October Blessings

Jr. high students are settling in and working hard as we move into this new month of October.
Right now it is Sunday evening. We have had a busy weekend... so will give just a quick update
Monday: Walking field trip to "the brick."
Tuesday: Magazine sales due
Wed/Thurs: Liturgy and Feast of St. Francis
Friday: 7/8 to Buffalo farm and Bayfield apple festival.

Spelling words:
Grade 6: poverty, peace, creatures, orphan, truth, myth, mission, author, nickname, maniac, BONUS: suspicious, bizarre, studious. Test and vocab. due on Friday.
Grade 7/8: beggar, poverty, channel, peace, instrument, pardon, console, sacred, vernacular, contrast, festival, odyssey, mosaic, hygiene, Fahrenheit, Celsius. Vocab. due Friday AM and test on Thursday.

May God bless our studies and fun together.

People of Prayer

Today after pledge and prayer, English 6 students arrived. We began with spelling review (test tomorrow and vocabulary due) and then finished reading an excerpt from Hatchet in our reading books. Students were given a true/false assignment on the story from workbook.

English 7/8 students completed short essay question test on "Neighbors." Spelling test and vocab. due tomorrow.

Non-choir members joined 1st grade to help new readers practice today.

U.S. History students will complete test on reconstruction today... and get ready for new unit on the transcontinental railroad system.

Please let us pray for any concerns you have. Our students are prayer warriors... and we begin each day acknowledging the presence of God in our classrooms and in our lives. We count it a privilege and great responsibility to be people of prayer.

Looking ahead: Don't forget magazine sales. Next week on Monday we will walk to the construction site of "the brick"- across from County Market. Next Friday (Oct. 5) Grades 7 and 8 will go to Bayfield to visit a buffalo farm and do lunch and sight-seeing in Bayfield. The Apple Festival will be taking place. Please volunteer to drive and share this fun day with our students.
We have our Wednesday school liturgy and then a special Mass for the Feast of St. Francis on Thursday. Keep us in your prayers too. Thanks.

Mission

Today Father Frank spoke to us about the mission that God has entrusted us with to tell others about Jesus. I was reminded of my family's mission call to serve in Pakistan for 10 years. And how so many times we had opportunities to tell about Jesus because people asked about our faith. I also thought of the many Catholic Schools in Pakistan and their reputation of offering the best education in the country. Yes, this mission call is for today also that we might be God's voice, hands and feet that our words and actions will speak on His behalf. Thank you for the partnership that we share in God's Kingdom work.


U.S. History students will look at a reconstruction political cartoon today... and also take notes to review for the reconstruction test tomorrow.

English 7/8 students had 35 minutes for silent reading today: a book of their choice.

World History 6 students will complete hunter/gatherer visuals to be presented on Friday. These students have demonstrated a strong commitment to good work in this unit.

Father Frank left us with a reminder that as a community of believers we are all missionaries. Be encouraged and be blessed in this invitation to "walk and talk" the good news of Jesus.

Super Celebration

English 6 started today with a reading from "Wayside School." We got so much into this crazy book that we each designed a personal-flavored ice cream just like the characters in the book. You have to hand it to 6th grader creative energy for thinking of turkey gravy and mashed potato ice cream... or how about the superman flavor.

Then we celebrated with Grade 7 and 8 the super belated happy birthday of Brother Thinh. Brother Thinh is a Franciscan intern who is active in our jr. high department. We hope that you have had the chance to meet him.
Thanks Brother Thinh for letting us celebrate with you. We also announced the winners of the guess the pumpkin weight contest.

Grades 7/8 finished the story "Neighbors" and wrote a journal write about what does a good neighbor look like. This story is an excellent example of caring for your neighbors' lives and property that all may be well with them.

Grades 7/8 will work on Freedom Quilt squares today. We may end the day with each student doing a personal ice cream flavor.

Please check with me often if you have concerns about the academic expectations. Grades 7/8 should be reading a book for a book report. Grade 6 students will get extra credit for an outside reading book they report on. Don't forget spelling and vocab. are due on Friday. Also please be sure your student is getting enough sleep. I already have had reports from students of only 1 to 3 hours a sleep at night. Students at this age are growing physical and cognitively; this growth spurt requires MORE sleep to stay healthy and perform well at school. Also we are doing some outdoor recesses so don't forget jackets, hats, etc.
We celebrate you. Have a good day!

Jesus is Coming- Look Busy

Already a new week today. Students were reminded that magazine orders for DOUBLE points are due tomorrow. We added Mrs. Anich to our prayer list today... and will be adding "the brick" (new ministry under construction).

English 6/7 and 8 were given pre-test and words for this week. Spelling test on Friday and vocabulary due.

World History hunter/gatherer presentations will be Friday. We had to push the due date ahead because of other conflicts. Students will have opportunities this week to finish up their visuals.

U.S. History 7/8 gave buffalo presentations. We had buffalo restaurants, gift shops, video games, diners, casinos, game reserves...etc. All of these businesses featured buffalo products. If you need a super-salemen team, please ask for Niccolo and Thomas. They could tell us about their products and put a smile on our faces... a sure recipe to sell products.

We made a quick trip to the Dollar store for decorations for tomorrow... surprise! A couple of students pointed out the bumper sticker: Jesus is coming - look busy! Sure some wisdom in that slogan. No one knows when Jesus is coming back, but we know He is coming. Let us keep busy about the work of His kingdom.

Have a great week.

Holy Chickens

Thank you Mr. Buvala for coming to our class on Friday to show the new baby chicks that had just arrived. These black pullets were cute and cuddly. And it was good to hear that they love to eat grasshoppers and lady bugs. Our landscape certainly is a habitat for this chicken feed. Yes, we see God's hand even in the holy creation of baby chicks.

We ended the week solid after some good work. Students completed the spelling tests, vocabulary sheets, and journals. U.S. History students are making Bison posters and World History students are doing hunter/gatherer visuals. This work will be celebrated this week.

The spelling words will become more relevant to our classroom learning and perhaps more difficult. Please help support your students to increase their vocabulary... and learn the tricks of good spelling.
6th grade words are: hungry, wreck, organize, fluent, compound, variety, exhale, inhale, steps, process + bonus: declarative, imperative, and exclamatory.
7/8 grade words are: transportation, transit, transform, transaction, transition, transcient, subway, submerge, subside, subdivide, substance, carpetbagger, buffalo, poll, boycott, literacy, clause, gender, segregation, quirk.

Hope you all had a chance to enjoy this beautiful weekend... and we welcome the opportunity to learn together this week.

p.s. What a great Packer game!! Go Packers.

Celebrate Family

Today we celebrated Grandparent's Day and we were reminded what a gift it is to have grandparents and be grandparents.

Thank you Father Henry for a wonderful Mass celebration of our families and thank you Nancy and Michael for hosting a social hour. I also want to say thanks to a well-mannered group of young men (Grades 7 and 8) who served refreshments during the social hour. Thank you everyone who came today to provide a reality check that we are attached to a large family of faith.

Yes, today I celebrated that I am a grandma to Sophie (age 2) in Seattle. I saw her twice this summer and I love what she is teaching about the beauty of life.

We also did school today. For U.S. History we will read the about impact of disappearing buffalo herds in the 1800's. During Silent Reading Time students will read a book of their choice and write a journal response about the book or their grandparents. Some of our students have recently lost their grandparents and these emotions are still very raw.

World History 6 students will work on hunter/gatherer visuals.

Don't forget the MAGAZINE SALES! Bargain prices that support our school. We join you in celebrating family today!

One Body

Our day began with announcements, pledge and prayer. We continue to refer to our prayer list and also share student' intentions.

English 6 students brainstormed on what they would bring in a survival kit to travel through the mountains to California if they traveled by car in mid-January. This led us into reading an excerpt from Hatchet in our reading book.
The second period was used for students to finish their short essays on "what I love to do in the summer..."

I read a funny story to English 8 students. This book Unbearable has some crazy stories; this one did not disappoint. The young man in this story hypnotized a chicken and his best friend. Ask your students.

For Character education 7/8 students will work with a partner to interpret facial expressions. We are trying to see how we often ready facial cues differently. Yes, we are "one body in Christ", but we also have our individual gifts.

U.S. History students will discuss the difficulties faced by African-Americans during the reconstruction period. If we have time, we will read a famous speech by Harriet Tubman: "Ain't I a woman?"

Don't forget...Mass tomorrow with a special invitation for grandparents. Please check that your student wears appropriate attire for church. Also the magazine sales are up and running. This is a big and needed fund-raiser for our school. And you have the opportunity to buy some great reading material.
Win-Win! Have a great day.

All Things Hold Together

Today we started with prayer and pledge remembering Molly E., Mr. Panasuk, Kevin Everett... and others.

For English 6, I read another chapter of The Wayside School stories. Students did a spelling pre-test and new words and vocabulary assignment were given. These are due Friday. Brother Thinh did a hands-on puzzle with the students to demonstrate the power of "collaboration" - listening, paying attention, and working together. I was reminded of that verse in Colossians 1: 17: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Jesus wants us to be listening, paying attention and working with Him for His kingdom. (vocab. words on yesterday's blog)

English 7/8 students also did the pre-test. See yesterday's blog for words. They also participated in Brother Thinh's puzzle--a great hands on experience with collaboration.

World History 6 students are working on hunter/gatherer visuals. The thinking wheels and teamwork skills are in motion. We will spend a few more days before group presentations. Ask your students about this assignment.

Yes... it is magazine sales time. And even bigger and better before with internet opportunities to sell magazines. Please support this fund raiser for our school. We need the funds and it is also an opportunity for your students to practice "business" world skills. This Friday students may turn in "address book" for prizes. Any sales turned in by next Tuesday are eligible for double points. Our school as a record of high sales.... Many of us wait for this sale to buy our magazines!

We are off to a good start for this week. Hope this is true for you!

Our Forever Faithful Friend

Thank you students and parents for good work last week as we tuned our lives to school and the busy demands of the school year. On Friday Grades 7/8 walked to Vaughn Library. Students will be held accountable for a book read outside of class each quarter. Reading is a good opportunity for conversation with students.

Most junior high students completed vocabulary and spelling for last week. Students were tested on the words Friday and most did well; some students practiced during the week (a good learning strategy) and arrived prepared on Friday to show their learning.

For History 6 students formed bands (tribes) and are planning a visual to show how they hunt and gather food during the summer and the winter. These early humans were migratory as they followed the food and water supply.

U.S. History students discussed the reconstruction period after the Civil War and discovered that "rebuilding" is complicated. Many people involved in this initiative had different agendas. Somehow this sounds close to the complexity of the rebuilding of Iraq. Truly history has lessons that are relevant for today.

For next week the vocabulary words are:
Grade 6: accuracy, shelter, clothing, food, wilderness, survival, courage, hatchet, problem, solution +BONUS WORDS: criteria, collaborate, responsibility. Refer to the spelling sheets for assignment regarding these words. Spelling test will be Friday.

Grades 7/8: pathology, pathological, syndicate, synonym, syndrome, symptom, symmetrical, disease, genetic, genealogy, etymology, economy, situation, environment, tolerance, grace, aptitude, stole, alb, chasuble. Refer to voc. sheet for instructions.
Pre-tests will be given Monday. Vocab. assignment is due Friday.

Thank you for you and your precious children as we teach and learn together. Most of all, we long for growth in our love for each other and love for God. He is our Forever faithful Friend. May God continue to bless and keep you, your children, and all those you love.
Gratefully, Mrs. Ellis

Clothe our lives...

Good to be back after an unexpected day off due to the water main break.
We started the day with pledge and prayer including special prayer for earthquake victims in Asia.

English 6 students went over spelling words and were given a spelling-word search for extra credit. Vocabulary work and spelling test TOMORROW.

Grades 4 and 8 hosted Liturgy. Father Frank taught us today to clothe our lives with patience, humility, kindness, love... He gave us examples and also taught us about the garments he wears: the stole, alb, and chasuble.

Grades 7/8 wrote a journal response to today's homily or worship experience. Many students wrote thoughtful responses. One said: Love to me is caring for someone with all your heart, and giving help whenever possible to them, and encouraging them to succeed at whatever they do or want. Wow... these are your OLL scholars. Father Frank reminds us often that we are a bright and smart group.... humble too, right?

English 7/8 practiced spelling words for test and vocabulary due tomorrow.In U.S. History we will be looking at the post-Civil war reconstruction period... what helped or hindered this process?

Thanks everyone for "going with the lack of flowing water" problem yesterday. We are back... and we are grateful.

Remembering...9/11

We started today with pledge and special prayers for 9/11 victims and families. We also included prayers for the people on our in-class prayer list. We must remember this event and pass this story on.... the lessons are good for all times.

Grade 6 English began with me reading a chapter from "The Wayside Stories" book.... crazy school! I then gave examples and modelled how to write definitions on the spelling words. This class has been good to come and ask questions for help and clarification. Thanks.
We then read a "senses" poem about summer and students filled out a format plan on a favorite summer activity. This plan includes how our senses are triggered in this activity and what descriptive words help us to see our summer experience. This plan is due Thursday. I am MORE than happy to help students before school, during study hall time, etc. Please come and talk to me for support and affirmation. Parents, please keep talking to students about what they are doing in school. I appreciate all the good vocabulary words and sentences that you shared with us last week.

In Grade 7/8 English I read a short article about a 9/11 clean-up worker who found a steel cross in the midst of the rubble. We talked about how Jesus died on the cross amidst human rubble and debris. And how God was present when the WTC and other buildings were bombed.

We then shifted to a blended English and U.S. History as students are working in groups to "reconstruct" a home/building/mall or city was destroyed. We will be using this to discuss the hard work and planning that supports a good reconstruction project. This fits into the 9/11 reconstruction, Iraqi War reconstruction, and the reconstruction of the north and south after the Civil War. History has a way of repeating itself.

Thank you parents for sharing the wonderful meal and classroom time to talk with all of us. We are grateful to be with your students and share this learning partnership with all of you.

Praying Together

We start our day with announcements and praying together. This is an opportunity for students to share their prayers concerns and also our class concerns. Please use the enthusiasm of our young prayer warriors to share your prayer concerns.

English 6 students started the day with sharing the "3 words and sentences" they recorded from their parents. Great words parents! Great work students! Then I read a chapter from Wayside Stories from Sideways School... crazy school stories. After that students were introduced to the 10 plus 3 bonus spelling words for this week. They were given the words, a green guide-sheet, and time in class to begin this assignment that is due Friday. Please support your students in this good work. The words are: senses, taste, touch, smell, sound, sight, paragraph, indent, sentence, capital + determination, punctuation, and emphasis. The instructions are with the green sheet. They usually include writing each word 5x, defining each word, and using some of the words in good sentences. The worksheet and spelling test are due Friday.

English 7/8 students started the day with a spelling pre-test. Scores indicate that all students will take the test on Friday. The 20 words are a combination from the spelling text and words used in class. The words are: commit, commission, emit, emission, intercede, intercession, recede, recession, succeed, succession, provoke, provocation, partnership, humlity, reconstruction, strategy, fiction, nonfiction, respect, and ethics. The instructions are with the "yellow" worksheet. These instructions usually include writing each word 5x, defining some of the words, using some of the words in sentences, etc. The vocabulary worksheet and spelling test are due Friday BEFORE noon... or points are deducted for late work. Students had time to begin this assignment in class. Also we read and discussed the short story: "Lather and Nothing Else." Great discussion and insights.

For U.S. History, 7/8 graders worked on "I hear America in 2007... " poems. No more class time will be given; this assignment is due tomorrow.

For World History 6, we read about hunters and gatherers.

Here we are already into the second week of this school year. We are up and running. Hope you can join us tonight for FAMILY night. If you are unable to come, please schedule an appointment with me and we can discuss jr. high expectations this year. Thanks for your ongoing support.
FYI: Grades 4 and 8 will lead the Liturgy this Wednesday.

Lift up Mine Eyes

Today we read Psalm 121 and discussed how our God is a 24 x 7 God, 7 days a weeks, never slumbers or sleeps, blesses our coming and going... and is with us for eternity. It is hard for us to imagine eternity. In fact, a couple of students asked if eternity might be boring as it would be too perfect. Here is faith again... to believe that eternity will be more and better than we can imagine for God always has our best interest at heart.

Then we were off to Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield for the "Wild, Woods, and Water" one-hour show for students. We joined students from many area schools and were entertained with outstanding music and beautiful snapshots of God's Wisconsin creation. After the show, we went to the beach for lunch and a wade in the water. Thank you drivers, chaperones, entertainers... and everyone for making our field trip fun.

We got back in time for 7/8 graders to get their US History textbooks. We scanned the first 500 pages to create an American timeline... and then we will begin our studies after the Civil War.

Don't forget tomorrow due: 7/8 graders signed manners sheets and 3 words and sentences your parents think we should know before the end of the school year. Besides the discussion of words, this assignment is meant to stimulate student-parent conversation about expectations and spelling. Enjoy.

6 grade: Your manners sheet and 3 words are due on Monday. Also Monday evening is Parent's Night. Please plan to join us. We are here for you and your students.

Holy Living

The second day of this school year is already history. We are off to a good start and inspite of the warm temps, students are on task and sharpening their learning skills.

Tomorrow we are attending the Big Top show in Bayfield. Please have your student dress appropriately for a field trip and send along a pack-lunch. We will leave OLL at 9:15 and will be back after a picnic lunch. Thank you for drivers who have volunteered.

FYI:

Parents is grades 7/8 please review this sheet with your student as he/she needs to turn in manners sheet and 3 spelling words on Friday for points. Also students need to turn in cards/letters to welcome Brother Thinh to our church and school. Yesterday students wrote a journal entry on "why I like OLL."

Parents of Grade 6 please read the manners sheet and spelling words; we want your input on this first assignment. This sheet is due Monday for points.

Students are completing "holy" stained-glass windows to display the attributes of holy living. Students also made stars to help us remember that we are an extension of God's covenant promise to Abraham that his "descendants will be as numerous as the stars."

Yes we are part of a faith family that goes way back. Father Henry's homily invited us to see this timeline as students held signs of various pioneers in our faith.

Thank you parents for a good start to this school year. We are grateful to partner with you as learners and teachers. Blessings.... Mrs. Ellis

p.s. Call me if you have any concerns or need clarification. Don't forget Parent's Night next Monday night.

You Are Invited

Dear OLL Students and Families,
In less than 48 hours we will come together again at OLL for another school year. I am already praying for you as we say "yes" to God's invitation to grow in faith and academics together.
I have had a good summer and I hope the same is true for you. Blessings as you load up the backpack, release the leisure pace of summer, and set the alarm clock for "school." I look forward to seeing each one of you and sharing this school year together.
With love and prayer, Mrs. Ellis