Abundant Life

Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). This week we will be talking about what does an "abundant" life look like. As we consider pro-life issues and speaking up for those who have no voice. We will also talk about the growing food crisis in the world with the rising cost of wheat and rice. As God's people, we are His solution to providing for those who are starving and suffering. May we be abundant with our generosity and care for others. Thursday we have a chance to practice one way of reaching out to others when our students will join Christians for the National Day of prayer gathering at Our Lady of the Lake. That we may pray for personal needs, needs of the community, needs of the nation, and needs of the world. Let us not grow weary of doing God's work in His world.

Grade 6 spelling words this week: design, capture, audience, echoes, encourage, attractive, essential, national, prayer, public, conversation, fragile: Bonus ecumenical, legible, boycott. In History we will do a one-day study on the Olympics in China and then begin a new unit on Ancient Rome. Students will also work on book report markers.

Grade 7/8 spelling words this week: tsunami, hunger, security, hoard, access, fuel, frustration, poverty, grain, economy, humanitarian, nationa, prayer, conversation, ecumenical, presence, dedication, attributes, appreciation, sacred. We will be working on an article about world hunger... and also the poems that we will read together at Black Cat on Thursday ((:15 to 10:15 a.m.) Please join us.

Be strong students and parents; we are on our last quarter for this school year. The goal will soon be in sight... but we still have work to do and knowledge to gain.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the earth day field trip to our home on Tuesday. Thanks also for many good birthday wishes, cards and hugs. I am grateful to be part of a faith community that cares for each other. Thanks Mrs. Marita for great carrot cake... and so much more!

Enjoy an abundant journey with Jesus this week. Thanks.

Care of the Earth

This week people all over the world will consider our responsibility to our planet. As Christians, we have God's mandate to care for the earth. In a time of climate change and population growth, doing our part is more urgent than ever. In class, we will be looking at some of the ways that we can "make a difference."

This assignment is due Wednesday. Students will have time in class to do MOST of it.
6th Grade words for this 3-day week: earth, responsibility, global, pollution, green, health, planet, solution, literacy, energy, crisis, recycle.

7/8th Grade words: earth, responsibility, stewardship, global, universal, pollution, green, health, planet, environmental, solution, literacy, energy, crisis, recycle. This is due Wednesday.

Other assignments: History students will view a DVD from the Planet Earth series. We will also read about Earth Day and complete a worksheet.

Tomorrow Grade 6 is off to Duluth.
Grade 7/8 will be going to my home (outside... for Earth day) at 10 a.m. and return by the end of the school day. Students are invited to bring beverages, treats, etc. Thanks.

Next Tuesday: April 29th there will be a yearbook meeting after school. Also 8th grade parents, AHS is not offering a half-day for incoming students this year. 9th graders will have a full day at school with no other students the first day of the school year. Don't forget shadow permission slips.

And FYI: Today is Mrs. Marita's birthday... a day to celebrate her good and hard work. Thanks Mrs. Marita for taking students to Mpls. last Friday. Sounds like EVERYONE had a great time.

The USA Hosts the Pope

Today Father Henry invited us to sing Happy Birthday to Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his 81st birthday. Also our class is praying for the Pope's success and safety on his pilgrimage to the USA. We have a classroom bulletin board to showcase this historic trip of Hope and Reconciliation.

Grade 6 today had time to work on spelling, volcano poetry and masks. Students then presented their new character and modeled the mask they made. This was related to our study of Ancient Greek and the development of drama as entertainment. Students need to bring in a photo so that they can begin their "photo" stories.

Grade 7/8 today received parent letters regarding field trips, events, etc. It is necessary for 8th graders to return the letters with a parent signature to participate in a career "shadow" opportunity. Also students worked on information to be featured in the OLL yearbook.
Tomorrow we will be going around town for yearbook photos.

Sounds like the 7/8 grade field trip to the Mpls. on Friday is organized. Please check with students regarding money, etc. for meals, and shopping. April 22nd these students will be coming to my home for an "earth day" opportunity- fun outside!

Friday I will spend the day with 6th graders. We will do a spelling test, share our poems, and other activites. Students will join the 5th graders for the DARE program after lunch.

The "face-lift" work continues in our building. We will have much to celebrate when this "new look" is shared with the community. Thank you everyone who is working hard.

God of the Calm and God of the Storm

Wow, what a nor'easter blast we had on Friday. I hope that everyone who reads this was warm and safe as the wind unleashed power and fury. At our home we have some trees down (not near the house) and many treetops snapped off. Even had a bear come by this evening for birdseed, so I am thinking the wind even woke him up. How comforting to be reminded that we belong to the God who is there in the quiet of the night... and we belong to the God who offers His presence in the storm. May we live in His peace and joy.

This week:
Check Mrs. Marita's blog for science deadlines and also field trips coming up. Our trip to AHS Thursday was a real treat to see first-hand the talent of the choir and jazz band. Of course, we felt great pride to see so many OLL former students.

6th grade spelling for this week- due Friday:
crimson, blush, enchanting, erupt, historic, visit, focus, stadium, president, zero, success, security BONUS: challenge, papal, Vatican. We will be talking about the Pope's visit to the USA this week and praying for his security and success. Also we will be looking at the arts of the ancient Greek culture and working on some poetry.

7/8 grade spelling for this week- due Thursday:
historic, stadium, success, immigrant, challenges, ministry, reconciliation, papal, demographics, hospitality, bias, analyze, listen, inner, aloud, topography, gale, destruction.
Along with vocabulary, we will do some analysis of poetry. I am guiding students to write their own poem with the hope that we will have a poetry "read"...maybe at the Black Cat?

All students are encouraged to bring newspaper articles about the visit of the Pope to the USA. We will make a class bulletin board to echo American "hospitality." Don't forget to finish up outside reading books too as next week, we will work on book reports.

This Friday Grade 6 will spend the day with me while Grades 7 and 8 travel to Mpls. Also April 22nd, I am hoping that Grades 7 and 8 will go to my home for part of the day; the mud-situation will be considered! Greg Alexander's offer to teach a class will be rescheduled due to the storm.
Have a good week- God is with us!

News Flash for Parents

Grades 7/8 have an opportunity to go to Ashland High School tomorrow (THURSDAY) to hear the AHS Band and Swing Choir concert. We will leave OLL at 8:55 and return about 10:45 a.m. It is necessary to have a permission slip from your student in the morning. IF IT IS LOST... do a hand-written note with emergency numbers to contact you and family doctor and phone numbers for emergency care. Students cannot leave our campus WITHOUT turning in a slip. Thanks for your support.

Bread of Life

Today Father Henry in the homily reminded us how Jesus-the Bread of Life-shows up in our lives and in our world: peacemakers, healers, Eucharist, Son of Mary, Son of God.... so many "loaves" of hope and faith that draw us close to Jesus. Let us offer ourselves that others may "taste and eat" the goodness and grace of our Host, Jesus Christ.

Thank you Mr. Gary LaPean for your motivational talk to our students yesterday about the possibilities of entrepreneurship. Gary talked about the importance of education, hard work, willingness to take educated risks, and remember "who" we belong to. Along with his words Gary offered prizes and gave every student a packet of Jerseynaps from his latest business adventure. Students will be writing thank you notes.

Grade 6 will present Haikus today and write thank yous.

Grade 7/8 will hear poetry and write thank yous.

DON'T forget: Spelling test for Grade 7/8 on Thursday; vocab. due Friday
Grade 6 test and vocab. on Friday.
Be finishing books; book reports will be coming up soon.
Major research paper due for Mrs. Marita on Monday, April 14th.
Students going to Mpls. need to turn in permission slips... check if Mrs. Marita still needs drivers?
Watch the weather- snowstorm on the horizon!

Remember, Jesus did not throw "crumbs" our way, but rather offered himself as the whole Bread of Life. Be filled and be "bread" to others.

13 Ways

Today in English 7/8 we read and considered Wallace Steven's poem: 13 Ways to Look at a Blackbird. Interesting how many perspectives we can wring out of poetry when we start to analyze it line-by-line. No wonder, Jesus was eager to reveal His resurrection to many people. The empty tomb is bigger than poetry, more than prose... it is the dynamic power and purpose of a God who took the void and created the earth. God knows that as humans we need multiple perspectives to get it right. Let us share our understanding of His resurrection that together we can proclaim: He is Risen Indeed!
We learned alot from Steven's poem today... and there is still more to glean from this complex poem. Josh, thanks for challenging us to think deeper than the obvious!

Spelling for Grade 6: engineer, design, compliments, attention, truth, blend, hunger, decline, grimace, giddy, family, forty BONUS: ascension, lament, reluctant. Also students will be working on Haiku backgrounds and "engineering" design of shoes for the Olympic games.

Spelling for Grades 7/8: guest, artist, shading, detail, instructions, eraser, knead, capture, essence, drama, process, predicament, pace, radiant, angle, length, science, soul, cadence, lyrics.
Spelling test on Thursday, vocab. due on Friday. We will study poetry and read Hamlet this week.

REPORT CARDS have been given to students today; please sign and return.

Looking ahead: Greg Alexander is coming in Friday to do an art class for students in Grades 7 and 8. I will be working on "shadow" experiences for Grade 8. Don't forget major science assignment due for Mrs. Marita next Monday. Please talk to your students about their projects; YOU are their best mentors. Thanks.

The Right Questions

Jesus' preaching and teaching are a compass to guide our lives and learning. Today we read about Jesus encounter with the Samaritan Woman at the well (John 4). Read this lesson and see how questions drive the conversation and raise the stakes to an eternal encounter. May we ask questions that raise questions about faith so that others may be brought into God's eternal landscape of grace and love. Jesus showed us the way.

Grade 6: Spelling is due today. Students need to have haikus completed by next Tuesday. Many finished it in class; for those who did not, it is homework. In history we are studying ancient Greece. We will continue to consider the Olympic games and other blooming of the arts in Greece. This week students designed Greek vases. Spelling test and vocab. due today (Thursday).

Grade 7/8: Spelling and vocab. due tomorrow. Also students will present haikus with water color background. Friday we are off to the Dairy Queen to celebrate good oral presentations for
autobiographies and research essays.

FYI: Grade 6 students bring money for pro-life t-shirts. April 11th Greg Alexander will come for an art class for grade 7 and 8. Don't forget 1/2 day tomorrow!

Ask some good questions... and be ready for great answers!