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. :)