SF Parish Family Night Photos

Such a great game! Thanks to all of the families who attended tonight's game, and special thanks to Natasha for her bravery and representation of STM to the entire crowd at AT&T Park! I hope you all had a fun evening. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Updates and upcoming events

Book Signing + Sewing Activity
With Lotta Jansdotter Saturday, May 16
1-4 PM

The Museum of Craft and Folk Art is excited to announce a workshop by world-famous
linens, stationery, and ceramics designer Lotta Jansdotter to introduce the
publication of her new book, Simple Sewing for Baby. Follow along with Lotta as she
demonstrates how to create a children’s plush toy. This event is co-sponsored by
Chronicle Books, and is free and open to the public, ages 8 and up. For information
call 415.227.4888 ext. 13.



The Craft Gym: Public Sessions
Starting Tuesday, May 26, 6.30-8.30 PM
Sewing Machine Basics: Summer ScarfLevel: Beginner
 
Gain confidence in this session designed for anyone wanting to machine sew. This
class will cover basic cutting, sewing and pressing techniques, as well as sewing
terms, fabric selection, and operating a sewing machine. Participants will make and
take a 2-sided panel scarf in this session. All equipment (including sewing
machines) and materials will be provided.
 Total Fee: $50 (includes $10 materials fee.) To register, visit the Craft Gym's
website here and click "Add to Cart" to pay via PayPal, or call 415.702.5700.  
 In collaboration with the Craft Gym, the Museum of Craft and Folk Art will host
craft sessions the last Tuesday of every month through the end of the year. Click
here for a full description of each workshop.



Last Chance:
Inside/Outside: Artist Environments 
Closes May 24
 
From folk art environments to homes, artist environment builders blur the lines and
push the boundaries of how we define art.
 
Featuring Edgar Arceneaux and the Watts House Project, Jacob Sockness, Merritt
Wallace, and Megan Wilson, along with historic documentation of famed California
environments, and a new commission by Mike Shine. 



Other items of note:

Today, you will find a number of important notes in the Wednesday envelope, including information about Spirit Week,
a summer reading list, and a supply list for next year. 

Don't forget!  Our dance festival is next Tuesday, May 19th in the STM gym.  Hope to see you there!

There is no book report assigned this week. 

We continue to practice division, both on its own and in applied word problems.  We're discussing the Sacrament of
Anointing of the Sick in religion.  Tying social studies and literature together, we're examining Native American tribes and their
creation of many totem poles.  Have you seen a totem pole in your neighborhood?  We'll make our own totem poles
before the end of the week out of paper.  We're also learning about simple machines, including the lever, pulley,
wedge, and screw.  How does one know if he/she is doing work?  Ask your child to tell you.

I hope you're having a wonderful week, and enjoying the sunny weather!

Great first day

We had an awesome first day back at STM, including warm weather and making birthday cards for Ezekiel. We're diving deeper into division this week, the spelling list is one of review, and our review of each of the seven sacraments begins. This week asks a lot of the third grade families, including sandwiches for the needy on Wednesday (4/22) and help completing a small project about family history.

This week's literature selection is about oral history, and how the history of a people can be passed down from one generation to the next. Questions about family history will be decided by students, and will not require anything extraordinary. Today, students are to list one (or two) people they can speak to about their family history. Tomorrow, students will make a list of questions to ask this person (or people), and will need to take notes when listening to the answers. The remainder of the week will allow students to transform their notes into a few paragraphs about their family history.

This Wednesday (4/22) is our second Chevy's night, benefiting the Outdoor Education program. The location is in South San Francisco from 4:00-10:00pm.

STM will have a Knockout competition on Friday (4/24) at 1:15pm. The cost is $5.00. Forms went home today, and the bottom portion and fee are due no later than Thursday (4/23). Hopefully all students will want to participate in this form of basketball game!

As for an update on my father's condition, he is home and recovering well. His surgeon has told our family that, with the removal of a portion of my father's kidney and the tumor, he is now cancer-free! There will be follow-up tests and my father will have a slow and somewhat painful recovery, but this news is the best we could have asked for from his doctors. My family and I genuinely appreciate your thoughts and prayers over these few weeks, and look forward to happier days ahead.

Welcome back! : )

Almost spring break!

The week is passing so quickly! Our class participated in Reconciliation yesterday morning, and received the delightful gift of a kite in celebration of Easter. The sunshine and warmth of the day helped to symbolize how God welcomed our words and our thoughts throughout the day. We've begun making cards for Alma Via residents this week, sending Easter wishes their way. With a math test today, the math homework will be light this week, and (as an Easter gift to the class) there will not be a book report assigned this week. Report card comments will be sent home by the end of this week...thank you for your patience.

To celebrate Easter in the classroom, we will have a refreshment and a treat on Thursday before dismissal. Remember, Thursday is 12:25pm dismissal!

Thank you to everyone who sent well wishes to my family and me regarding my father's surgery. His surgeon believes that by removing a portion of his kidney and the tumor, all of the cancer has been removed. We will not know if this is 100% factual until we have the results of new tests within the next week. As of now, he is stable, in the hospital, and eating solid foods. He is being monitored due to low levels of potassium, but may be able to return home in the next four or five days. It would be wonderful to have him home for Easter, but that remains to be seen. I was able to attend the Rosary of our family friend on the night of the surgery and say my father's written words on his behalf. It was an exhausting day, but incredibly worthwhile. My family could not be more relieved than to hear that my father may be cancer free, and will continue to pray for 100% certainty.

I hope that you all have a fun and safe spring break, including a joyous Easter Sunday. :)

It's been a while

The past few weeks have been eventful, to say the least! We have written short (two paragraph) essays about how we feel during Spring, and experienced the full writing process. We have learned about area, perimeter, and how to identify patterns. We've identified shelters made by humans and animals, and reasons why different kinds of shelters are made in different geographic locations. We've participated in many movement activities and discussed our successes during this Lenten season. All in all, our classroom as been vibrant, fun, and enthusiastic! :)

Personally, however, I must say that these weeks have been difficult. It is highly likely that my father has cancer, and will undergo surgery this Wednesday to have a large tumor removed from his kidney. We have been told that there is a 5-10% chance that it is benign, and will continue to hope and pray that this is the case. We won't know much more about his condition until the surgery is completed on Wednesday afternoon. Furthermore, a close friend of my family passed away unexpectedly on Friday evening. I will be attending his Rosary in addition to my father's surgery this week.

Miss Pinnick will be here for our class on Wednesday during my absence. Report cards will go home on Wednesday. I will do my best to also send home report card comments on this day, but cannot guarantee that the comments will be finished. You will receive the report cards on Wednesday, but may not receive comments. I appreciate your patience at this time.

Birthday lunches will be provided this week by the families of Andrew, Nicole B., and Tony. Today, lunch will be provided. Please do not bring lunches on Tuesday or Friday for this reason.

Our field trip to see "Seussical" is this Thursday. Students will eat their lunches upon our return in the afternoon.

Also, I want to thank all of you who have contributed to my fund raising efforts for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Within the next two weeks, I will successfully reach my goal of $2,500 and will be able to participate in the Wildflower Triathlon on May 3rd. Training is going well, and I am grateful for the resources Team In Training is able to offer me now that my father's situation may change.

The third graders continue to be bright, warm, and thoughtful. I am happy to have such a great class this year, and will update again soon. :)

Congratulations!

The 3rd grade boys are CYO basketball champions!

Field Trip: Conservatory of Flowers 1/28/09

We were incredibly lucky to have sunny, warm weather for our field trip!