Adoration "Out of the mouth of babes..."

ADORATION

We have been preparing our hearts for Adoration and during this wonderful season of Advent the students decided that they were truly ready for the beauty and reverence that Adoration holds. We went to Adoration for the first time as a class after many months of preparation. Each student genuflected on both knees, had a seat, and took a few moments with Jesus. Some students prayed others listened but all together everyone felt the beauty and Grace of God.

After Adoration we came back to class and the students wrote a reflection on what they felt in Adoration. Each year I am truly touched with how close to God the students are. Here are some of the beautiful writing responses that I read.

"When I just go in I felt cold but a second later Jesus' love warmed me up to Heaven. I thanked him for everything I had and asked him to help me in school". -Jack

"I felt that Jesus and God and Mary were in my heart. I was praying to God and Mary and Jesus about Jesus dying for us and I was thanking Mary about her saying she would have Jesus. I was thanking God for making us." -Alexa

"I said I am thankful for my friends and the poor that have no money and no mom and dad and the people that have no food or houses." -Kennedy

"I felt like I was an angel of God. It was great! I was peaceful. I asked for forgiveness. It was beautiful!" -Clare

"I felt Jesus in my heart. I thanked Jesus for my family. I asked for help in school. I love you Jesus!" -Isaac

"I was thankful for all my friends. I need help for balance. It felt really good." -John

"I felt like God was in my heart. I felt like I was happy and he said good work." -Cecily

"Thank you for the world. It feels like I am with another person. It was so calm." -Thomas

"I was praying Hail Mary and Our Father. I felt so good. I asked him for help in math and I was praying for everyone in Heaven. I love Mary and Jesus and God and the Saints." -Alex

"I felt happy. I asked him to help me with my sins. I thanked him for this day and prayed the Rosary."

"He made everything ...thank you God for helping me. I felt happy." -Lauren

"I felt very happy. I prayed for the sick and the poor. I said the Hail Mary and the name of the Name of the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen" -Callahan

"In Adoration I prayed to Jesus." -Jacob

"I asked God for nobody to have sin. I felt shocked." -Thomas

"I felt warm and different. I thanked God for all of my friends. I asked God for help. I felt baby Jesus in my heart." -Reaghan

"I felt good. I thanked God for helping me. I loved the monstrance. Can you help my question?" -Dylan

"I felt loved, peace, hope, calm, good, great, Holy, and happy. I thanked for all my friends. I asked for help because I need help to not move." Joe

"I thanked Jesus for the earth. I want all mom and dads to never get sick or headaches. I felt like I was in Heaven. I love you so much Jesus." Mackenzie

December 2011

"Jesus is the reason for the season..."

We dove right into our wonderful season of Advent filled with the joy of waiting and preparing our hearts for Jesus.  Each day we add more good deeds to our Advent journal that we will put under the tree on Christmas Eve as our gift to Jesus.  Today's good deed was to spend the day without complaining... you never really know how difficult this is until you try to do without.  What a wonderful way to show God  much we appreciate the wonderful world God has created for us. 

This week in religion we learned that the Christmas tree reminds people of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden.  It also reminds people of the Cross upon which Jesus died to save us from sin.  We decorate the tree with symbols of Christmas to remind us of the story of Christmas. 

Today is the Feast Day of St. Nicholas.  We had a very special guest come into the classrooms today...ST. NICHOLAS!!  The students learned this week all about St. Nicholas (Santa Claus).  Ask your child who he is the patron saint of...?

The students had a great time taking turns acting out parts of a play this week!   We love plays and reading out loud...

TIMED math sprints

Our first graders are doing a great job with math computation.  Keep up the flash card practice at home!!

LITERACY LEARNING CENTERS

The creation station was enjoyed as students made shadow puppets and wrote a "how to". 

Using a globe, the students discussed where in the world it was night compared to where we live.  They wrote all about it!  Way to go super writers!

In spelling center the students practiced spelling boxes using the academic vocabulary (small, tall and descending letters). 

During word work center the students worked on syllables.  They pieced together words and counted the syllables.  They all recorded the answers on their worksheets. 

November 28th

"We wait as we prepare our hearts for Jesus..."

We started off the week with a wonderful blessing of the Advent Wreaths... what a lovely week to continue the prayers of thanks as we prepare our hearts and wait for the coming of Jesus...

We have begun to delve into Advent and learn the symbols, meanings, colors and wonderment of Advent. We made an advent chain to help us prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Each day we take a piece of the chain off and read it. Each chain link has something special that we can do to prepare our hearts. We are journaling about this experience. On the last day before Christmas break (Friday) we will wrap this journal up. This is our present to Jesus for his birthday. The students will open it up on Christmas day and together as a family you can read all the different ways that they have been preparing their hearts for this day! :) What a beautiful gift for Jesus!

I hope that everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving with your families...filled with laughter and memories to hold close to your heart. 

We had a beautiful Feast here in the first grade.  Thank you to everyone that donated food, attended our event, and prayed for our meal.  Here are some pictures from our blessed day celebrated between classmates, friends and family! 

A huge thank you to all of the grandparents who were able to come and share their love with us at school last week.  It was truly beautiful to see everyone share in Mass together. 

News from the Hack household...
Brayden was baptised this weekend.  Brayden's Godparents flew in to help us celebrate this blessed time in our lives.  I wanted to share a few photos with you...

Brayden practicing his prayers before his Baptism

Brayden looking at our Blessed Mother...

November 18th, 2011

"We are Thankful!"

This week in Mass Father asked us if we would choose a billion dollars or our life....?  The message was simple.  Our life is worth more then a billion dollars and we owe it to ourselves and God to live it to it's fullest as followers of Christ. 

This keeps coming up in our class discussions and what a wonderful message it was. 

Today we focused on being thankful for the wonderful things that God has created for us.  We will continue to focus on this theme through the next few months of wonderful holidays filled with Joy and wonder. 

The students made a Thankful Book today that they can share at dinner on Thanksgiving.  It is beautiful and the students had a wonderful time making it.  Many students shared their excitement by saying "This is the best day ever!"  They are very excited to share it!

  

This week in math we were working on non standard measurement.  The students explored measurement today by using cubes to measure things around the classroom with math buddies. 

Veterans Day

"A soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." G.K. Chesterton

May God Bless Our Veterans

Today we started off Veterans Day with a beautiful Flag Ceremony. We had Veterans come and lead us in prayer and speak with us about the importance of Veterans Day.

We made a special poster of prayers for our Veterans today. Today we send out our prayers to all those that have and continue to serve our country so that we may be free.

God Bless You All!

 

 

This week our Treasures Unit was all about friendship.  How fitting.  :)

The students of 1B show kindness and caring through their friendships each day.  I captured some moments of teamwork and acts of friendship throughout the week.  It is truly inspirational to teach a great group of students who show love through each act...each day...

 

Here is what the students answered when asked..."What is your favorite thing about your friends at Blessed Pope John XXIII School?"

"They are funny."  Alex

"They play with me and go to football on Wednesdays."  Thomas

"The agree with the things I like...like jump rope at recess." Joe

"The are fun to play with."  Cecily

"They are nice classmates."  Kennedy

"They are really funny to me."  Reaghan

"One is in my neighborhood, one is on my soccer team and one is really nice!"  Jack

" They help us."  Alexa

"They make me laugh a lot!" Dylan

"They are nice and kind."  Lauren

"We get to play together at recess."  Leiton

"I like the kids that go to aftercare because we do bubble tricks."  Mackenzie

"They like to play jump rope."  Callahan

"They play with me at recess."  Erick

]"We like flag football after school Wednesdays."  Jacob

"They support us."  Clare

"We play kickball."  John

"There really nice."  Isaac

"I like the kids at Bl PJXXIII because I don't have much time to play with neighborhood kids so BL PJXXIII are close to play with."  Isabella