Rejoice

Light the Advent pink candle, let hearts be ready, raise voices in joy... for the King will soon be here. Yes, the Bethlehem Christ will soon be born into a watchful world to once again invite us to KNOW Jesus and believe God is with us. Rejoice and again I say rejoice!

As we finish up this Friday, students continue to work hard to keep us with assignment expectations.

Grades 6, 7, and 8 need to complete FINAL essays for the "Hope and Trust in Life" Diocese assignment. Check over your student's rough draft for suggestions and corrections. I have been blessed by the reality that all of our junior high students regard life as precious. They also have a shared knowledge that life is fragile.

In Geography, we are learning about Australia. We first gained information on the location and now we are working on "areas" of this continent: Great Barrier Reef, Outback, and cities. Our study will finish up next week, so our time "down under" is limited.

Also next week students will be working on book marker book reports. Students are expected ALL year to be reading a book outside of class. Trust me, students who support learning with outside reading expand their vocabulary and become the strongest writers. I have seen this time and time again.

The forecast indicates a POSSIBLE snowstorm over the weekend. Check with local radio and TV stations for school closures, late starts, etc. We follow the policy of the Ashland School District.

Thanks again Mrs. Eaton for a Mexican sampler this week... and thanks Coach Bloss and Masterson for a memorable basketball season for our athletes. Also Father Frank has been teaching some Greek and Latin in our Wednesday School Masses. Ask your students about this lesson.

Next week is the Junior High Christmas program on Thursday and the 4th Wiseman program on Friday. Set aside time to worship... and remember the coming of Christ. We are invited to REJOICE!

Fiesta!

To finish up our studies of Latin America, Mrs. Patty Eaton brought in Mexican food. We enjoyed the spice and flavors of enchiladas and tacos-in-a-bag. Mrs. Eaton also told us about her family experiences in Mexico. Thank you so much for helping us celebrate the good work done by students on the Amazon Rainforest, Latin America country postcards, and end of the unit test. Fiesta!

Grade 6, 7, and 8 are busy hammering out rough drafts and peer editing on the Diocese "Hope and Trust in Life" essays. This topic can go in many directions and students are exploring their thoughts and experiences about how precious life is. We intend to have these in the mail early next week to enter in the Diocese contest.

Vocabulary words have been given to Grades 6, 7, and 8. Don't forget Grades 7 and 8 that book reports will be done early next week on books read OUTSIDE of class. Keep reading. It is the vehicle to increased vocabulary and better writing.

Thursday Grade 8 will make a quick trip to the Chequamegon Animal Shelter to deliver some dog-bone Christmas cards. Also students have been making cards for recovering soldiers at the Walter Reed Hospital. We will mail them later this week.

Let us invite Advent to light our hearts with hope and anticipation for the arrival of Christ. Today we read the Gospel lesson of Jesus, the Shepherd, leaving the 99 sheep to seek the one that had strayed. We were reminded how important it is to support each other and how each person (sheep) is precious. Jesus is coming. Light the candles of peace, hope, joy and love.

The Business of God

This is a busy time in the classroom as well as a busy time to prepare our hearts and home for the coming of Christ. We usually align busy with being extremely active. But "busy" can also mean being about the business of God- taking time to pray, time to read the Bible, time to help others, time to worship, time to reflect on the goodness of God. May your Advent season include busy God-time. The choir of angels is practicing. Take time to listen.

Grade 6 completed vocabulary and outlines for the "meaning of life" writing contest for the Diocese. They are now working on rough drafts; they are due on Monday (250 to 300 words). The outlines looked good.

Grade 7 completed vocabulary and outlines for the writing contest. Their rough drafts are also due on Monday. They still have some work to add depth to their writing.

Grade 8 turned in vocabulary and outlines today. Their rough drafts are due next Thursday.

Grades 7 and 8 are also making Christmas cards for recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital and cards for the Chequamegon Animal Shelter. We hope to visit the shelter next Thursday.

Geography 7/8 students are presenting Latin America postcards today. Monday they have the end of the unit test and Tuesday is Mexican Fiesta day!

Yes, we are busy... but we also take time to pray, talk about God... and consider how Advent can be a meaningful season for our lives. May our busy days include busy time with God.

DON'T Forget. Winter Wonderland Bazaar tomorrow in the Our Lady of the Lake Social Hall. Cheer on the band at the Christmas Parade Saturday afternoon. Ms. Betzold and the students have been working hard.

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Yesterday we started our Advent journey to Bethlehem. This special season offers an invitation to prepare our hearts and home for the coming of Christ. Along the way we will consider hope, love, peace and joy (fruits of the Spirit). Please join us on the road to the Bethlehem; this journey can make all the difference in the world.


Many of you know that I had two opportunities to visit India. Please join me in praying for Mumbai as this city recovers from the terrorist attack. It is difficult for me to describe the population density of that maximum city. I also frequented several of the sites where the attacks took place: bookstore at the Taj, shopping at the Oberoi, train station. Our shared humanity calls us to be armed with the weapons of God's peace: hope, love, and joy. Terrorism reminds us there are well-armed elements that work against the ways of God. Let a prayer of peace be a strong part of your Advent journey.

Grades 6, 7, and 8 received their vocabulary for this week. Tuesday we will begin the process of writing our rough drafts for the "meaing of life" Diocese essays. Grades 7 and 8 need to finish up OUTSIDE reading books; book reports next week.

In Geography, we will continue our study of the Amazon Rainforest. We intend to finish up early next week.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. Congratulations to all hunters who bagged their buck including Mrs. Marita. Ask her about the trophy buck!