St. Peter's School

6400 Charlotte

Kansas City, MO  64131                                                                        September 6, 2007

 

Dear St. Peter’s Parents,

 

The school year is off and running, literally and figuratively!  Speaking of running, have you ever tried to corral 3 – 4 year olds into a semblance of a line as you escort them through a parking lot filled with waiting parents and moving vehicles?  After having the pleasure of doing so, I am convinced that some Guardian Angels work overtime during school dismissal.  Having said that, I think we can all be “Guardians” of the little cherubs by driving with extra caution (yes, we’ve already had some close calls) and reserving the ECLC parking lot for just that—ECLC parents dropping off and picking up children during the school day.  Thank you in advance for respectfully adhering to this request. 

 

Each day has brought new challenges and also new blessings in the form of what I discover is being taught, modeled (I was actually a “model” for art class! – ok, Ms. Schmidt was desperate for a pony tail example and I happened to visit her classroom at the right time), and reinforced in our classrooms.  Following are samples:

 

     Multi-grade reading buddies who come together regularly to read books

     Students with special needs tracing letters in pudding…“taste and see the goodness of reading”

     Fifth grade language arts warming up with puzzlers such as… (if you cannot solve these, just ask a fifth grader):                   punches OR  your skin (Roll Punches)  

     And, as if teachers didn’t have enough to do, some still meet early for prayer; one teacher has requested permission to offer a problem solving/math practice for kids in her class before school—free of charge, and another is promoting an after school “Helping Verb” study group...and the list goes on

     An art teacher (yes, you know who) received a grant from National Endowment for the Humanities for a pilot version of the We The People Picturing America grant…..AND…her review can be read in Cable in the Classroom magazine concerning a Bob Marley DVD and how it matches curriculum and standards in schools.  She regularly does TEACHING TIPS or CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS for this publication. Well done, Mary Beth!

 

More kudos next letter…now for an advertisement:  We are in need of a teacher aide to work with primary grades, especially kindergarten.  This position is temporary full-time, with the possibility of being permanent in the future.  If you are interested or know of a good candidate, please call the school office.

 

Finally, sixth through eighth grade parents, please see an additional letter explaining the math cohorts that were developed this year.  Hopefully it will shed light on what the process entails and the rationale behind such a decision.  Have a great week!

 

Sincerely in Christ,