 9 am PA Meeting Jan 15 3:30-5:00 pm G Practice 4:00 pm BB @ Summit School 5:00 pm BA @ Summit School Jan 19 School Closed-Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Jan 22 9-12 Winter Open House 4:00 pm BA vs St. Andrew’s 4:15 pm G @ Holy Trinity 5:00 pm BB vs St. Andrew’s Jan 26 School Closed Teacher In-Service, Preschool conferences Jan 27 School in session K-8 regular schedule Mustang K-8 ONLY Re-enrollment forms due Jan 28 Parishioner registration Jan 29 Alumni Registration 4 pm G @ St. Anne’s 4 pm BA vs St. Anne’s 5 pm BB vs St. Anne’s Jan 30 General Registration All School Assembly, 9:30 am Spaghetti Dinner, 5-7:30 pm Mrs. Manuel’s Musings
December 6-December 19 CLASSROOM NEWS There is a lot going on at St. Martins-in-the-Field between now and Christmas break. In our class we are reading the novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and we will be doing some Christmas activities to go along with the theme of the book--Christmas. There will still be some homework, but, as a Christmas present, there will be no homework the week before the break. We will not have a spelling unit or Wordly Wise unit between now and Christmas. Homework will consist of Math and Reading. Our third and fourth grade Christmas Party will be on Thursday, December 18, from 2:15 to 3:15. I hope that everyone will have a wonderful Christmas Season. It is definitely my favorite part of the year. THIRD AND FOURTH GRADE FIELD TRIP On Thursday, November, 11, it is third and fourth grade’s turn to shake the oyster spats. We will be leaving school around 8:40 and we should return by 10:00. DRESS FOR THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Girls are to wear their Sunday best (no heels because they will be on risers) and boys are to wear navy pants, white dress shirt, tie, belt and dress shoes. ELEMENTARY INFORMATION Attachments/Quick Links for Elementary School Data: Teacher Webpages/Quick Links EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING ST. MARTIN’S CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS: All proceeds from the sale of this ornament, designed by 8th grader Steven Shin, will benefit the Music Boosters at St. Martin’s. It will help to fund the trip to Music in the Parks in Pennsylvania, where St. Martin’s Chorus and Band will perform. WALK THE WALK FOUNDATION: K-4th grade students are contributing presents for underprivileged children. Needed are brand new board games, toys, or books for elementary age children, or some fun accessories for teens (i.e. hair items, makeup, ear buds etc.) The students of St. Martin’s will wrap all the presents on Monday, December 8. EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING SIGN UP: To receive a text message in the event of inclement weather, a power outage, or other unforeseen emergency, parents need to fill out a new form EACH YEAR. Return the form by Nov. 3 to the Business Office ([email protected]) via email attachment or print and return it to the school office. DECEMBER’S IMPORTANT DATES Dec. 8 BB Basketball vs Calverton, 4 pm at the Community Center Dec. 8 BA Basketball vs Calverton, 4 pm at the Community Center Dec. 8 Wrap presents for Walk to Walk Christmas Outreach Dec. 10 9:30 am/1:30 pm Chapel Dec. 10 PA Meeting in the Art Room Dec. 11 Girls Basketball vs St. Andrew’s at the Community Center Dec. 12 All School Assembly, 9:30 am Dec. 15 Girls Basketball vs Key School, 4 pm at the Community Center Dec. 15 BB Basketball at Holy Trinity, 4:15 pm Dec. 15 BA Basketball vs Key School, 5 pm at the Community Center Dec. 17 NO CHAPEL Dec. 18 Third and Fourth Grade Christmas Party 2:15-3:15 Dec. 18 1st-8th grade Christmas Program at 6:00-7:00 pm in the Sanctuary Dec. 19 10:45 am Lesson & Carols grades 1-8 Dec. 19 Early dismissal – 12 pm- NO MUSTANG CLUB Mrs. Manuel’s Musings Nov. 24-28
CLASSROOM NEWS This is a fun week getting ready for Thanksgiving. On Monday morning, 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th grades will meet in the Parish Hall to make mashed potatoes and applesauce. The students will help peel the potatoes and apples, and then after everything is cooked, they will help mash. We will also make the table favors while we are with our middle school buddies. There will be no homework this week. Attachments/Quick Links for Elementary School School Data: Teacher Webpages/Quick Links LEDO PIZZA FUNRAISER SQUARE 1* ART EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING FRANKLIN’S TOY STORE FUNDRAISER LEDO PIZZA FUNDRAISER: Dec. 1, Millersville location, all day. Take your family and friends to lunch or dinner. A percentage of your bill will be donated back to St. Martin’s. See the flyer in Quick Links and on the webpage. HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Saturday, December 6, 9 am-2:30 pm – St. Martin’s Parish Hall and Heck Hall. FRANKLIN’ TOY STORE FUNDRAISER: Purchase toys in the store or on the website (www.frankinstoystore.com) for 10% savings for you and 10% for our school. See the flyer on the website. SQUARE 1* ART: There is still time to order Square 1* Art by using the online order form only. See Quick Links. EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING SIGN UP: To receive a text message in the event of inclement weather, a power outage, or other unforeseen emergency, parents need to fill out a new form EACH YEAR. Return the form by Nov. 3 to the Business Office ([email protected]) via email attachment or print and return it to the school office. WEEK AT A GLANCE Nov. 17-25 Franklin Toy Store Fundraiser Nov. 25 K-8 Thanksgiving Feast Nov. 25 Early Dismissal: 12:00 noon. No Mustang Club Nov. 26-28 Thanksgiving vacation Mrs. Manuel’s Musings Nov. 17-21
CLASSROOM NEWS We have finished unit four in Math. We will spend Monday reviewing and take the test on Tuesday. We have started learning our multiplication facts, and will continue to work on learning them throughout the year. Please help your child learn his/her facts. The next unit is about place value in whole numbers and decimals. We will finish reading Sarah, Plain and Tall this week. There will be a comprehension test on the book on Thursday. THANKSGIVING FEAST The third, fourth, sixth, and seventh grade classes are responsible for making mashed potatoes and apple sauce for the Thanksgiving Feast. We will be peeling potatoes and apples on Monday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. Your child will need a potato peeler. Also, if anyone has an apple peeler that we could use, please let me know. Any parent who would like to volunteer to help will be welcome. FRANKLIN’S TOY STORE FUNDRAISER: Purchase toys in the store or on the website(www.frankinstoystore.com) for 10% savings for you and 10% for our school. See the flyer on the website. SQUARE 1* ART: There is still time to order Square 1* Art by using the online order form only. See Quick Links. EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING SIGN UP: To receive a text message in the event of inclement weather, a power outage, or other unforeseen emergency, parents need to fill out a new form EACH YEAR. Return the form to the Business Office ([email protected]) via email attachment or print and return it to the school office. PA PAGE ON THE WEBSITE: Parents can go to our website for information, flyers and forms for Parent Association fundraisers (www.stmartinsmd.org) . Click on Student Life- PA- PA Fundraising. The Week In a Glance Nov. 17-25 Franklin’s Toy Store Fundraiser Nov. 18 Unit 4 math test Nov. 20 Sarah, Plain and Tall comprehension test Nov. 21 Spelling and Grammar assessment Mrs. Manuel’s Musings Nov. 10-Nov. 16
Classroom News We have started reading Sarah, Plain and Tall. We will be doing several activities to enhance the reading of this novel. Last week we started writing a news story. The deadline for this news story is Friday, Nov. 14. In Science Lab this week, we made a mini-landfill and put into it some of our trash from lunch. We will observe it until school is out to see which materials will decompose the fastest. There will be a science quiz on vertebrates on Tuesday, Nov. 11. We will finish unit 5 in Wordly Wise and take a test on Friday. Square One Art If you are interested in ordering Square One Art, please have your order returned to school by Tuesday, Nov. 11. All School Assembly There will be an all school assembly on Friday, Nov. 14. It will be led by the eighth grade. Parents are welcome. The Week in a Glance Nov. 11 Science Quiz on vertebrates Nov. 12 PA meeting at 9:00 a.m. Nov. 14 All School Assembly Spelling Test Wordly Wise Test Grammar Assessment End of 1st trimester Mrs. Manuel’s Musings
November 1-November 7 Classroom News We enjoyed our Halloween holiday. We had a good time at the parade and the Middle School Carnival Our snack was really delicious and very “Halloweeny.” A big thank you to the eighth graders who put together the carnival and to the third and fourth grade parents who made our wonderful snack. It is hard to believe that it is already November and time to be thinking about Thanksgiving. This week in class we will begin reading our first novel, Sarah, Plain and Tall. As part of our writing activities we will do a news story. Holiday Sharing There is an All School Chapel this Wednesday. It will start at 9:15 am instead of 8:35. Parents are welcome. We are asking that each student bring nonperishable foods (canned goods) to chapel. These items will be put in Thanksgiving baskets for those less fortunate. The Week in a Glance Nov. 3 MS. Pumpkin Chunkin’, 2:30-3:30 pm. The whole school is invited to see the Middle Schoolers and the catapults they have created to propel their pumpkins. Nov. 5 All School Chapel and Holiday Sharing – 9:15 am Nov. 7 Spelling test and Grammar Assessment Classroom News
We will complete Unit 3 in math this week. The unit is about measuring length in U.S. Customary units and metric units. We also reviewed perimeter and area. Beginning this week, we will have twenty spelling words instead of fifteen. . On Tuesday, everyone who signs up will stay after school and build scarecrows. A form has already been sent home with your child. Your child will need old child-sized long pants and a long-sleeved shirt for the body and an old plain pillow case for the head. I hope everyone will be able to stay and participate. Friday will be a fun day, but we will still need to take a spelling test and a Wordly Wise test. Halloween On Friday, your child can come to school in his/her costume. However, if he/she cannot do school work in this costume, please send a bag so he/she can change out of his/her costume. Friday will be a Dress Down Day. Our Halloween parade will begin at 9:00. Parents are invited to attend to watch the parade and listen to Halloween songs performed by St. Martin’s students. We will have a Halloween snack at 10:30 and then visit the Halloween Carnival hosted by the Middle School. We will be dismissed at noon. The Week at a Glance Oct. 28 Fall Open House, 9:00am.-12:00pm and 5:00pm-7:00pm Elementary afterschool activity--scarecrow building 3:15pm-4:30pm Oct. 29 Unit 3 math assessment Make up day for school pictures Homestead Gardens order forms are due Oct. 31 Spelling and Wordly Wise Tests Halloween Parade, Snack and Carnival Noon Dismissal for Teacher In-service Mustang Club available As you know, this last week only had three days, so we did not finish our lesson five in reading. We will do that this week, but we have already done the spelling lesson that accompanies week five. Therefore, this week our spelling words will be the days of the week and the months of the year. Everyone will have the same words. There are only fifteen Wordly Wise lessons, so I have decided that we will take two weeks to complete each lesson which allows us to work more with the words. This will also enable us to alternate the Wordly Wise tests with the reading comprehension tests.
I enjoyed meeting with each of you this last Friday. I love working with your children. They are each of them very special. Thank you for the privilege of being their teacher. Artist in Residence This week on Tuesday and Wednesday, our school has the privilege of welcoming artist Lisa Egeli. She will be speaking with all of our students in an assembly on Tuesday, and then each grade will have two classes taught by Ms. Egeli. The Week in a Glance Oct. 21 Artist in Residence Assembly and first class Soccer game away at Indian Creek 4:00 pm Oct. 22 Second Artist in Residence class Chapel Oct. 23 Soccer game at home vs. Rockbridge 4:00 pm |